Brothers

Tremendous album.

Great flow through the entire album, gave it multiple listens. No real track stood out tho, so a solid 4.

Zero. Dislike this band.

I like the very relaxed vibe

Hate. Let me tell you how much I’ve come to hate the black keys. There are approximately 10,000 microbreweries and sports bars in the greater statistical area of northeast Ohio. If Tighten Up was played across every single nanoangstrom of those establishments, on every alt rock station, on every truck commercial, on every bumper between the coverage of Browns games, in every dingy record store in an old brick building, that would not equal one billionth of the hate I feel for this band in this microinstant. This fake blues band, this whiter white stripes wannabe, this insult to the city of Akron that somehow every other person around me thinks is good because they’re from the same area as us. I cannot begin to describe how often I’ve had to hear this band for the past fifteen years of my life. Hate. Hate.

God yes finally my first 5 star! This album is probably one of my most listened to for a good number of years, it was instrumental I think in my transition to slower genres of rock and indie. This was also the album that got me into The Black Keys. I absolutely love it and every track is brilliant! So good to listen to it again after a good while

This is where the band peaked, with the perfect blend of blues rock and pop sensibilities. Perhaps along with El Camino, but after this the wheels really fell off. However enjoy this peak period for what it is, a brilliant selection of blues rock numbers by a band at the top of their game.

It's not bad, but doesn't click with me

Boredom, be a lady tonight. This music is fine. That's really it. This breaks no new ground. In fact, it just sort of shuffles some dirt around next to the grave of Muddy Waters. There is reverence, there is tribute, but this just feels kind of disingenuous to me. I even had to take some time away from this one and return refreshed and ready for more melancholic white boy blues paraplegia (OR para"plagia." y'know, like plagiarism??). Yes, I have been rendered invalid by the stagnant boredom and the general truck commercialism that this music has unfortunately fallen victim to. Maybe if I wasn't alive at the time? I don't know. These guys are aping a decent sound, but the aping itself rubs me the wrong way. Also? Way too long for what it is. I'm sure this would be a very cool live show, but 55 minutes of college kids doing millennial blues worship? RIGHT DOWN TO THE RICK ROLL. Errrrrm Cheque Please?!?! 2-2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: 518 million plays??

It was fine and good, but probably not an album I would choose to play again.

Długie, ale OK. Mogłabym wrócić.

Never jumped on The Black Keys hype train when this album first got released and listening to it for the first time now doesn't make me wish I did. The songs that I recognized were cool, but its too repetitive at times. Could it have been made better by slimming the track list down from 15 to like 12? Maybe, I still don't think it would make me give this album more than anything but a 3.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I listened to Everlasting Light on repeat in high school so it brought back some… interesting memories for sure

Well made, not really my thing

- Played a concert in Israel in 2023, but I see nothing from them about the genoicde... I have to assume they're Zionists. And they also did that pro crypto show, lol. I used to listen to them & I think I saw them live at some point, but I guess that will stay in the past. - This album is where I got off the Black Keys train. It has a few good tracks, but it was mostly filler and felt super long. - Unfortunately, the joy and grit of the previous albums doesn't seem to be there - this one feels more plodding and one-note.. - Also, the lyrics feel either really inauthentic or sexist...

Sweaty modern blues album with plenty of swamp fuzz and grit.

Meh Maybe I’ll try this again but I remained disinterested during my listen

Overly long, but ok

Retro appeal of this mellow album fails to carry throughout its length due to lack of musical ideas and songwriting

6/10 Had my head nodding throughout. Some catchy grooves and I enjoy the prominent bass in the mix, but nothing wowed me here. Just a solid rock record. Favs: Tighten Up, The Only One

Eh. The sound profile is the only gimmick and it grows stale real fast

Overall good album that I mostly enjoyed listening to. I feel like the album could've been a tad bit shorter. Best song was Ten Cent Pistol.

Lieblingssong: „ten cent pistol?“ Overall Rating: 8/10 by Anmerkungen: cool

Day 164 Knew a lot of these, enjoyed the album a lot Highlights Next Girl Howlin for you

po esse aqui me pega legal

definitivamente um album!! nunca fui mto do black keys nao viu. mas eh de boa, nada demais. bem normal, nada me saltou os olhos mas tbm nao me entediou!! algumas sao bem legais, até!!

Awful album cover. Good album.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Inte så gritty som jag minns den och El Camino är nog snäppet vassare. Gillar den dock skarpt även om den kanske inte riktigt har så många spår som på riktigt står ut. Men soundet och produktionen är helt i min smak.

Class from start to finish.

A bit samey

I’ve criticized 60s white boy blues albums for being white boy blues albums … but man this 10s white boy blues album hits me the right way.

I loved this. Great beat, awesome if you’re doing housework or going for a walk and want something fun and lively. Some might think the songs sound monotonous with the same synth and drum lines, but I’m a new fan.

This is one of those albums that was so popular around a certain period of my life that, despite having never put it on, I assume I've heard some of this before. Well, either I've totally forgotten hearing this before (not a big swing considering how generic a lot of this is) or I've never heard any of it until today, and don't think I've missed out. Three stars on the basis that it's competent and some of the guitar noodling is quite nice.

8/10

Loved it! Catchy songs that don’t sound generic. Amazing album.

idk but i like it

Alternative rock. Best Black Keys album. Probably should be at least a 4, but not my genre, so downgraded to 3. 1 song to playlist for now. Will likely be one of the first bumped when listening to gets full.

Legendary LP

I already knew I liked it. Good album. Varied enough.

As I listened to this I kept thinking that this could be a band that Jack White would be right at home in. Then I found out that there was a feud for a while because Jack White considered The Black Keys to be a watered down White Stripes thinking they were copying his sound. I enjoyed this and the raw fuzzy sound of it. Good stuff.

I really like this album but I think I need to be in a mood for it. It is amazing to me the music put out by just two musicians so I have to rate it higher but the overall tone of the album is too minor for me and makes me kind of sad listening to it. 4.2

Banger même si y'a pas vrm de chanson qui m'a strike à part celle que je connaissais déjà

really good album, didn't know them it got me interested, it's got that peaky blinders england vibe to it, and really nice cover too

Amazing. All of their albums are 5 stars

Liked this album quite a bit when I was a teenager but man does this feel dated now, which is wild since the whole premise of this album was to sound instantly timeless. Weird pick to have on this list when albums like Cosmogramma, Have One On Me, The ArchAndroid and Teen Dream came out the same year. I think the singles are still probably 'good' but I can't stand them after the overplay they had

Didn't know them by name but recognize a bunch of the songs. Would give 3.5

This was a repeat from my other group, I didn't bother listening again because frankly I did not enjoy it the first time around. Record is way too long and mostly unremarkable for me

This was pretty good, I've heard a few of their songs but first time I listened to a whole album.

50 long minutes of meandering, sauceless blues rock. I cannot think of one stand out moment in the entire album. At the very least it provides unobtrusive and not wholly unenjoyable background music. Why exactly must I listen to this before I die. Favourite Track: 14 - Never Gonna Give You Up Best Three Track Run: 13, 14, 15

I love the bluesy almost sultry vibe of this album. Not every song stands out but the ones that do are amazing. Favorite track: Sinister Kid

Assez original, et pourtant facile à écouter.

Great album

it was like a great album but i got sidetracked

Solid release that brought The Black Keys into the US mainstream. The patented echoey live sounding vocals are always a welcome sound to get into a party energy mood. Howlin' for you is a stand-out example of the album.

The first of the mature albums from The Beatles. Wonderful, groundbreaking.

My least favorite genre of music but at least I was able to fall asleep to it.

Goated intro somg. I love the sound of it. Sort of got lost after the first few songs

On par with early 2000s garage rock revival but does add a bit more soul

good for background nice and mellow relaxing different rhythms which I like

3.5

Obvs I love this. Makes me feel effortlessly cool (because I forst listened to this when I was 13)

hell yeah, loved being able to get back into the black keys. very good, very fun. album art though? where is it?

This is pretty bog-standard blues rock. Inoffensive but not transcendent. Not essential.

Really enjoyed this one, reminds me of the Arctic Monkeys

redefined sports bar ambiance

Solid album, this is my favourite album by them

Already in my regular rotation. Wish we could vote half-stars. Torn between 3 & 4 stars.

Very cool, with a vintage feel. A really solid album that swaggers - could equally have been released in the 70s or today. Ten Cent Pistol is a highlight.

nice! i think there's some really nice tunes in here a very enjoyable listen

Everlasting Light! Howlin for you! Ten Cent Pistol! The Black Keys you will always be famous............

Was one of my fav albums from 8th grade through high school. Everlasting Light, The Only One and Never Gonna Give You Up are my favs after my revisit. Would give it 4.5 out of 5 but was not an option, so 5 it is ig

where to begin with this one, and not for good reason. this is one of the dullest, most REPETITIVE albums i might have ever listened to. this simply leaves you unsatisfied, you begin listening and here some decent instrumentation, but are met with the same old monotonous lyrics. a poooor poor attempt at blues rock imo. the best song if i had to choose would be never gonna give you up, but that’s actually not even there original song which i think tells you everything needed to be said about this piece

chill calm - reminds of sombr

So many good rock songs in here. Easy to listen to when I want a head nob day. Would love to hear live !

Boring

Very much a “vibes” record. The more honed in they got, the less rough sounding and more commercially viable in every way. Just a bit too easy to ignore but always pleasant to hear.

A few of these songs were damn good the rest don’t do it for me

Really middling for me. Lots of boring 2010s rock sound. Some of it was ok but I tired of it rather quickly.

I already knew two songs: Tighten Up and Howlin' For You which I already liked. The rest of the album sounded good and right in line with what I would enjoy but no other song stood out except for Ten Cent Pistol.

Always a favourite

Don’t dig it. 1.

Fantastic album. Listened to it twice, back to back.

*2010. *Tighten Up, Next Girl, and Howlin for You are all on this album. *I don't know what it is, but I can't get into these guys. Saw them live a few years after this album came out, and that didn't help. RATING - 6/10

Excited that this is first album to start the entire 1001. Lived in Akron for my coming to age years after college. Just finished it 1/9. It was okay. Not my favorite. Liked it a bunch more when I was younger

Первый альбом приятно удивил.

meh

January 9, 2026 (Friday) Album of the Day: Brothers (2010) - The Black Keys Found out about this website from my co-worker Allie Collier. Thought I would try it out. (1/12/2026) Didn't actually listen to this album until Monday. Really good album, generally a type of music I like. Great way to start the day. Favorite Song: Ten Cent Pistol

I wore this out back in the day, but feel unmoved now. It’s very same-y. And reinforces my challenge in listening to albums. So much sounds the same and I get bored.

Best one yet. 5/5 x

The first album I could imagine seeing live!!

Excellent. I’ve enjoyed their more popular songs - most of the songs on the album are equally enjoyable.

Don’t love the black keys. Some songs were ok. Glad to give them a proper chance.

mid, the first song was the best one

At first, I wasn't really vibing with this album, but it grew on me. It almost seemed like some Tarantino would use. 7/10 for me, but I don't know if i'd listen to it again.

Appreciate it, but not my thing.

I have had a tough time getting into The Black Keys because I've always felt like they're a White Stripes rip off but made more accessible/radio friendly. I don't dislike this album but I don't feel like this album deserves to be on this list. I like El Camino and Turn Blue a lot better than this record too.

Are The Black Keys underrated, overrated or accurately rated? I first heard of this band probably in 2008 when Attack & Release came out. It was described to me as "kinda like The White Stripes," which is probably accurate. It never grabbed me like I wanted it too. I always like it and enjoy it, but it never encourages me to stay all day. Certain songs do. On this record, its Howlin or Everlasting Light or Never Gonna Give You Up. I was pretty excited for this today, I listened to it through about 4 times. And again, I really enjoyed it! but its hard for me to tell one song from the next. I do really love and respect their contemporary take on blues and blues rock. Its really cool and really refreshing. Maybe I need to spend more time with them. I'll check out some other albums today. I really want to like this band more than I do.

Some good sounding songs with punchy bass and drums. But it felt like what Imagine Dragons fans turn to when they want to be edgy.

okayyy finally some new songs added to the playlist

Very good album. I like the Black Keys, but haven’t heard too much of their discography. Glad I listened to this one.

3.53/5 Stars Top Songs: Tighten Up, Next Girl, These Days

Grew on me.

Going back and forth between a rating of two or three. Parts I really enjoyed and parts I didn’t. But it did get better. 2.5

I really love the first 5 tracks on this album. The problem is that tracks 6-14 fell flat, sometimes cribbing lines from their other songs, and didn't keep up any of the energy from the first 5 songs. If I hadn't been bored to numbness, "These Days" might have stirred up my emotions, and been an amazing final track. Maybe someday, I'll just listen to those 6 songs in a loop, and see if it hits they way I think it should. Rather disappointing, because I generally like The Black Keys.

Favorite track: Everlasting Light Least favorite track: Black mud (it's not bad i just like me some lyrics!!!) Thoughts: the switch up in Tighten Up at ~2.35 was fckin awesome. i felt it in my bones. The Only One is beautiful - i love the sweet folksy nature of the vocals and overall production of this song in contrast to most of the other songs on the album. Too Afraid to Love You is giving me Dracula vibes with that harpsichord - wasn't expecting that from these guys for some reason, but not disappointed! I knew i was gonna like Never Gonna Give You Up within the first 20 seconds of the song. Overall banger album - the Black Keys have such a nostalgic and unique sound that I'll always have a soft spot for.

7/10

This album is very strong in its genre and I think that's good, however is not really my style and I wouldn't listen to it intentionally. The genre in general, I think, feels very repetitive and all the songs are predominantly percussion sounds, which gets very annoying at some point if you are not into this kind of music.

There is nothing worse than having all your songs blend together. This is a great album other than that. I'm also very hard pressed not to mention a certain band on the opposite side of the color spectrum as the Black Keys. The two Midwest Blues Duos are intertwined to some degree & have had equal success. The Keys seem to be more polished. I prefer white meat to dark in this situation. There's not much difference between The Only One & I'm Not the One. Why are they even on the same album? Are those Sleigh Bells in Unknown Brother? I don't know how I feel about that. Automatic Christmas song? Howling For You sounds like Rock N Roll part 2 almost to a point of ripping it off. If you like the same song over & over but slightly different, it's fantastic. If not, you're in for a bad time. Broken record here. Give me a bit more sonic variety. 3.8

Keep being told I might like this band, can now say I've given it multiple attempts and I still don't.

Heavy bass!

Good album but not really my favorite genre.

I GOT THE LOV-oh wrong album. 1/5

Fine?

ok

It was more like 3.75, musically it was really good and a pleasant album to listen to. I did find it a little music and nome of the tracks really stood out to me, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the album and it was mu first listen

7/10 great, consistent sound but also slightly repetitive

-saw black keys live w dad! -i loveee the way the vocals are layed -cool guitar - favs: everlasting light, tighten up, howlin for you🏁(truck song), unknown brother, never gunna give you up (this song makes me feel like i’m in a 50s diner this is so cute), -twang 🎸 -dessert vibes -emojis:🏁🎸🎙️🗿🛞

3.75/5 Love the clear influence of blues, soul, and rock. Classic riffs. Production maintains a nice level of grunge and rasp without getting muddy. Is Unknown Brother automatically a Christmas song because it features sleigh bells? Didn’t feel any personal connection to it though, nor did anything still out as particularly exceptional.

Enjoyable, and may revisit.

Epitome of 10s indie garage rock

Was nice

It's almost as good as El Camino (affectionately). fav tracks: Howlin' For You, The Only One

Another fine album by The Black Keys. Although I prefer artists like John Lee Hooker or Chris Stapleton, it is nice to know bands like these still exist. There was nothing bad about this album but I do have to admit I listened to 3 other songs by 3 different artists after the album ended without realising/noticing. Make of that what you want.

This album was such a blast from the past! Loved listening to it again

One of my favorite albums. Great example of blues rock, takes me back to a magical night at kingston mines in chicago.

banger of a find for me. I love Alabama Shakes and there are quite a few songs on here that remind me of them.

Oh yeah baby

3/5

Favorite Song: Too Afraid to Love You Least Favorite Song: Black Mud I don’t know how many more mediocre albums in a row I can take. Please 1001albumgenerator give me something life-changing.

This is more my type, got a nice groove and feel to it; howlin for you and tighten up are great tracks

Pretty cool album! I noticed that I had a song saved from them. My favorit “The Only One”

It all sounds exactly the same

Could listen to them again. Haven’t heard of them before. Some songs I like better than others.

7/10 everlasting light war favorite

Sounds like The Black Keys but very boring this time. I was patiently waiting for the end of this album so I can delete it and start something else. But don’t misunderstand, it is really decent record but only sounds faceless.

really i'd give it a 3.5.. can see why others like it but just not totally for me

Honestly I found this album a bit borning and shallow. It gave me a kind of Gavin degraw ford commercial vibe to me in a bad way. There were enjoyable parts, and I especially thought the beginning of the album wasn’t too bad but this just isn’t for me.

álbum que eu tenho certeza que eu iria gostar se tivesse ouvido na minha fase wannabe indiezinha. algumas faixas legaizinhas, outras nem tanto.

nice vibe, i like it, they told a story they created a vibe i can bob my head to, and ad music is not an insult bc ad music can be good too!

I was pleasantly surprised with this album. I came into it expecting rap and then when I heard the first song, I didnt really know if it sounded good, but the rest of the album impressed me. Too Afraid To Love You is my favorite. Its an absolute banger. Saved: Next Girl, Tighten Up, Howlin' for You, The Only One, Too Afraid To Love You, Ten Cent Pistol, Unknown Brother, Never Gonna Give You Up

Holy ad music. saved (1/15): - Never Gonna Give You Up

really liked this!! faves: everlasting light and too afraid to love

Would listen to this agan

Absolute rock blues stomper. Starts ok, whole back stretch is superb

Hate to say, but this album did nothing for me. Was probably about 5 songs too long and the blues-rock drunken whiskey bar sound got old pretty quickly. A few highlights at the end but not much else. TOP 3: Never Gonna Give You Up, These Days, Tighten Up

My fav part was the guitar in the interlude tbh

Liked the whole album. nothing amazing but enjoyed all the songs. definitely my sort of vibe with the rock. i like their other stuff too. fun album

Classic

Album’s best : Howlin’ for you

I enjoyed listening to this, for the most part. There is nothing offensive to my ears on this album but then again I can't remember much of it. It's got some great tracks on it and some good tracks which could have given this album a higher rating. Unfortunately, the rest is filler and quite forgettable.

Favorite Track: Never Gonna Give You Up

This album and El Camino went triple platinum on my iPod in elementary and middle school. Now that some time has passed I can see that it is kinda just “we have the White Stripes at home”, but that’s not a bad thing. The songs are still solid. Favorites were Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Howlin’ For You, and Ten Cent Pistol.

Good coworker music

Loved listening to this at max volume… everlasting light is a gem and I totally get it 😮‍💨

While the majority of the music on this album isn't so bad, I hate the vocal effect that plagues every song, and cannot forgive the black keys for shitting out two of the worst car commercial songs of the the 21st century (Tighten Up & Howlin for You). 2/5

solid blues influenced rock with melodic sentiment, almost even hints at some soul

Just not my jam. I kept checking to see how many minutes of suffering i had left. If i wanted to listen to an album where everything sounds the same then i would go for the cold war kids

3.4/5 actually some rly good pop rock 2010s songs prolly nostalgia

Dog walk in Ecclesall Woods. My favourite: The Only One Charlie’s favourite: Howlin’ for you.

listened: breakfast in Weston with G and Z Boring

I had listened to this album before and loved it! I do have it on vinyl

i’m enjoying so far! never heard of this artist, but howlin for you sounds familiar.. the vibe they give also reminds me of another artist but i can’t put my finger on it…. i do think it kinda sounds monotonous in a way right now, but most albums on first listen have this issue. i’m assuming the more you listen, the more distinct each song becomes.

This is fine. I recognized some songs but it wasn't like exceptional

Not my music...isn t new

Summer, hot sun burning on your skin you just want a water to drink and forget this hot weather and than this album comes ahh feeling

It sounds like something I’d only listen to when I was a teenager. Not bad but not my style anymore.

I liked the first few Black Keys albums, this was where I fell off. Giving it a listen in late 2025 I feel the same. Songs are fine the band are very tight. Their aged blues aesthetic works. But it’s much more commercial. Even Danger Mouse can’t save these tracks. I understand how this album landed on the list, but I’m still not a fan of latter day Black Keys. 3/5

I really want to like this album - I think there is something about lyrical content and voice that I don’t love - musically it’s easy to listen to

This one kind of hit that nostalgia factor for me. Almost pulls me back to Edgefest in 2012. This was the bluesy indie rock style that was heard all over in the early 2010's. I was already familiar with the band and several of their songs, but I've never listened to this entire album. The song I'm Not The One stood out to me of the songs I hadn't heard before. Overall, it was a very chill listening experience. The downside of that, is I did zone out a couple of times and have to go back and restart a song to really listen to it. I think I'd give the full album a 7.5/10.

Not for me

3.75/5 technically, good album, some solid tracks. My main issue is their guitar tone is so similar the songs start to sound the same similar to The Arctic Monkeys

On paper should be rated higher than this, but just feel like it is lacking heart or emotion, almost like you told AI to make a rock album

I enjoyed this, but a day later I find myself unable to recall any specific song.

I love this album. Since a longe time ago.

Not what I'd listen to every day, but I definitely see myself occasionally putting on some of the songs. My favorites were Never gonna give you up, Ten cent pistol, Too afraid to love you, these days (Never gonna give you up being my favorite, 10/10). I'd give 3.5 stars if it were possible.

Loved it

The textbook definition of a 6/10. Good songs, but it goes on too long. I like the Black Keys, and this is not their best record.

Pretty decent album of roots rock, better than I expected.

Enjoyed this album. Sadly not much of their new music grabs me. Good record to put on for a road trip

Mid

twas decent

8/10

Love The Black Keys. This is a great record.

Only a couple songs like Black Mud and Too Afraid to Love you were really grooving for me. Also, I don’t understand what’s up with this album cover. Most of this album was too average to stand out as a classic on this list. It’s missing the X factor

OK who gave permission for the Black Keys to have an entire album of bops and bangers?? Like, some of these lyrics are the best I've heard before--witty and engaging and not over-the-top. The guitar hooks are catchy and delightful. The Black Keys are able to bring together a classic rock seventies sound (like Led Zeppelin) with a modern aughts rock sound (like Kings of Leon) to 2010. I just could not stop listening to Brothers, and if that's not a sign an album is worthy of a 5, I don't know what is.

There were a few different directions that alt rock was going in at this time, but The Black Keys were pioneers of and among the few doing a garage-y blues rock revival. And they just do this sound sooo well. Each song has distinct, excellent guitar, instrumentation, and vocals, and it is all united by a nice muddy distortion. These guys were pivotal in shaping music during the 2010s, and they created a worthy sound! I was pleased to dig back in and experience them after not hearing this album for several years. A lot of different types of music were popping up during this time, and some had lasting impact, others did not. My assessment here? This still holds up super well!

not horrible but lots of filler songs that were kid of boring, the only way i could get through the listen was by having it in the backgroud. still liked some songs though like everlasting light. 2.3 stars

I never heard nothing from this band before and I can affirm that listen to "Brothers" was a great experience for me, because it surprised me. I thought they aren't good but then the truth appeared. Not a 5 star because I thing it's too long for me. But overall, it's a good one.

6/10 good but felt a little repetitive

Pretty good not awesome and its from 2010

I only enjoyed this as a listening exercise for Tchad Blake mixes cause he’s dope. Sounds so thumpy and lively. Otherwise I hate it

I rarley listen to the black Keys but they're really good. Howlin' for you is a modern classic you heard allot around that time. remember having some of the tracks on my phone in highschool but i forgot this album had allot of banger tracks. The whole album is full of Blues/Root Rock that feel like it would work in the 70s too.

cool. similar sound as mother mother

Not averse to The Black Keys. I don't love them and I don't dislike them. Nothing quite grabs me enough to rate this higher than a 2 or a 3. I'll be generous this time.

Great

I was quite apprehensive with this album, it just reeked of indie-ness. And it kinda does, mainly the vocals are where I'm getting indie from. You know I would describe what makes them indie, but my brain won't give me a reasonable definition to put into my own words. Some of the riffs are quite cool I suppose. This is just a 'meh' album to me, probably won't be returning. Highlight Song/s: "Next Girl" and "She's Long Gone",

Sometimes it feels like they are just moving furniture around the room. On this song, the couch is over here and the chair is over here, and on the next song they've just switched places. It is a comfy couch though, maybe a little saggy in the middle.

i dont know if i get why its so lauded but the only one is a song ive liked for ages

I remember enjoying this back in the day. Still decent but pretty straight up and repetitive…

Not bad, but nothing truly inspiring.

Exceptional experimental album, the singer voice is beautiful and love the mellow tracks and also mixed great

Nothing really stands out to be about this album. I have heard some of the Black Keys things, and enjoyed them. I don't think this album is anything to write home about, though. After reading some reviews, I can agree that this is music for a car commercial. Very repetitive, and overall very... millennial? (I will give this one more star than the David Bowie mess I was forced to listen to yesterday)

Solid album that doesn't do much. The sounds that are there sound good. Crunchy production, good beats, not especially memorable songs, but nothing aurally offensive.

Always good

i’m sad 13 y/o me didn’t listen to it at the time. would have been foundational.

Think White Stripes but more polished. Sort of at the point where Jack White sold out. There’s blues and jammy feels and good choruses. These guys have it down. Another album where a person would be hard pressed to not like it even just a little bit. Choice cut: Howling for You

Another good one. I really liked Black Mud, I think it is something with songs that has a nice gitarr!

It was alright - classic indie rock album. Not my kinda music but pretty up beat and chill - the lyrics didnt feel meaningful. I know maybe a couple of years ago I woulda liked it better.

Album doesn't have a lot of their hits like el Camino does, but it might be a more cohesive album.

One of those that I know so well from my teenage years. Not the one I want to come back to consistently but fun to listen to

I've either heard every song here in an SUV commercial or find it tolerable, fuzzy. samey blues rock. The hits keep this at a light 3.

Love the grooviness of this indie rock album. I know The Black Keys from their singles/hits, but I don’t think I’ve listen to an entire album of theirs beginning to end. Something that’s easy to listen to (in a good way) because it’s catchy AF. A bit repetitive and boring after a while, but not gratingly so. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Non li conoscevo, bell'album. Purtroppo non ascoltato con dovuta attenzione ma mi piace molto il sound. Salvato in libreria per ulteriori ascolti e approfondimenti.

Great album! I've known I've liked Black Keys. So many iconic songs on here. And a good softer rock album.

I’d actually give it a 3.5. It’s a nostalgic album for me but it suffers from something I thought only the last albums from The Black Keys suffered: it does feel like you’re listening to the same 3 songs for an hour. I guess I looked at this one with rose-colored glasses

A regular listen

I don't think this is their best work, i.e, El Camino, but it's pretty electrifying. For an era of rock that lets be real, has struggled, I think they've been an outlier. Do I think it's on par with some older rock music? No, and that's ok. I think they lean into blues music and have their own upbeat, almost Arctic Monkeys style, which is very much the early 2000s sound. I don't think they should try and be anything other than themselves, and it serves them well here.

2.5.

Good total album to play in background. Some bangers. Might give 3.5 * if I could

The most 3 album yet. Not bad. Not great. Good background music without being muzak. Derivative without being too contrived or soulless. Liked the clean production. Too long. Wouldn’t rule out another listen.

There is something deeply unremarkable about The Black Keys that i just can't put my finger on. Most songs sound the same, far too many have the music and vocal line the same and far far far too long. Sorry!

Played and no doubt overplayed this back in the day, I was really starved of interesting new Music then.... Now, particularly having listened to much more of the originals source material, it feels more like an ex who you wonder why you spent so much time with than a blood tied Brother(s).

I’ve always liked this album, but it’s 25 minutes too long. Strong 3 / weak 4. I’m going high

Genre: Blues Rock I don't know why this is in the book. It's a solid record, and The Black Keys were sort of poised (at that time in the early 2010s) to take off in a big way, but this sound never really took off beyond the occasional Ford or Dodge commercial. The hits on here are good, and I think overall this is truly one of the easier picks to put on at an event with lots of white folk, and there are some variations (a little more garage here, a little more straight blues here), but it's totally just solid background noise. Non-essential. Enjoyable (your dad would love this a lot), but non-essential. 3/5

Found it hard to care. To quote Tarantino its weak sauce. Much better hotter sauce elsewhere on this list.

Brothers I never got into this as much as the albums either side of it, and Everlasting Light and Next Girl kick things off with a lethargic, hazy quality that isn’t particularly immediate, reminding me why I wasn’t that into it when it came out. But it’s worth persevering with, as the it’s a bit of grower, the wooziness of Attack and Release, the bluesiness of Magic Potion and the popiness of El Camino coming together as blooziness in the excellent Tighten Up and the catchy Howlin’ For You. It treads that path of slightly dislocated hazy bluesiness with moments of melodic catchiness for the remainder. It never quite soars or picks up from that template, but I found myself enjoying it more and more on repeat listens. However it does feel a bit too long for that style at 55 minutes, a tighter 45 minutes would definitely make for a better album, and push it into the 4s, but although it's still a very good psychedelic-woozy-bluesy listen I think it lands ultimately as a high 3. 🎹🎹🎹 Playlist submission: Tighten Up

This is a solid brand of garage-blues-indie rock that throws up some good tunes. I love the drumbeat on 'Tighten Up', which is an interesting pattern (sounds like he drops a snare beat for toms). The 'Next Girl' guitar-sound is filthy, the vocal like an old bluesman. It's fuzzy and swampy - the 'She's Long Gone' opening riff, with it's distorted hammer-ons, could quite easily be Neil Young. 'Howlin' for You' is the piece de resistance - blues-heavy scuzzy-riffing against a resolute vocal and pumping drums, all put together with a touch of glam rock meets blues. Superb. There had always been something about the Black Keys that failed to excite me when compared to their closest rivals, The White Stripes. I thought them similar to 'Black Rebel Motorcycle Club' in a way - very decent and wear their influences on their sleeve, but they fail to reach next level status. Did you notice I said "there _had_" and "that _failed_", and "I _thought_"? Because that is the past but this is now this grew on me. And although at 55 minutes a judicious piece of editing would have tightened it up, it grew on me to the point where I think it excellent. Just about.

A bit of a reluctant 4. I've nearly gone with a 3 because I feel like there's a lot in this album that feels like filler, but the general vibe is good enough for a 4.

Listened to half the album. I really liked it. Solid vocals and really really good instrumentals

fever is such a banger

YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY!

good solid album of fun!

I like this. Recognized a lot of the songs from radio. Good music, good lyrics, good vocals. Solid all around.

Solid

Like a worse El Camino that steals more from minorities.

This could be better

Mid and samey background music for car commercials

Boring

Some good songs on here.

Car commercial music. They’ve also got a great blues sound and catchy lyrics

It's fine. Inoffensive. Couldn't help but feel like I'd rather be listening to Spoon.

I hated this album when it came out. One of the most interesting bands turned much more mainstream, and a lot of the interest faded. Going back over it now it's a pleasant but not very challenging listen, but I like it a lot more than I did in 2010.

I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than I was expecting. Maybe it was because my listening week has been full of dated lounge music and other so-so recordings of various genres. Anyway, I quite liked the sound of something a bit more modern.

Grooovy.

Groooovy. This album reminds me of the summer after I graduated high school - my whimsy was at its absolute PEAK. Not a care in the god damn world. Had just received a bright yellow 73 VW bug as a graduation present that I could barely get out of the driveway. Would shove way too many friends in there blasting a Bluetooth speaker and that thing would shake so hard our teeth would clatter before stalling out in a Main Street intersection and all of us had to hop out to push it. When it shit the bed a mere few weeks later, I didn’t even care because I had my red beach cruiser with the velvet cheetah print seat and handlebars that I rode everywhere anyway. Lots of late night giggling under stars. Life was good. Keys were black.

Good cohesive sound, just started to feel a bit same-y to me after a while.

Boy oh boy did this fill a hole in music when it came out. It was also perfectly released to coincide with America’s rediscovery of slightly less problematic Deep South white culture in the True Blood era. Every song off this guy was on the radio for 3 years. But then it got co-opted by Shondaland and HBO dramas and NBC and suddenly it was everywhere and you couldn’t walk down the street without hearing Next Girl. I know every word to every song but I can’t stand them anymore. Three stars for effort and intention.

6/10

Rehashed warmed over ‘blues’ Go listen to the real thing ie: Muddy. Buddy etc

325/1089 - I thought this was the Black Eyed Peas for a second but I'm relieved. I kinda get why Rock died in the 2000s if this is what was considered cool enough for this list. Sounds like The Allman Brothers Band + the Strokes.

Not exactly my thang, a little too traditional soul for me to immediately get all the way into it, but very pleasing to the ears, especially all the instrumentals.

Pretty good. Very of its time. Best song: Tighten Up

Good

Jeg har alltid tenkt at dette er musikk for folk som ikke er interessert i musikk. Den fordommen var nok ikke helt skivebom, men synes dette er overraskende greit! Det er litt teit, det er litt pastiche, men med nok fuzz er jeg villig til å svelge min egen kynisme og si at dette nesten hadde vært kult om skiva var halvparten så lang. Allerede etter fire låter virker det som om jeg har hørt alt de har å by på, og law of diminishing returns inntreffer. Jeg begynner å kjede meg, og når jeg begynner å kjede meg, da glipper dessverre treern.

Dette er mellomalbumet til Black Keys. Et sted på veien fra de tidlige garageplatene og de senere platene hvor de sa mer farvel til det gamle soundet. Men jeg er overrasket over hvor dårlig det var i forhold til hvor bra jeg trodde det var. Det er slapt, og få låter som setter seg. Kanskje med unntak av «Tighten Up» som jeg hadde et oppheng på, men som har holdt seg. Jeg tror og håper El Camino har holdt seg da. Ja, også klarte de å slenge inn en rickroll på slutten også.

Dette høres egentlig ut som et kult album. Alt er til rette for det. Men det gir meg absolutt ingenting. Det høres veldig uautentisk ut. Det høres ut som en gjeng skogshipstere som ville lage kul indie blues rock. De har det meste, god gitarlyd og alt, men jeg kjeder vettet av meg.

The music on its face is not terribly bad or offensive, but what it represents is. Another overrated, mediocre and derivative white rock band from this century’s album that I did not need to listen to in this lifetime or any other. The White Stripes/Jack White already did this and did it with more idiosyncratic production and lyrical content.

This is a fairly solid Album that I used to listen to quite often when it was released. Kind of the beginning of the more modern blues-rock / Sleaze rock popularity boom in my opinion, at least to get really popular in mainstream media. Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Howlin' For You, and Too Afraid to Love are my top songs on the album.

Reminded me of the black pumas. Good vibes, a little cheesy at times

i can see myself going back to this one the generator redeemed itself after day one

I think I saw the Black Keys at the 100 Club a couple of decades or so ago and this album does nothing to dispel the impression I remember of their being competently derivative. Maybe I like the slower songs more? So what, sorry.

There are some good tunes on here, but docked a point for being 3-4 songs too long. I'm pretty indifferent to the the blues revival gang of the mid 2000's; you could make a Black/White/Keys/Stripes party megamix for all I care, when they're good they're fairly enjoyable if unmemorable. It used to amuse me how much Jack White hated Dan Auerbach and his vaguely-stalkerish behavior, like a jealous pimp guarding his own shabby nook. Apparently I own *5* Black Keys albums. Why, who knows? Listening today, both earlier ("Rubber Factory") and later ("El Camino") ones are better than this.

I love seeing yet another band from my home state represented. I wonder what the percentage is of Ohioans on this list. Unfortunately, other than the three hits here (which are tremendous), I always found this album to be a little repetitive, over long, and boring. I was never one for delta blues, and the Black Keys are buckled into that whole sound.

Interesting to see that this one's average rating has fallen significantly - has there been a bit of a backlash against these guys? Some of the negative reviews mention car commercials and the like, so maybe that has been a factor. It is easy to see why this would appeal to ad-makers. The songs have an immediacy and a bit of punch. It all sounds a bit processed, though, and lacking in personality. My overall feeling was that this is good but not very lovable

I'd heard Tighten Up, and Howlin' for You before. The album is ok, but nothing to write home about.

I like this better than the Arctic Monkeys but it’s generally the same thing

This was fine. It didn't blow my mind but the production and feel were nice. The vocals added some much needed oomph. The repetition got slightly annoying at times. Honestly, it was nothing crazy but I'm happy with what I got. top 5: Howlin' For You, The Only One, Sinister Kid, Never Gonna Give You Up, and These Days 3.55/5

I was really into a few of the tracks in college, but this whole album rocks. So groovy and gritty!

i liked it

++: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Howlin' for You, She's Long Gone, Black Mud, The Only One, Ten Cent Pistol, The Go Getter, Never Give You Up +: Next Girl, I'm Not the One, Unknown Brother, These Days +-: Too Afraid to Love You, Sinister Kid 8,2/10

Perfect album, no skips, love this band!

Loud bearing 2010s album. Reminds me of college. The best it ever was for them. Hard rock and blues still had a place in the culture.

Perfectly fine easy listening rock.

Never cared for them.

Perhaps I'm biased but this is an early 10s faux hipster boy in song form.

Got some bangers on there tbf

used to be a favorite in college

Great live

Great album

same

3/5

Solid. Next?

Strong blues influences, the issue with influence sometimes is it just reminds you of a better artist you could be listening to. Very of its era, though. I can understand why 2009 local-coffee shop-indie-fanatics went wild over this sound - you can almost hear the milk steamer going off over the sound of this album. Not inherently a negative, just not my scene. Should I resent this album for bring in a wave of stomp-clap artists after it? No. Will I anyway? Yes.

I loved it! Great album!

Lots of good tracks on this one although I feel like my appreciation for it has waned over the years. I saw the tour supporting this album back in 2013 and it ripped. This one is somewhere between a 3 and 4.

Enjoyable album, I own the CD.

De bons morceaux, dont certains ajoutés à la playlist, et un bon niveau général qui meritait un 4.5/5

This sounds great, as in, has a wide range of frequencies, especially towards the low end. But is it any good? Well, it’s bluesy. So if that’s your thing, and if you can handle an hour straight of what is essentially the same kind of sound, then sure. If you give a shit about anything other than sound dynamics, then maybe give this one a miss. You can see why this won some Grammy awards. It’s the sort of technically-impressive-but-not-at-all-soulful music that the recording industry loves. The sort of thing you play to test out the bass on your new stereo. But again, not really... any good.

Tighten Up was on fifa therefore this is all fifa music. I like the music but I hate the vocals and lyrics. The way he sings makes everything sound like a beer/car commercial.

nostalgic for me but they didn’t do much. Also gets repetitive, but I do like that tremolo guitar effect

One of the best of their albums.

Good

Fun album.. Yep I wore this out like a favorite pair of shoes. Great to hear it again.

Pretty damn good blues rock record for this duo. Even though it got played to death, I still don’t tire of it.

Enjoyable blues rock. Seemed like they were trying hard for a retro sound.

Not sure the hate on this site is warranted. Maybe derivative, but it's well done and fun to listen to.

Pretty good 3/5

The Black Keys are one of these band for me where… I just don’t like them and there’s really no good reason why. The Black Keys play really cool garage rock with deep and varied influences from blues, soul and hip hop. They have this great mix of dirty guitar and production with a very clear delivery. It just doesn’t work for me. You should take a listen though.

Better than 99% of what was coming out at this time, and anything influenced by Junior Kimbrough and RL Burnside is a-okay with me. Still, a little one-note for my tastes, but there are some real bangers on here nonetheless.