Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Really enjoyed "Too Afraid To Love", beat reminds me of a Wu-Tang song. All the songs seem to blend together. Definitely feels very pretentious. It's good for sure, but just seems to full of itself. Enjoyable really a 3.5 stars for me
lenti á einhverri delúx-drullu. sundurlausari en mig minnir að upprunalega hafi verið en þrusugott á köflum.
Seen in the second review topping this section: "This album is basically Blues for people who are afraid of black people." A black friend of mine loves this album and he is the one who made me like it a lot, through repeated listens. People can be so dense when it comes to that sort of issue sometimes. 🙄 Personal, subjective grade following the purposes of this list: 3.5/5, rounded up to 4. More "objective" grade: 8.5/10 (5+3.5) Number of albums left to review: 248 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 327 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 192 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 241
Definitely some bangers on here, and this is probably the least repetitive of black keys albums (who are one of the most repetitive bands ever), but a bit too overproduced for the genre
I get why The Black Keys are on this list - a good 2-piece band with some good tunes, and maybe a little "bluesier" than The White Stripes. Garage rock needs more representation on the 1001 site, more than just "black and white".
Hatte die Platte als Ganzes nie auf dem Schirm, fand es mega nice! Super vibe am Montag morgen! 4,5
- Liebe The Black Keys, liebe das Album - Höre das Album immer wieder super gerne, auch wenn es schon etliche male durch meine Gehörgänge strömte - So geil, dass es einfach Bands wie die Jungs oder auch Wolfmother, Greta Van Fleet etc. gibt, die so eine Musik im 21. Jahrhundert machen und damit massiv erfolgreich sind. Bei dem Gedanken geht mir echt immer das Herz auf! Rating: 4,5
- Moody, groovy, vibey, classic Black Keys - Jedes mal, wenn ich The Black Keys höre, denke ich: "Du hörst zu wenig The Black Keys" - Die haben dieses Southern-Gothic, Blues-grungige Subgenre komplett wiederbelebt. - Die Hits ballern ohne Ende. Teilweise ist die Platte mir persönlich ein bisschen zu balladig; ist jetzt aber auch nicht dramatisch, weil selbst die Balladen noch ziemlich authentisch und energetisch sind. - Über eine Stunde ist mir das übersteuerte LoFi einen kleinen Schnuff zu intensiv, verstehe aber, dass das absolut zum Konzept und Markenzeichen gehört. - Grundsolides, spannendes und charakteristisches Album 4/5
- hat mir von der ersten Sekunde an sehr gut gefallen und ist bis zum Schluss so geblieben - sehr cooler Sound - werde ich absolut noch öfter hören
Poor man's White Stripes. Didn't hold my interest at all.
10/10
I had this album recommended to me over the summer, and now that I’ve listened to it, its just alright. I was hoping there would be a little more, but … I just didn’t catch it I guess. Maybe I’ll relisten in a little to see if I didn’t catch anything
Over-rated. I like the bluesier numbers without the cloying falsetto, especially the instrumental "Black Mud." In a certain respect this is the BIGGEST rock album of the era. Like, pure rock album. And it sort of stands as the zenith of that whole decade's rock revival. That and its success probably paved the way for all the great indie, garage acts of the following decade. There's something to say too about how Carney and Auerback stayed true to their blues-rock sound while all-the-while filling stadiums, radio channels, and video game start menus; unlike some other rock bands of the era (ahem, Kings of Leon) that very much changed their sound to make that same success happen. I like Patrick Carney and respect the hell out of Danger Mouse's work on these records—a testament to his extreme range and vision and very much the reason, I think, for this album's cross-over appeal. But Dan Auerbach has always rubbed me the wrong way for whatever reason. (Remember his "beef" with Jack White? 😂) I went back and listened to a few of the very early Black Keys cuts long before this album came out. I like the purity of those early blues garage rock tracks better than this polished version. Great album cover. Whoever designed it deserves an award. Liking this less and less as I listen. The Alabama Shakes did it so much better 2 years later. 2 stars.
"The Black Keys" has always struck me as a fitting name. The band eeks out as much as seems possible from their (extremely limited) premise, and they get some amazing records out of it. They're shooting for hits, and they deliver. But I can't help but feel like they're being held back by their own premise. It's what gives these songs a kind of "one-note" feeling, which is solidly in the tradition of blues, garage rock, of course. I'm always waiting for them to escape outside the prison they've put themselves in, and try something genuinely new. It's just not enough for me to give brownie points to a band that just gets all the sonics right, the recording, the sound that they have in their heads. They need to go further. The Black Keys has always felt to me like they stunted their own growth, somewhere along the way. I'll have to listen to their more recent material to see where they've gone. But yes. Monochromatic. This is the point in the review where I really give them props, though... sonically, this album is IMMACULATELY recorded. It sounds really perfect. EXACTLY how I want everything to sound. That pulls this from a high 2 to a very low 3 for me. I just should be having more fun, and I'm not really, unless I think about how phenomenal those guitars sound. 3/5
Great album
Oh man, I really liked The Black Keys. Still do... but for me I got way into them around Magic Potion, and this album, even though it's got great production and a lot of hits, never really did it the same for me compared to the raw blues riffs on the older stuff. Solid 4/5 though.
Awesome
Cool to hear some old styles and sounds in a modern context. Much more enjoyable than I expected at first.
"Brothers" by The Black Keys is a masterclass in modern blues-rock, blending raw emotion with gritty production. Standout tracks like "Tighten Up" and "Howlin’ for You" showcase the duo's knack for catchy yet soulful hits, while the album as a whole navigates love, betrayal, and redemption with lyrical depth and musical prowess. Despite a few moments where the momentum wanes, "Brothers" remains a compelling listen. Its blend of polished and lo-fi sounds reinvigorates the blues for the digital age. Four stars for an album that proves the timeless appeal of the blues, marrying tradition with innovation in a sound unmistakably The Black Keys.
Great album.
I used to like this band when I was 14 and listening to them again as an adult I am very confused as to why. May be being very harsh here but I'm also marking it down because this is by no means an album that you MUST hear before you die.
Really like this album. The songs all have their own feel, but there's a distinctive "sound" to the whole thing. A lot of great tracks, as well, but my favorite is probably "Howlin' For You."
Big fan of the really bluesy stuff the black keys did pretty much up through this album.
a couple okay songs, ive heard most of them before
Em fa ràbia perquè té cançons com Tighten Up o Howlin' For You que em semblen boníssimes i després la resta de l'àlbum és bastant normalet, tirant a avorrit. S'ha de dir que m'ha agradat molt la Will Smith reference però s'han oblidat "Wife". A part d'això bastant sosillo, si tingués algun tema més que m'agradés molt serien 4 estrelles, però ho veig fluixet.
Good
Any album produced by Danger Mouse and a fellow named Neill has got to be worthy. I'm well familiar with this one. Thanks! :)
“Next Girl” is great , “Tighten Up” was the smash single, I get bored with the Black keys for some reason.
I love the Black Keys' sound, and really enjoyed this album throughout.
I like the aesthetic, but the songs just don't really stand out to me. There's lots of bluesy garage rock out there that I like more.
I thought ok this is just regular great and then I listened for the 1000th time and yeah it’s really great
One of the all time greats and one of my all time favorite albums. Straight bangers over and over and over.
6/10
I really enjoyed this album and would definitely listen to it / the band more often. I very much enjoyed the drums and guitar on this album and think the lead singer has a cool voice
Cool guitar riffs and drumming. Not a favorite but would listen again for sure
Rawk
A couple songs with good hooks but a lot of boring ones. Playing is sloppier than I remember but at least it’s “authentic.” I like the vague nod to 70s soul in the production.
It was a pretty good album
Absolutely love me some blues. This garage rock blues is a delight.
Enjoyable album with a great vibes, but apart from the massive singles, no particular highpoints.
A rarity: an album with which I'm already familiar yet doubt belongs on the list. I was pretty into this album when it came out, but haven't gone back to it, especially as the Black Keys stretch their one trick across an expanding discography. Listening ~15 years later, when the Black Keys have more fully embraced their place as generators of televised-sport/video-game-menu/truck-commercial background music, this don't age so good. It feels like every good song has a dark twin on the tracklist, and a pretty bold 8-track lp becomes a sludgy, 15-track death march. My hypothesis is that whoever put this on the list is simply not immune from the whiteboy urge to adore anything with Danger Mouse on the credits. Nothing wrong with Danger Mouse; but tighten it up, white boys.
This is a great album, I don't have any complaints, every track has something to offer the listener. It's blues, it's rock, it's modern without sounding like it, it hearkens back to the blues artists before them. Great album
3-8-2024 I got excited, ngl..I don't know what songs are on this album but I like everything I've heard from the Black Keys.
Favourite song - Tighten up
Several excellent tracks
Great songs but the tracklisting is weird making the album feeling longer than it should (pacing problem).
Great tones and mix, which are distinctive to The Black Keys or whoever Auerbach has produced since. I do think a few of the tracks drone on a bit by repeating the same hook or short measure for a whole song. That they are mostly shorter tracks keeps it fresh for the most part. The album is very long, though, so I think a few of these could have been saved for another album to make this one less tiring. These are mild critiques, though, as I always really loved this album , on the whole.
Again a half star would be ideal because I don't think this is a 5 star album. Hm maybe it is ok ya it is
Somebody said they sound like imagine dragons and I can't get that out of my head, so whoever you are, you ruined this album for me
Blues am Morgen? Eher nicht! Am Abend nach einem anstrengenden Tag hören sich einige Songs richtig gut an! (4/5)
This one started out great, and then the last 2/3 or so was incredibly mid. Another case of an album that could've been much better if they just trimmed the fat
Great album, great vibe. I really enjoyed this album Top tracks: Howlin’ For You, Black Mud
This album dominated the early 2010s. It is really impressive how tracks 2-4 ("Next Girl", "Tighten Up", and "Howlin' for You") were just massive hits and all are from this one album. The rest of the album delivers as well. The sound may be a bit repetitive for some, but The Black Keys really have a consistent, soulful vibe in each song.
Really enjoyed this.
Quite like the Black Keys and recognise a few of the songs (and the album).
Pretty good in small doses, but it gets repetitive after a while.
Propuesta original pero repetitiva en ciertos aspectos Buen disco, nada extraordinario
For me Magic Potion and Attack and Release are brilliant. Thickfreakness, Rubber Factory, and Chulahoma are super-interesting. Brothers sounds great - but none of the songs grab me. It's such a perfect example of something I wrote for Sonic Youth's Dirty that I'll add... Almost every innovative band (across every genre) that has found success has followed a common career arc. One, maybe two, ultra-raw albums; one to three albums that are technically imperfect, often quirky, and filled with brilliant songs; and then one to a series of well-performed and well-produced albums that aren't nearly as interesting. I think it's because of boredom and (ambitious) desperation. Artists that want to be unique are desperate to create great works. Starting out, nothing matters but learning to play better, writing better songs, and finding and perfecting that unique sound. And when they first hit the road they have SOOOOOO much down time; so much boredom - hour upon hour in vans and crappy hotels and backstage with nothing to do but joke around, practice, and write. I think the convergence of this boredom and desperation are the periods of intense creativity. Because the artist(s) is/are still searching for that perfect sound, all of their influences are freely thrown into the cauldron and stirred around. No one outside of the band is depending on the next album selling and so there is freedom to explore and take risks. In fact, the five to ten fans a week who come to the shows are the type of people who LOVE the creativity and quirkiness. And those few encounters mean SO much to the artist(s) that it reinforces the desperation and drive to make something brilliant. The desperation is never happy with the results and it fills all of that time with editing, writing, editing, writing, editing. And then they start to perfect and hone in on their "sound." They're mastering the instruments and the song-writing process from all of the practice. The writing and recording become just a bit easier. And then success starts to come. But it doesn't make life easier - it makes it a whole lot more complex. It's no longer a band in a van; it's an organization and a brand. Suddenly there are 1,000 decisions to be made every day about the business of the organization: the touring logistics, political/social/HR shit (among the band members, the roadies, the assistants...), the record label's demands, the publicists, the image, which festivals to play in 18 months...People the artist cares deeply about start to rely on the money coming in for their livelihoods. The band, the manager, the publicist, the roadies start to collect expensive addictions, car payments, significant others, kids, mortgages, etc. And this pressure tends to fall on the one or two people who are doing the writing because it's "their band." All of that time that used to go to songwriting and editing gets eaten up by more "urgent" matters relating to the health and sustainability of the org and the brand. But it's OK, because the artist(s) is/are more practiced at the songwriting and so it comes quicker and easier. We need three more songs? No problem, I'll do it on Tuesday. But the product doesn't lie. All of that desperate creativity, the social "space" for risk-taking, and the time spent editing made great songs. Now the "sound" is polished and the techniques are mastered and the albums sell because they sound great and the concerts are sold out because the brand is known. But the songs don't quite sparkle anymore. And the org and the brand are doing great so no one in the inner orbit notices or cares in the rush of the high-life.
After giving Brothers a good listen. Its actually a pretty great album. The guitar riffs were raspy and bluesy in all the right ways. The singing also was raspy in all of the best ways as well. The music videos were also pretty funny which while not making the album as great as it is, it definitely added to my enjoyment. There also isn't a bad song in sight. Its a great album that is definitely worth a listen. Best Song: The Go Getter Worst Song: Black Mud
So repetitive and nothing noteworthy
Listened 2/29/24. I actually own this and loved it when it came out. I haven’t listened to it for about 10 years. Sadly, this album falls flat. It doesn’t hold up. There are other black keys albums that are much better. I was looking forward to enjoying this one, but it disappointed.
Okej inte min sak men lite gött
I had this CD and sold it back. It just didn't hit me. Still feel the same way about it. But the performances are good. I felt a bit of 60s Motown in some of the choices of instrumentation. "Howlin' For You," one of the big hits, do sound more like other songs than originals. "Howlin'" sounds like "Rock 'n Roll (Part 2)" by Gary Glitter. It's that drum beat, you know? Still it has that drive... But besides those and "Sinister Brother" it was just not very memorable for me. It's listenable but I don't go running back to it. Very forgettable. Next. Key songs: "Howlin' For You," "Sinister Brother"
I first became aware of the Black Keys around 2006 when they released Magic Potion. I still think that is their best album, such a smoky basement blues rock sound. This is probably their next best album but also the last time I listened to a full album of theirs. I got tired/bored with their sound after this. A little bit of the same with the album Brothers - loved it at first, then came down from that high, whereas I could still listen to Magic Potion ad nauseum. Lots to like still on this album. Favorites are Everlasting Light (just a pumping bassline and beat), Next Girl (grungy), She's Long Gone (that smoky blues rock sound of theirs that I fell in love with), The Only One (just has this allure), Sinister Kid (lyrics are a bit meh, but it oozes with energy), These Days (just a slower paced blues song, something about it). Tighten Up and Howlin for You are good and their catchiest (hence they were the big singles), but they got overplayed and sometimes I'm just a bit tired of hearing those two. Make no mistake, this was a big album and there's a lot of blues rock and garage rock (or those two fused) in the last 15 years that is thanks to these guys and this album's success. But it still has its flaws.
Kind of fun and cinematic, but also bland/homogenous and manufactured. Doesn’t feel at all “genuine.” 2.5 rounded up
Desert/blues sounding rock is not for me either, as it turns out. Bar a few tracks, the album felt a bit same-y to me. However, I enjoyed Dan’s vocal performance and the almost crooning-like sounds he made, which are not exactly typical for blues rock. 3.5/5
Black Keys are pretty good
very enjoyable album. respect for the 'unpolished' sound
Sehr klassischer Blues-Rock. Hatte ich anders erwartet.
I could only take so much.
Somewhat forgettable stuff. Sounds well produced, but it doesn't evoke significant emotion in me.
Went to school in Kent when they were making it big with ‘your touch.’ Never thought they’d be this big. Wildest part is they released this and El Camino so close together and both albums had so many bangers. El Camino is better though.
Handful of good songs on here. I enjoy more songs on El Camino, but this album does have it's fair share of classics.
Haven’t listened to this in years and forgot how much I liked the album as a whole vs what other stuff subsequent releases that I’ve heard from them. Overall an enjoyable listen.
Amazing
10’s vibe, but its more samie than I remember
I feel about this the way I feel about most Black Keys music; not bad, but not great either. The guitar playing is good, the production is great and unique, but I just can't shake the feeling that I'm listening to the audio track of like a beer or clothing commercial. I wouldn't turn it off, but it's not something I would ever seek out either. 2.5/5
Hard to have any real feeling about. It just exists. Wasn't bad or good, just ephemeral. I think that can't be a positive though, so.. 2/5
Not really my vibe at all, but I can’t say that I hated it. Just makes me kinda sleepy. D+
Solid album. Several radio hits. Couple more soulful tunes towards the end. Howling for You is probably my favorite track. I’ll give it 6.5/10
#1 The Black Keys - Brothers (2010) Blues Rock Garage Rock, Swamp Rock, Soul, Psychedelic Rock All the sleaze of classic blues rock without any of the douchebaggery. Pretty well done and enjoyable, even if it stretches itself thin with 15 songs. Good start. Favourite Tracks: Tighten Up, Next Girl, Howlin' for You, Everlasting Light, Never Gonna Give You Up Least Favourite Track: The Go Getter
The Black Keys remain one of the best modern blues and garage rocks bands out there. They have a great sound overall, and a knack for catch hooks and riffs. This album epitimises that in many ways with a nice mix of radio hits along with some awesome deep cuts.
Trying not to be bitter at this album for making them mainstream. It has some good jams, but some songs lack a discernible chorus and land a little flat for me. That said, overall it’s a cohesive and enjoyable listen. 3.6
I haven't listened to this in years. The production is minimal but does a lot of the work -- the reverb and fuzzy distortion on guitars/bass/vocals gives it a level of blues authenticity and retro appeal that it may otherwise lack. Overall solid album and an enjoyable listen. 4.0
Consistent Bangers
It sounds all right, but it just didn't feel like it had much emotion or heart.
Cool
Incredible album from start to finish. No skips. Dan’s gritty, bluesy guitar matches Pat’s drums so well.
Fun blend of blues and indie rock. Favorite songs: Next girl, She’s long gone, Too afraid to love you
Really cool
Very high quality album. Only the last song slightly disappointed me but was made up with the amount of bangers.
Initial impression wasn’t good, but it’s better on a re-listen. Decent but unspectacular, reminiscent of the White Stripes but with more soul and blues. 2.5/5, but rounding up to 3.
This is a solid record for sure. I don't get why it kind of gets a lot of hate for being 'white guy blues'. It's not like they're trying to be BB King or Muddy Waters. I think I like El Camino better but this is a super fun album - great sound, good songs, good riffs, good drums. I dig it. Would absolutely play this one again.
Used listen to it a lot when it came out.
The thing is, I really enjoyed some Black Keys singles when I was 13/14 years old. But now that I'm 26 and have listened to the blues and blues rock for over a decade, it's hard to say this is like... good music? It's not actively bad, and I do still enjoy songs like Tighten Up, but man! Obama Era Manufactured Blues. Howlin' For You and Ten Cent Pistol have their moments!
Some times a band can jam on a groove that isn't all that catchy, yet it works. Other times, it's just a "not catchy" groove, and it very much doesn't pull you in. It's a thin line between the two, and The Black Keys walk on that line very well, rarely straying to either side. And while that's not bad, it's not all that good either. I reminds me of the letter to the seventh church in the Book of Revelation. God wound up spitting the church out because it was lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. This album is like that. It's not bad, but it's just not great either. I like the sound fine, but there are so, so many better albums.
é black keys, mt bom mas tem uma ou outra música mais fraca pra não dar 5
No. I don’t understand how this album got selected in the exclusive list of 1001 albums while Weezer, Tool and Deftones were left out. I simply don’t. The music here is not bad, it just isn’t any good. None of the songs have any passion. Some songs, like Too Afraid to Love is almost really good; I like the style, the ambiance created with the keys and the vocal melody, but it’s delivered as though they don’t really mean it. It’s like they took a mix of all their influences and put it through a blander (see what I did there?) The album might be a three, but I’m going all the way down to two, because of the needlessness of it all
Jag älskade faktiskt det här albumet!!! Det var ändå hyfsat bra variation på låtarna och jag älskade texterna. Rösten var även perfekt till låtarna och jag älskade att man tydligt hörde alla instrument!! Min favoritlåt från albumet var Chop and Change. Jag tyckte väldigt mycket om texten och tempot i låten. Albumet får 5/5!!!
Good music
I was worried when the first track was some stomp clap white people shit, but by the end it had won me over. There's some great southern gospel rock here.
WOW I liked this so much! Added several to some playlists as it went. I love the groove and the singers’ voice. This is a pretty interesting sound for 2010 I think!
Not the best BK album but well written.
Good album for sure. Very diverse and full of bluesy, folksy style. Not quite tickling the fancy, thus the rating.
I owned this album! This was a great album. Let see if it holds up. Everlasting Light - The song I remember the best is this one. I know this wasn’t a major hit, but my head can instantly conjure the riff and the first few lines. It is still good, but memory seems better. 3/5 Next Girl - this is still great. It keeps its edge. Even if it was in a commercial. I mean rock gods gotta eat. 4/5 Tighten Up - this on the other hand is overplayed. And a little overlong. I remember really liking this song. What happened? 2/5 Howlin’ For You - a straight forward rock’n’roll heatseeker. 4/5 She’s Long Gone - oh man where have you been all my life? Hidden away on an album I’ve only heard a 1000 times. Love this now. Go fuzz blues rock. 4/5 Black Mud - it seems like the stuff that didn’t hit me younger is absolutely killing me now. It’s an interlude though. Wish they had done more with this. 3/5 The Only One - yeah alright. I mean it’s pretty good. Goes on a bit too long. Can’t in good conscience give it lower than a 3/5, though. Too Afraid To Love You - umm, what is this? It seems criminal I can’t remember some of these songs. But not this one. This one kinda sucks. 1/5 Ten Cent Pistol - boy this one and the one before it are like death in a row. I mean they are both competent songs. So why do they suck? 1/5 Sinister Kid - I feel like I must never have gotten through this whole thing when I listen to it before. I mean let’s be honest, this is peak iTunes era prior to streaming. I probably put just the songs I liked the most on a mixed CD. So not this one, even though it’s fine. 2/5 The Go Getter - this has got a good smokey bar vibe. Like it. 3/5 I’m Not The One - it’s fine 2/5. Unknown Brother - finally a song I remember. Weird I thought this was the end of the album. It steps up from the prior songs, but not enough to escape 3/5. Never Gonna Give You Up - never gonna let you down. Never gonna say goodbye or hurt you. 2/5 These Days - this is a better ending then I remember. 3/5 Overall, more of a melancholy trip than the scorcher I remember. Still a good album, especially since it was mining timeless sounds already, so it’s hard to nail it to it’s actually time. This is one of those bands, probably a trend started with the Black Crowes, that perennially go back to the well of The Rolling Stones to mine more gold. I don’t mind. I listen to the next band that does it. Those bands come and go, and this one is already gone. I think this is hard not to compare to its follow up, the minivan album. That one was a great album. Or at least that’s how I remember it. This one though is 3/5.
Great indie rock album. Very talent guys. Will listen again.
Buen disco
Absolutely LOVE this band! Great guitar riffs, amazing bluesy sound. Some hard rockin’ tracks in there for good measure! Low 5
A deceiving album. I heard Next Girl years ago and dived into the album, immediately loving the stripped back sound. Like a more bluesy, slightly cooler white stripes. But after a handful of listens I came to the conclusion not lacked depth, and almost every song got boring after a couple of sprints. Fast forward 10 years and my conclusions are exactly the same. I reckon I'd have given this 4* after 2-3 listens, as it is I'm struggling to give it much higher than a 2.5*
It's fine. Some decent songs. But it doesn't elevate into anything special. It's just sort of there. A decent listen but nothing spectacular.
Znao sam ga otprije tj neke stvari i bile su mi top te stvari pogotovo howlin for you
uninspiring
Heard it before. Sttill holds up
No one else sounds exactly like this. Good rock. 4/5
Lurv this album with its bluesy//garage rock feel Cohesive and angsty, but not the hugest fan of the fuzz pedal they use on side one, but side two was amazing (ok harpsichord!) Tbh great listening experience 8/10
literally no skips. lots of southern influence and the steady beat of a good rock and roll album. I also feel like the songs blend so well into each other making the album as a whole so much fun to listen to front to back. really blues rock makes me feel some type of way 9/10
Pretty solid. Felt like I was in a car commercial there for a second. - 7/10
Wasn't rocking with the pickup truck commercial sounds, but pretty good overall with some catchy tunes
the album started off pretty damn bad like it just was not fun to listen to the high pitch voice like idk why he was trying to be so quirky or whatever. I feel like its just almost fine but there's annoying noises n sounds in there that lowk just piss me off. it definitely gets a bit better later in the album but can't get over the beginning. 5/10 round down
One of the better rock and roll albums we’ve had. Tighten Up really grabbed my attention with that ridiculous drum pattern. Very unique and impossible not to listen to (the drums didn’t hit with the guitar??) Whole album was a fun mix of comfortable rock and pushing the edges of comfort with different rhythms and sounds… 8/10
7/10 - Quite enjoyable. I liked most of the songs but Tighten Up and The Only One stood out to me for some reason. They all sounded somewhat similar but it was a good vibe.
really liked this album, dont think there were any bad songs on it 9/10
This entire album sounds like a truck commercial 5/10
I think I've heard some songs by The Black Keys, but I'm not sure. So far so good. They do sound familiar, but I don't think I've heard any of the songs on this album. Maybe I've heard "Howlin' For You". It seems familiar. 4/5 A little too bluesy for me, but I still enjoyed it.
Did not blow my mind.
Good arena rock. So much bass and low end. Catchy enough
Despite really liking Turn Blue and somewhat liking El Camino, I just couldn't get into this album. Didn't hear anything that stood out and instead sounded like too many numbers that plodded along without much excitement. Disappointing
All their songs sound the same, but luckily I really enjoy that sound
Notable tracks: Everlasting Light, Sinister Kid, Howlin’ For You
shrugs
Dan Auerbach's claim that he "didn't know who the White Stripes were" when he and Patrick started the Black Keys is so full of shit. There's no chance in hell they weren't aware of another midwestern blues-infused two-piece that was already beginning to hit the mainstream. Dan, in general, is not a very reliable or trustworthy person, but that's another story for another day. That all said, starting around their third album, the Keys did carve out a slightly different niche for themselves, honing in a bit more on subtle psychedelic and R&B influences in contrast to some of the Stripes' punkier and more Americana flourishes. In my opinion, they hit their peak on the album before this one, Attack & Release, but Brothers is still pretty great. There are more than a few solid bluesier tunes - I'm especially partial to the swampy "She's Long Gone" and "Ten Cent Pistol" - that sit nicely alongside the more soulful "Everlasting Light" and "The Only One". "Sinister Kid" has a surprisingly good groove (surprising because Patrick Carney is truly not that great of a drummer half the time), "Next Girl" and "Tighten Up" are dependable singles, and even the atmospheric instrumental "Black Mud" is pretty damn cool. I think "Howlin' for You" works totally fine in context with the rest of the album, but it does telegraph the direction they're about to go in - a direction that has given them a mostly deserved reputation. Additionally, at least 3-4 tracks could have easily been left off. But I'll stand by my defense of this one (as well as Attack & Release and Rubber Factory), and I'll forever have good memories of the show I saw on this tour. 4/5
fun, bluesy, well done. probably should listen to it again. Nice!
It’s good. But the black keys can get repetitive
I like the singles but the deep tracks .. zzzz
The hits are good but the rest of the album is boring.
Kende dit eigenlijk niet, paar nummer misschien. Staat nu echter wel in mijn lijstje!
great album
Ok, nothing I would save
To begin, I find the Black Keys to be a phenomenally talented group. My first introduction to to the Black Keys was with the album "Rubber Factory" in 2004 and also "Thickfreakness" (2003) and "The Big Come Up" (2002). I guess (fairly or unfairly) that is what I use to compare "Brothers" to. "Brothers" still has all the ingredients of what makes a great Black Keys album, but it is a little more produced and lacks that pure lo-fi sound and energy from their earlier albums. I am happy to see the Black Keys success and evolution, but I will always pine for their older garage band sound and raw energy. With that said, "Brothers" will get 4 stars instead of 5.
This album rocks. Literally. I’ve listened to it countless times for 10+ years and plan on continuing to. Dance for the first half of the album, then cruise and jam for the second half. It feels timeless to me in the way it combines classic rock with bluesy feeling vocals and autotune, all in 1. Theres also a certain twang to it that I feel also can appeal to many different listeners.
I’ve heard of the Black Keys before and probably know some of their stuff without knowing it was them. Ah yep, I’ve heard Howlin’ for You. I really like the funky bluesy rock style overall. They remind me of the Cold War Kids, though a bit more polished. These Days was a nice soft departure from that style though, showing a bit of range in the album, and was a banging song overall. Really good album. Super impressed.
I have to start off by saying this album was extremely important for me musically just because it’s when i discovered that there was other music out there other than what was on 99.9 kiss country or the rap songs my brother would always play in the car. Sure tighten up was played ad nauseam but there is a reason for it. One of the best guitar riffs of the past two decades and maybe only topped by their subsequent album with lonely boy. Side A of this album is definitely a five with everlasting light tighten up Howlin for u and she’s long gone all straight jams. B side does kinda drag on a bit without a lot of variety and does make it a four unfortunately. I also love when band is around for awhile before they have commercial success. It clearly comes through in their song writing where they don’t give an f and are just here to make music they want to make. Lastly, one of the greatest album covers, period. So badass
I remember when this album came out in high school. I played guitar and sang Jim Croce for my senior project (mediocre at best) but the girls and Ms. Bowman in my class loved it. This dude came after me and did the most mind blowing piano playing and it was completely under appreciated. Shoutout Traeton! Anyway, he loved this album when it came out, so I always think of him when I hear it. With that in mind, the album had some hits but was an easy listen. To me you could play that entire album through as background music at a bar and I would be cool with it. This was another one of those albums that had a definitive finish. As the last song faded out, I knew it was over.
I probably haven’t listened to this album from beginning to end in about a decade and it was nice to come back to it. The first four songs are a great start to the album, then the Blues Rock carries you through to the end. There are some certified jams on this album, like Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Howlin’ for You, and Never Gonna Give You Up. The biggest flaw is that some of the songs blend together in the middle of the album and it’s hard to differentiate between them if you aren’t paying close attention. I’m juggling back and forth between a three and four, but I think I’ll stick with a three because it’s early in our 1001 albums and I know there will be even better Blues Rock albums.
I enjoy the Black Keys sound. It has a produced/manufactured roughness to it. A bit of buzz and distortion, but in a purposeful way. The first half of the album was stronger for me. I was getting a bit tired of it by the end, but I think "These Days" was a great way to finish it off. I'm curios to see if their album El Camino is on this list. I think that would be more up my ally. A shorter album with more upbeat radio hits.
Can’t stand The Black Keys
Like it initially but got bored, didn’t finish.
3 0r 4
Good album with some standout songs but by the end quite repetitive.
Beginning to question the proprietor of these 1,001 albums…
I listened to it on Friday and can’t remember anything about it now that it’s Monday. So… yeah. I recall thinking it was fine but ultimately I didn’t care at all. Songs added to Spotify: 0
Not as good as The Big Come Up or Rubber Factory but still very very good.
Aquí hay canciones que escuchaba en mi adolescencia, no puedo poner otra cosa que un 5.
How did I not know The Black Keys?! I love this!
Thoughts before listening: Not my favorite album by the Black Keys, but this is the one when they started becoming alt rock stars instead of underground indie rock cult heros. I enjoy this band quite a bit and have even seen them a few times, so it'll be nice to re-listen to one of their classics. Review: The hits are definitely catchy and it's overall a fine record. It's not however something I would consider to be one of the 1,001 best of all time. I added "Tighten Up", "Howlin' For You", and "Sinister Kid" to the playlist, and I'll be glad to hear those when they come up. The album however is 2-stars to me.
Honestly, bangers only.
Enjoyed it!
Who in the world needs almost an hour of The Black Keys on one album? I like a good riff as much as the next person, but this band has a tendency to milk them. The songs that are great are immaculately produced, catchy, and performed well; the songs that aren't are kind of exhausting. I can forgive a repetitive song when it's not a minute too long. It all begins to sound the same. Also, goodness gracious are these lyrics vapid. Highlights: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Howlin' For You
There are some songs I like on this album but I do find that constant distorted guitar a bit wearing by the end of the album. A bit average overall.
Beautiful album.
У меня были надежды на этот альбом, нооо то ли в настроение не попал, то ли этот высокий вокал и диджитал синты мне не зашли. Три звёздочки имхо
non c'é Kendrick Lamar
sembrano le classiche canzoni da pub britannico, ascoltabili ma troppo ripetitive
Cool bluesy sound. Very retro indeed.
Howlin for you - there’s like a synth or a guitar that sounds like a kazoo and I don’t like it Soulful
If we think of classic rock as a genre rather than era, this album is one of the few that makes the case that their is some continued relevance and room for new contributions to the genre in the 2010s beyond bar bands and tribute acts. Part of the early 2000s rock revival indie era, The Black Keys along with the White Stripes, BRMC, Hives etc kept trying to make garage happen again. They're my favorite of that cluster of bands, and this is both their commercial breakthrough and fullest realization of that vision. If you're going to be a guitar/drum duo, both of those parts need to be top tier, and this album pulls it off with flair. Even if you've never heard this, it feels very familiar: there's nothing super original in it, but the guitar work is a masterful and tasteful display of rock playing that's digested the rock canon - a huge range of tones (fuzzy, overdriven, bright clean, heavy, soaring, jangly, muted), rhythm parts that establish a solid groove and keep things interesting with fills and licks without being distracting or showy, some ripping solos that don't go on too long, total command of the pedal board with dialed in delays/reverb, textural tremelo, whooshing phasers/flange and a bit of wah. There's room left over to fill in with fun bass/organ parts to round out the sound. The drums are similar - nothing spectactular but perfectly in the pocket and committed to a groove. The vocals are played like a guitar on the edge of breakup, pushing into the red for a bit of scuzz around the edges of the verging on falsetto belted out impassioned delivery. Favorites: Ten Cent Pistol, Sinister Kid, Tighten Up, Black Mud
Don't hate it, but not really my thing.
What's not to like?
Perfect for a dark, moody day
The growl + the blues + the occasional weirdness just does it for me. The basic drum + guitar are simple, but feel fresh.
I did not expect this album to be on here, but it was a nice change of pace. I like how the generator’s giving me a lot of albums from the 21st century. Dan Auerbach’s voice on this album is both comforting and emotional, and the riffs on this album pack so much into a 3 to 4 minute song. Truly one of the best albums of the 2010s. 5/5 Fav: “I’m Not The One”, “Tighten Up” Least Fav: None
Faux rock.
Always a distinctive sounding album with the Black Keys, good tracks, solid all round. 3.5/5
NME stans this album 3/5
Rock'n'Roll Blues with some Britpop and Soul. Nice and true feeling but too constant for my taste.
Indie, groove, smooth, retro, mid/slow, good melodies, nice solos, but basically redundant, album drags to finishing line. Not there best one fmpov
Some songs are really good but the whole album is lackluster. It went on too long.
ye$$$
I like a bit of scuzzy blues as much as the next person, but this was just a tad too samey.
I kinda thought I liked this band. Turned out they are boring as hell
Se me ha hecho un poco largo y monótono.
Not a fan. A couple of good ones.
This album felt long, lots of forgettable songs. A couple of really good ones, really liked Black Mud and Never gonna give you up. But it doesn't make up for the rest of the album.
Not awful, not great. Was an album with songs
One of the bands I am familiar with! My favorite Black Keys song is "Howlin' for You" and I enjoyed hearing the rest of the album.
No. 99/1001 Everlasting Light 4/5 Next Girl 3/5 Tighten Up 4/5 Howlin' for You 3/5 She's Long Gone 3/5 Black Mud 3/5 The Only One 3/5 Top Afraid To Love You 3/5 Ten Cent Pistol 3/5 Sinister Kid 3/5 The Go Getter 3/5 I'm Not The One 4/5 Unknown Brother 3/5 Never Gonna Give You Up 4/5 These Days 4/4 Average: 3,33 No bad song on here, but also only a few things that really stood out for me.
Very good. I liked it.
Es Rock, pero The Black Keys me gusta mas. Muy buen album recopilatorio.
A drunk bar album. I mean it’s ok if you are in the culture but wtf, why is it so popular?
Always the grooviest dudes
This was very dull.
Hm beetje een rock/bluesy album, klinkt in het begin wel nice! Tighten it up is een absolute klassieker, zit die niet in een FIFA? Vind er een heel vervelend toontje in Howling zitten, haalt me echt uit het nummer... Vind dit album een beetje een mindere versie dan Arctic Monkeys. Het pakt me niet heel erg en het eerste woord dat in me opkomt is 'prima'. Ik voel bijna niets tijdens dit hele album, het is vooral muziek voor op de achtergrond. Zou het 2,5 geven, omdat het muzikaal gewoon prima is, maar niet echt bijzonder is naar mijn mening. Dat kan niet, dus worden het 2 sterren, sorry Black Keys jullie hebben echt net pech FAVO:Tighten it up, Never Gonna Give you up
Meh
not to'bad
Too rocky for me, but nice!
Nice
I first discovered this album early in college and the influence it has had on my life is immense. The music of the Black Keys became the soundtrack to my college experience and their music is still discussed amongst my friend group today. While I prefer the earlier albums of the band, Brothers was the entry point for me to their discography. The album holds up for the most part today, although I believe it could be shortened by three or four songs. My favorite tracks tend to be the slower ones, especially those in which Dan sings in falsetto (Everlasting Light, The Only One, These Days, Unknown Brother).
Solid album
Solid album
It’s good, not my favorite though
Wow, what a nice surprise. Am aware of the Black Keys mostly the current stuph, but this album kicks. Just a guitar and drum duo amazes you how much quality sound they produce. The guitarist and vocalist Dan Auerbach is also a sometime DJ on Sirius XM radio
LOVE The Black Keys and really enjoy this album.
Nothing special
Pretty good album, lot of the songs sound pretty similar.
It’s ok, a couple songs I liked but most I wouldn’t want to hear again.
Great crunchy pop guitar. Stellar soul vibe. Toe tapping beats. One of the better albums.
Decent. I didn’t mind listening to it, but I don’t see myself seeking it out specifically.
Decent enough garage rock, but lots of other bands do it better.
It’s easy to hate on The Black Keys. They often get compared unfavorably to The White Stripes. People say that they aren’t as interesting as The White Stripes and that this album is too long and repetitive. They also don’t like that singer’s singing. They also think there’s some cool sounding tracks with cool guitar player. They also give this a 3.
Solid new blues rock.
Ein ganz eigener Sound, sehr vielseitig. Die Songs umarmen dich, treiben dich, reißen dich mit, heißen dich zu Hause willkommen und geben dir Mut wieder raus in die Welt zu rennen und dir das Herz brechen zu lassen, absolutely love it!
Indie rocke blues actual.
I've heard a lot of this over the years but never all together. When it's good it's really good; the first 4-5 songs are very nice, but it loses its way with songs like The Only One and Too Afraid to Love You where the bluesy groove slips and they go into warbly pop mode. Means it only gets a 3, too hit and miss.
A decent listen, but not one I'd ever seek out again, I think? White Stripes-y vibe, as Tim said, but with a bit more veneer and polish to it. That's good - it's a lot smoother than a White Stripes record - and bad - you sand off a lot of the edge. It was all fine, but nothing really great. Definition of a down the middle 3/5.
I quite enjoyed this. It kinda grew on me, and would consider listening to other albums by this band. I give this album 4 out of 5 stars.
Starts off with some bangers but drags in the second half.
listened to again great album
I've heard worse...
I liked this a lot more when it came out.
Solid but uninspiring.
Sounds good
The Black Keys have a distinctive sound; you instantly know it’s a Black Keys song when one comes on. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell which Black Keys song is playing as they all sound identical, which tends to make their albums drag. I was also disappointed to discover Never Gonna Give You Up wasn’t a cover of the Rick Astley classic.
I think there are better albums by them but some of my fav songs are on this album and reminded me how much I love this group and need to listen to them more.
great stroll through memory lane
A solid album by The Black Keys, who - in my opinion - have done even better elsewhere. The hit songs, Tighten Up and Howlin' for You, are definitely a step above the rest, and an indication of what the band is truly capable of.
Only managed to get through a few songs. I did like it but it started to go through to my head so couldn't finish it off
Started off ok, whitestripes influence but god did it become a slog after the first few songs. Found myself praying they would kick the tempo up a little as one song merged into another and I slowly slipped into a coma.
A strong 3, probably would've rated it higher with another listen, better than the previous album.
Started off strong but it really got a bit samey towards the end. As individual songs I'd give it a 4 but as an album it's a 3
hated music
certainly not something that impressed me a great deal. One or two songs appealed to me, but the rest I found bland, predictable, unimaginative, uninspired and not really original in any way. I've been a singer/musician for over fifty-five years and never easily impressed. 1/4/24.
Solid. Chill vibes. BFs favorite band so that gets brownie points. 8/10. Smoking outside at 1am vibes.
Boring
I used to love a lot of these songs when they were all over the radio. I’m glad I have since changed and grown as a person <3
Favourite songs: Howlin' For You, Tighten Up, She's Long Gone, Next Girl, Sinister Kid, Everlasting Light, Ten Cent Pistol Least favourite songs: Unknown Brother 4/5
The Black Keys are what they are. They write blues pop songs. I just don't like blues, and I don't like the radio-jingle style of writing they do. So, I can't give this one stars, as they play well, and there is obviously talent and skill in the songs they write. However, it is very much not for me, and this album, if anything, is the epitome of what they are to me, for better (for other people) and worse (for me).
love this album, been a big fan for a long time !
Great alum that has great beats, lyrics/vocals and all around vibes. 4
One of the best rock albums of all time.
4/5 listened 3x
Standouts: Howling for You, Tighten Up, Solid: 4/5
3.5 tycker att låtarna är ganska bra men skulle önska lite mer variation. allt låter exakt likadant
The album was alright. I recognized a couple of songs. It went on a little too long. Some songs were good others came across as pretentious. I will round up.
"Brothers" by The Black Keys is an album with a tender personality. Behind the '10s garage rock haze, the listener can find songs of desire, deception, and heartbreak embellished with a creamy guitar and raspy voice. Yes, it has the singles, but what gets you is the side B: the slow songs.
A terrific album opener - arguably one of the best album openers of all time, full of swagger and promise of more to follow - but the rest of the album fails to keep up and fades away into a morass of similar sounding tunes. The cover of Never Give You Up is fun but otherwise not quite enough.
Hm war ganz okay aber mir hat die ganze Zeit was gefehlt
I have been a casual Black Keys listener in the past and enjoyed this.
Solid album with a classic FIFA tune on there.
Gave me flashbacks to all the commercials that used these songs. Enjoyable listen, but because the songs are pretty simple in terms of construction, they all sound pretty similar to me. Standouts: Never Gonna Give You Up, Everlasting Light
Forgot how much I love them, tho they smell a lil but like white boy washing
J’ai pas haïs ça, mais à la fin tout se mêle un peu ensemble en un tas homogene, faudrait que je le réécoute une deuxième fois
A couple solid bangers on this one.
It was super fun. I remember this being a huge hit on the radio. Lot of fun to listen to. But not anything brilliant.
I wrote this one off almost immediately to be honest, but the longer I listened to it the more I realised that the BKs are actually quite a nuanced band, and not just another radio-rock outfit. I particularly enjoyed Black Mud - a Zep inspired broody blues song, shame it wasn't longer is all I can say!
I am already a Black Keys fan. Elements of blues, rock and folk got me adding songs I already liked and adding new ones. This kind of album makes you want to explore the rest of them to find more of the same sound. 3.5
One of the better modern rock albums
Really liked the scuffed sounding mixing on this one, I like that the instruments weren't polished. It started strong, but it lost me in a few parts and I would've preferred a ton of other vocalists on these songs than the one we got.
fantastic
Soft 4
Not one song stood out.
Decent album. Liked it a lot more when it first came out.
"Brothers" is regarded as one of the best albums from The Black Keys. "Tighten Up" and "Howlin' for You" were very popular singles. The Black Keys have an indie, garage rock vibe. Every song on the album sounds kinda similar and its all very sterile. Their musical success is cold, calculated, and devoid of artistic flair or individuality. This band was blocked on my Spotify and this album helped me remember why.
Favorite Tracks: Tighten Up Ten Cent Pistol These Days
this album was almost offensively dull. the first few tracks were fine but the blues-rock-for-white-people vibe got pretty stale after that. i'd rather listen to a car alarm for an hour than this annoying fuzzy guitar tone and artificially heavy drum sounds while some soulful white guy sings nothing of importance at me. it's honestly impressive that they managed to write the exact same song 15 times and not realize it. favorites: everlasting light, tighten up, howlin for you
Buen fondo
Yes, this is a Blues-album but it sounds unlike any other Blues albums out there. The songs contain great hooks and a fuzzy bass, the production value is top notch. I will listen to this again. 4/5
Solid album. This seems to be a fan favourite amongst Black Keys fans. I think it really encompasses their overall sound. Revisiting this album, I notice how it has their sound from past albums and hints at the future (Turn Blue). The album cover is clever. Tongue in cheek. Simple. This ain't my favourite Black Keys. I was late to the party. I remember hearing this album and previous albums when I worked at HMV and always enjoyed it... But it wasn't until the release of El Camino that turned me on to them. That album influenced me greatly. That raw, bluesy, honest guitar tone hits me hard. In fact it had influenced some of my own writing as well. Unexpectedly. There are some snippets and rhythm tracks on this album that I'm surprised haven't been sampled in other genres, namely hip hop. Maybe they have? I wouldn't know off the top of my head though... And I'm not really going to go out seeking. But this album is pretty tight. The first half is fantastic, then the album slows down.. Not in tempo, but in, I don't want to say quality... Because they're well written, but they just don't resonate with me as well. But then the last few tracks pick it up again for me. The album ends on a wonderfully written song called These Days that has a purposeful and beautiful chorus. It's a slower jam, with guitar slides and licks in the right places. Did you know the drummer married Michelle Branch? Now you do.
It's pretty great. Wee bit too long?
Jedan od omiljenih albuma, nije los ni zivotni momenat za to
Major throwback to high school. This is a great, well rounded album.
One of the best of all time
12/3/23
Good album but like groundhogs day, it’s the same song every damn time
Bangers here also
pretty decent, el camino is better though
It's a mystery why this is on the list. Uncreative basic blues rock. Apparently it's part of some garage revival? I can put it on in the background without hurting but why shouldn't I put on some proper blues instead?
I don't get the Black Keys.
It was okay
3.5/5
For the first half of the album thought it's worth 4 out of 5, but the second half is damn boring, so it gets 3 out of 5
This is fine. If you want to listen to pretty good blues rock made in 2010, you could do worse than this album. However, there are lots of better blues rock albums to listen to, so I'm not sure why you would go out of your way to listen to this one.
It's the blues! I'm of course familiar with The Black Keys. I like several of the songs on this album. There more recent stuff has kind of been experimental with going into different genres and sounds, but this record is a bit of a blues explosion. Definitely front loaded with bangers. The latter half of the record tails off. 15 tracks, an hour long....not recorded for vinyl was it?
Very generic and bland, sounds like the crew 2 No songs caught my ear
indie notbad
Some good stuff woven into the mix. Seemed like it went on longer than it had to.
Really like , howlin' for you and tighten up. Which is no surprise because they we both realised as singles which is probably why I kind of know them. I generally like the blues sound but it's a bit to generic. The only other song that I might listen to again off the album is I'm not the one.
Arctic Monkey vibes, quite like them
Only heard the one song before this. Pretty stellar album really. Have another artist I need to look in to.
Good I like them
A few real bangers but a bit of filler too
Nice nice nice. Je connaissais les plus classiques. Début de l'album > Fin de l'album.
Solid. Some good songs but dragged on a bit
This shit sucks
Hit factory
I've never really been that into The Black Keys. They've always just felt like really generic alt-rock guys doing unoriginal blues rock and trying to sound old-timey. The production of this album is a perfect example, they've obviously added a tape hiss/reverb effect to a lot of the vocals and tracks overall. That being said, this album isn't bad, just not something I'd ever really choose to listen to as I don't find it very interesting or exciting. So, I'm going with a middling rating. Standout Tracks: Everlasting Light, Howlin' for You, Unknown Brother, These Days
Pretty generic blues rock album, white-stripesy
Great album they still play some of these songs in live shows after 12 years.
Great stuff 4/5
I can get why they're popular, but I don't get why they're loved
Very forgettable indie rock with a touch of blues and a fuzz pedal to create some "edgy" moments. Pretty dull in general.