Brothers by The Black Keys

Brothers

The Black Keys

3.54
Rating
28536
Votes
1
3%
2
11%
3
33%
4
36%
5
17%
Distribution

Reviews (page 5 of 14)

This has some classics on it: Ten Cent Pistol, Tighten Up, Everlasting Light, Sinister Kid. It's a pretty enjoyable listen when you don't have someone in your ear telling you it's Ford truck commercial music. "Mashed potatoes in cellophane/I see my life going down the drain." What a line. This man is truly distraught by his subpar potato product. Song's still kind of a banger, though, like most of the other stuff on here.

Yay - another album I have but have not listened to in a while! #albumsky #musicsky #musicchallenge 4/5 - love the sound!!

holds up pretty well! i forgot how cool they are

Didn’t know this album very well at all but quite good. More range than I was expecting but their signature sound is very present

One of the best duos of all time. Perfect recordings, interesting performances, curated sounds.

Alot of really good songs. I do enjoy most of the album. The musicianship was tight. The vocals were really suave. I definitely think the only downside was pacing but I can't say I hated it at all. Nothing was egregiously bad. I'd be happy to throw this on from time to time ^-^

Great album. Dan auerbach shines in his vocals and guitar skills. It is amazing how two guys can make magic in their music. Very enjoyable album

es posta muy bueno. 4.5

Unsure if I’ve listened to the whole album before or if all of the songs are good enough that I’ve heard them elsewhere. Solid

The song Never Gonna Give You Up was not what I'd hoped it would be

they do more with more and don’t lose themselves or me…yet. they’re still my guys on this one.

Surprisingly good, excellent arrangements.

An album I had heard before, as my youngest son has a copy. The Black Keys are played in our house a lot. Nice mix of blues, rock and pop. Dan Auerbach has a distinctive voice that is made for blues. A very good album, with good to excellent songs. But fifteen tracks! 10 tracks or even 12 would give a tighter listening experience, and increase the impact, as the last few tracks were good but my attention drifted. 4 stars. Would I buy this album? Already own it. Would I listen again? Yes. 1. "Everlasting Light" 3:24 - Sounds like T.Rex. That's a good thing. 5* 2. "Next Girl" 3:18 - It's a good song with a great chorus that lifts it. 4* 3. "Tighten Up" 3:31 - A super poppy song. Who doesn't like whistling in a song? 3* 4. "Howlin' for You" 3:12 - Superb. 5* Great guitar hook. Glam Rock drums evoking the days of Suzi Quattro, The Glitter Band et al. 😊Love the solo. One of their best songs. 5. "She's Long Gone" 3:06 - If "Howlin' for You" is sonically a little on the light, poppy side of things, this is a great rock track with an excellent riff. Great solo too. The bass is grooving. 5* 6. "Black Mud" 2:10 - 3*. Good. 7. "The Only One" 5:00 - A soulful song, lovely vocals. The keyboards remind me of Blondie 4* 8. "Too Afraid to Love You" 3:25 - This just sort of drifted along for me. Pleasant enough. 3* 9. "Ten Cent Pistol" 4:29 - The verses have a 60s feel to them. Excellent song. Love the guitar in this. 5* 10. "Sinister Kid" 3:45 - The percussive guitar is a nice touch. 3* 11. "The Go Getter" 3:37 - Nice delay and chorus on the guitars, again giving a 60s vibe. Chorus is good, under pinned by a nice guitar run. 3* 12. "I'm Not the One" 3:49 -Slow blues. Nice keyboards 3* 13. "Unknown Brother" 4:00 - 60s vibe intro. I like this one better than the last few. Nice harmonies. Nice dynamics. Silence! A good old fashioned fade-out. 4* 14. "Never Give You Up" 3:39 - The vocals sound very feminine (a good thing). Good song. 4* 15. "These Days" 5:12 -Slow, subdued. 3*- 57/75 4 stars

Came in knowing nothing about this band. The opening track made me think I want going to like it due to strained singing. So at the start, I was not actively listening until “ten cent pistol” came on & that when I got it. I got the blues influence and now dig the vocals

Man this one was a 5 star until it started to drag a bit towards the end. A little cutting off the fat and this one is a banger from start to finish -- 4.5 stars

4.3 - Simple and super effective. I think its just great music thats not overly complicated and knows exactly what it is.

An album out of my comfort zone, while I had heard the band in concert, I don't remember liking their music this much. Would definitely listen to it again.

This is a Review for The Black Keys-Brothers The Album is very good

Good Stuff

Guess I like blues when it has a grittier sound

I love The Black Keys! This album has some of their best songs featured and I really enjoyed this album listen. I’ve had the immense pleasure of seeing them live twice and they are great live as well. I will definitely be listening to this album again and would recommend this to others if you are looking for a solid rock album to check out!

Enjoyable journey for sure! Can't tell you the last time I listened all the way through

Love the Black Keys. Destined to be one of the great sounds of this century.

I have always enjoyed this album…

Great album and one i have listened to many times. If this was about 15-20 minutes shorter it would be easy 5 for me but it is too long

I've listened to their album before this (Attack and Release) and enjoyed it but I don't think I've ever listened to Brothers all the way through before. Opening track wasn't my favorite just because of the vocals but Next Girl and Tighten Up both have the vocals I remember from The Black Keys. I've heard Howling for You many times before but I just didn't know that was the name of the track. 4/5

Excellent white guy blues/rock. Back before the Black Keys got boring.

I was skeptical at first, but these riffs are infectious.

this is great!

Mycket bra. Många kända låtar. Lite mycket av samma samma.

So, The Black Keys. I genuinely think I should listen to more of The Black Keys, but this album is a bit of a miss, it's too long, it's too samey. It's not bad tho.

I'll admit that all these songs sound kind of the same, but I like that sound at least.

I'm surprised I liked this as much as I do. It's an easy listen with good vocals and some nice guitar. Between a 3.5 and a 4 I think I'll give it a 4. I'm feeling generous today!

The Black Keys have a pretty good unique sound. I don’t know if this really gets going enough though. I think El Camino is better.

I only ever listened to El Camino and had thought it was good. No idea why I’ve never checked out other stuff from The Black Keys, this music is like crack. The first two songs gave me Jimi Hendrix vibes, love this blues rock (?) vibe.

Fav songs: black mud, the only one Way better than expected 8/10

Discovered these guys late. Great album. I remember it coming out right before my first son’s birth. I couldn’t get down with anything by them after this album.

Some interesting guitar sounds. My favourite was Unknown Brother.

Really nice music

These guys have been one of my blind spots, can’t deny it.

Really enjoyable, will go back

Groovy, bright sound. I like the soulful vocals and funky instrumentals. They’re like the American version of the Arctic Monkeys mixed with Hozier.

Classic blues, brought into the modern age and coolified by 30%.

Solid alternative album that has quite a few songs that have hung around on the radio.

The Black Keys really found their voice and sound on this record and it is easily their best of their career. And then they got a taste of money from it and decided to start to suck really bad.

It's a pretty solid album. Really ushered in the era of Midwestern blues rock bands being popular for a bit (looking at you Greta Van Fleet). But also only could have been big during the early 2010's. The hits are good, and the filler tracks aren't half bad either. On the plus side, this is a very unique sounding album, and there aren't a lot of blues rock bands that made it big. Worth a listen, but know that it kinda blends together by the end.

Peak Black Keys album I think, very enjoyable, 4.5

It felt like rock with some soul and a little more seasoning than you expect

Now we're talkin'! 2010 classic that's loaded to the brim with good stuff. Seen them twice and yes, two guys can make all that sound! Lot of bang for your buck with 15 songs. They nailed it with "Everlasting Light", "Next Girl", and mega hits "Tighten Up & "Howlin' For You". Throw in solid glue songs like "Sinister Kid", "She's Long Gone", "Unknown Brother" and "The Only One" and you have a groovin' rock album by one of the few bands still playing true rock & roll. The song with the fewest listens ("The Go Getter") is the weakest track but still has 19M listens, this is a popular album with a lot of followers. Their sound is all over the radio, they sell out everywhere, their influence on other bands is obvious and they continue to put out solid product with radio-friendly rock. 4+ stars from me!

I thought black keys were a piano thing but maybe they finally got them on guitar and bass now.

Wow, this album caught some heat in the reviews. This was the first Blac Key's album I remember listening too, and so I don't pine for their grinder earlier albums and lament the change. I also think that although some of the later tracks do sound a bit samey, there is a lot of quality and pop value to the first half for sure.

They do sound like every hipster blues-rock band, but they are the first to do it and arguably the best. If the genre ain’t your thing, that’s understandable, but I enjoy a lot of what’s going on here. It’s not always the most creative or innovative, but it’s solid and reliable and sometimes, that’s all I need. 4/5

Really good sound great album

I am a Black Keys fan and this is a really solid album. But it’s not their best. It’s really, really solid, very pleasant to listen to and miles above most of the trash we have to endure on this list (like Britpop). But it is not their best. El Camino takes all the elements of this album and does them better. If that album isn’t on this list and only Brothers is, then that is a crying shame.

Awesome album

Pretty decent, I liked it! The slow, fuzzy guitars are a great complement to most of the tracks here.

Perhaps not the most refreshing take on the blues rock garage band thing. But I really like the sound of this one and it is excellent for driving on a hot day with your windows down.

I went into this with high expectations, since El Camino was a phenomenal album. Howlin for You is such a recognisable classic. The amount or movies that feature that song is insane. So recognisable in fact I didn't even know it was by The Black Keys. There's a lot of quality in this album, and I'd expect nothing else from The Black Keys. I do think there was a lot of unnecessary filler on this thing though. This album ought to had a 30 minute runtime to keep things fresh. This album is insanely backloaded too. I was really surprised how much I perked up at the last 4 songs on this thing. Unknown Brother was definitely the favourite song on here. Enjoyable listen. I really fucking hope El Camino is on here as well as this thing.

This album has a lot of personality, however the personality is that of a divorced dude who drinks far too much. The vibes here are bad (in a good way) and reading about the recording and background of this album, a lot of things make sense. Overall, an enjoyable listen with a few forgettable tracks. I have not listened to the Black Keys prior to this and was pleasantly surprised. The group harkens back to an older sound and manages to do so without sounding fake or like a musical simulacrum. I wasn’t impressed by the first few tracks but I couldn’t tell if as the album continued “were the songs getting better or am I just adjusting my expectations?” The answer was revealed on a repeat listen to be the latter, this was a pleasant surprise. Highlights: Howlin’ for You, The Only One, Too Afraid to Love You, Unknown Brother, Never Gonna Give You Up, These Days

Goddamit. Reluctant 4 here. I used to love this album. My wife and I used a song on this album in our wedding. The algorithm picked up on it and started playing the SHIT out of the Black Keys. It's like, "hey guy, I heard you like this band... how about I play them every other song?" Eventually I had to start skipping the second I heard Auerbach's voice. Defiantly a case of technology not improving life. Anyway... still a great album. It's bluesy, but not in a weedily deedily way. It's psychedelic. It's got great drums.

I never listen to The Black Keys enough. Every time I am glad I did. I don't think this is my favorite album of theirs, but it is way up there. The way the vocals and the instrumentation hit is just... amazing. It gets me every time. The emotion that is there feels so raw and genuine, and the music just connects on a visceral level.

This is a pretty good album but i dont have much to say about it

Album had a number of bangers. I was on the fence for 3 stars.

Very good album overall. I really liked the second half of the album which introduced more of a blues rock/ nostalgic sound.

These songs have showed up in so many beer commercials, it’s hard to objectively say how good they are. Anymore they mostly remind me of ordinary sedans. But I do like the Black Keys and they get extra points for being from northeast Ohio. Not as hard or quite as interesting as the stuff that put them on the map, but a nice easy listen.

A classic, not as good as I remember though.

When the Black Keys dropped the album, EVERYONE was talking about it, and I (confession time) never listened to it. Well, a decade-and-a-half later and I have remedied that error. It’s …okay. Kidding. It’s worth the hype, even late. I had heard a few of these songs on the radio, but now I realize they are the frosting on a really good cake. What I appreciated most is how Americana this album: heavy blues roots without appropriating it (Black Mud); SanFran Psychedelia without rambling solos (She’s Long Gone); pop rock without sounding like Yatch Rock (Howlin’ For You); soul without the JB’s excess (Sinister Kid); even The Only One has a ting of Blaxpoloitstion without sounding it. But I have to say that favorite track was the meandering blues ballad Too Afraid to Love You! There was something transcendental in that songs. I know they have a new album coming out but this summer I think I need to explore the back catalog a bit! I dug this…even late.

Random thoughts: * I've been meaning to check out more Black Keys albums and work so it was fortuitous that this was on the list. * Solid music and songs throughout. * I gravitated to the hits I know already: "Tighten Up" and "Howlin' For You" but the rest is quite good too. * The simplicity of the music give it a timeless feel where this music could fit in many eras. * I need to listen to this more but overall this was a solid/good listen.

Solid rock album. "Howlin for you" is a star on the record

This album holds a special place in my heart. I know it's not the most groundbreaking in style but there are some good ass songs on this album!

I’m not usually an am radio, slow blues rock kind of gal, but this album held my attention. I knew a bunch of songs off of this, but haven’t listened to it front to back, which worked well as a whole package.

This is an album I listened to a lot in my youth, and I still listen to some tracks now. There are some really great songs and re-listening to the whole album I've added a couple more to my current playlist. The album has a distinct sound so flows really well, there is some variety but also quite a few songs that have the same feel and it's a fairly long album, this is why I've only given it 4 stars.

Thought will listening to this "wow this sounds like its made by brian finch" then realized it was from his tv show. 4/5 - fav songs were 10 cent killer and sinister kid.

Das sechste Studioalbum Brothers der US-amerikanischen Band The Black Keys wurde 2010 veröffentlicht. Die Aufnahmen fanden überwiegend im Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama statt, einem traditionsreichen Ort für Soul- und Rockproduktionen, was sich auch im Klangbild des Albums widerspiegelt. Einige zusätzliche Sessions erfolgten in anderen Studios, darunter in Nashville. The Black Keys, bestehend aus Dan Auerbach (Gesang, Gitarre) und Patrick Carney (Schlagzeug), bewegen sich auf Brothers stilistisch im Bereich zwischen Bluesrock, Garage Rock und Soul. Das Album zeigt eine stärkere Hinwendung zu groovenden, teilweise introspektiven Songs mit rauer Produktion und reduzierten Arrangements. Die Instrumentierung bleibt bewusst einfach gehalten, was den Songs eine unmittelbare Wirkung verleiht. Besonders auffällig sind Stücke wie „Tighten Up“, das mit eingängiger Melodie und rhythmischem Aufbau heraussticht, oder „Next Girl“, das durch seine gitarrenlastige Struktur überzeugt. Auch „Everlasting Light“ bietet einen interessanten Einstieg in das Album mit ungewöhnlicher Gesangsführung und rhythmischer Dichte. Weitere erwähnenswerte Titel sind „Howlin’ for You“ und „Ten Cent Pistol“, die die stilistische Spannweite des Albums verdeutlichen. Die Produktion von Brothers wurde von der Band selbst übernommen, mit Unterstützung von Danger Mouse beim Song „Tighten Up“. Der Klang ist warm, roh und bewusst unpoliert, was zur Atmosphäre des Albums beiträgt. Insgesamt ist Brothers ein Album, das die musikalische Entwicklung der Band nachvollziehbar macht. Es wirkt in sich geschlossen und zeigt eine klare künstlerische Richtung. Die Mischung aus traditionellen Blues-Elementen und moderner Rockauffassung verleiht dem Werk eine eigenständige Note.

Solid Black Keys album. Starts strong and then gets weaker at the end. Really like Everlasting Light and She's Long Gone. Drops after Sinister Kid.

Du rock moderne qui s'écoute bien

A bit heavy. But cool. Need to be in the mood.

Hasn't aged as well as I remember it on initial release, but still a fun album! I've always loved that rootsy, fuzzy vocal sound and how stripped down The Black Keys production is. This still rocks!

Good album.

Great album and great sound. Though it's too long for how little variation there is between the songs

Vocals are so unique. Such a grungy sound. The guitar distortion is next level, sounds almost robotic/synth like but grunge city. Tighten up and never gonna give you up are gun

Et front loaded album ren underholdnings, og hit messigt. Jeg holder meget af den skramlede garage lyd, og blues delene. Kunne dog nemt være 2 - 3 numre kortere.

På papiret er det lige præcis det jeg kan li’. Og det er også godt. Men der mangler et eller andet. Jeg kan ikke helt sætte fingeren på hvad.

Solid album.

Great album

Great album

This was a great album. Lots of recognizable hits. Always get the keys mixed up with the crowes

Pretty decent listen. Not sure I hear the hype but a decent listen.

A really good album, I liked a lot of the songs. But I liked Everlasting Light and Howlin' For You in particular.

Enjoyed it immensely, a double album but if flew past soulful, bluesy, good rhythm great vocals solid tunes.

Good one

31/03/25 I've had worse albums.

Kannte ich schon, ist ganz gut. Bisschen viel um alles am Stück zu hören

> the Beatles

Nice, han d Black Eyed Keys scho immer geil gfunde! Da wird de Unterschied zwüsched klassischem 70er Jahr Ami Indie-Rock und 2010er Ami Indie Rock nomal chli klar - fägged scho biz! Ich glaub spasseshalber tuni da jetzt au mal e wild guess mache: Ich denke ned dass mir einstimmig e Bewertig werdet finde, aber han es gspühri das de Brother Nedi wie au ich 4 Puntos, de Brother Basil und Brother Noah aber bi 3 Puntos werdet sii. D Sister Viki (if glosst) findi no am schwirigste zum abschätze aber han es buchgfühl dass sii brother Nedi und Brother Timon uf em 4er Zug joine chönti. (Und d Maya bi ihrem comeback sogar e fünfer im hoche boge) Vo dem her: This is a Punktevergab by Timon Goetschmann. The amount of Punkte for this album is 4

Just a really cool sound to it, maybe was a bit repetitive and went on too long but it was still good. 4 stars

non capisco il perchè di tutte le recensioni negative che mi sono spuntate. non sarà niente di rivoluzionario, ma a me il blues rock piace e ho salvato diverse canzoni. bravi, quattro stelle per voi.

Great album. Not as good as The Big Come Up in my opinion, but still absolutely worth listening to

I quite liked it to be honest - it's not the most interesting or innovative but it sounds pretty good

Very much enjoyed this. Not really heard their stuff before.

Ziemlich cool

Pretty good.

I dig this. Good stuff. 4*

The black keys are a band that by all means I should like, but I just can't get into fully, got kind of sick of them being shoved down my throat by spotify. Anyway, some good songs in this one. Highlights: everlasting light, howlin for you

Idee bij eerste nummer dat dit niet mijn genre is; niet te ruig; mooie balans tussen de instrumenten; herkenbare nummers ertussen

I was initially excited about Black Keys, maybe the most straight white millennial man band of all time (in this respect I am typical for my demographic). And they're very good. but this album does less for me than El Camino and it's, again, badly in need of an editor to tell them to shorten it up. Especially because these songs want for variety in the first half. That said, this a pretty great garage rock. Tighten up? Banger. Too Afraid to Love You? Banger. Ten Cent Pistol? Banger.

First I’ve listened to many times front to back. Such a great album

solid, classic

Singular sound by a two person band…equals a very good listen.

Спокойствие, слушала во время работы над созданием творческой концепции. Не было какой-то одной цепляющей композиции, но надо переслушать в машине.

This sounds so fuzzy and hip, cool like I'm at a bar or something.

This was a big album for me. Lost some of its luster

Blues rock, but a little grungy, like The Blue Stones, The White Stripes, or Arctic Monkeys. I'm a fan of The Black Keys and this style, but I couldn't help but feel like most of the songs would have benefitted from a more energetic playing/singing style. Tighten Up and Howlin' for You didn't have this issue, which explains why they're so much more popular than the rest of the album, which is good but has a lot of filler songs that drag on.

That's a bit more like it!

Detta har man ju hört några gånger, några riktigt bra låtar, några riktigt mediokra. Inget som är direkt dåligt, men jag kanske färgas av att ha hört det så många gånger - både positivt och negativt

Da da da da da, Da da da da da, Da da da DA da, Da da da da da/5

jamming

another solid rock album, i think this is a modern, almost indie take on punk blues. it's really gritty and grimy. i feel like if you like the arctic monkeys, you might get a kick out of these guys. probably the best part of the album is the lyrics. the album has a nice sound that's consistent throughout, but i feel like a lot of the tracks end up sounding the same at times. still though, a real hidden gem i've never heard before in my life.

Very good album. I am a big fan of the blues rock genre and this album does not disappoint. "Tighten Up" and "Howlin' for You" are the two singles that introduced many (including me) to the band. This lead me to explore their other albums along with Dan Auerbach's solo work and side projects. Auerbach is very prolific and has a distinct style. No one else sounds like him.

bangers but got old quick

It has jams for sure

Pretty good

I know “howlin for you”. I love the sounds. This is just rock and roll. All fuzzed out and crazy sounds. I definitely get the hype wound this record. I love the groove and swing.

Fresh and eclectic at the same time... Such a nice album, fun to listen to, but still deep and emotional

Хороший альбом, люблю эту группу!

Back in 2008 somebody tried to get me to start up a Black Keys cover band (before this album even existed). The main issue was that I can't actually play the drums, just the drums on Rock Band. Maybe I'd be touring Laughlin, Nevada, and Branson, Missouri, as a member of the Onyx Keys, had I been able to make the jump to real life drums. This album rules.

New to me and I like it.

Solid rock album. Does go on a bit.

First time having the patience to listen to this entire album. Really enjoyed the range of it, every song had its own unique sound. Thoroughly enjoyed

Good album with some nice hits.

It's almost very good, great start and end. Kind of weak in the middle.

That's fine

Classic, wouldn't skip any song

They all sounded the same but 2 of the songs were bangers. Probably because they were more upbeat

4 stars

Pretty good album, few good songs Favorite song: tighten up

Great)

if you like what theyve got, theyve got extra consistent album of fun modern blues-pop flair

haven’t listened to much of these guys. enjoyed it

So many hits. Great album. Great sound.

There's a lot of good on this album ("Tighten Up", "Long Gone", "Next Girl", "Ten Cent Pistol", "Howlin' For You") that remains in my rotation, but there's a lot of mid stuff too. Sure they moved away from their basement recordings and got Danger Mouse to produce the shit of of these songs so they're never gonna sound like the cheap ass days of yore but you know what? I like the Black Keys, and I like this.

I loved this album, nice bluesy rock with good vocals and a nice "edge". A 3.5.

Solid album

I don’t know why but they always remind me of Flight of The Concords but like if they made blues rock. This album was everywhere in the early 2010s. There was a love hate relationship going on with people loving the album but also hating it because of the popularity. I was indifferent and never really sought them out but also never disliked their music. Theres a couple bangers on her that will be stuck in my head. Did think the album was a bit long but other than that its a very enjoyable listen. 8/10

While some tracks are very similar sounding, this is still a solid blues rock album.

Lekker album, Danger Mouse laat het ook geweldig klinken. Maar veel hetzelfde, en veel eerder van ze gehoord.

I've heard Black Keys songs on and off for quite a while now, but this was the first time I've sat and listened to an entire album. This one is pretty good. Fuzzy blues guitar, feedback vocals, with a throwback to the 70's Blues sound of Zeppelin in parts. Overall, a good album and I would recommend it. 3.5/5 which translates to a 4/5 on this scale.

Αρκετα ενδιαφερον αλμπουμ για διαφορα μουντ. Σιγουρα δεν ειναι τελειο και γινεται καπως repitive. Παντως μαρεσε αρκετα και θελω να το ξανακουσω για να χω πληρη αποψη. Rating: A-

I have never listened to The Black Keys, at least knowingly, so I didn't know what to expect going in to this album. By the time a few tracks had gone by, I realized I was enjoying it a decent amount. It wasn't an album that wowed me, but I had a good time with it. A solid 3.5 / 5

liked songs: Everlasting Light, Howlin' for You, Ten Cent Pistol Very good. I actually liked how stripped back the production of this album was; the songs shine on their own. 3.75

Not too bad. A lot of reviewers seem to strongly dislike it. I think it's pretty good for background, or having tracks mixed into a bigger playlist. Definitely need to be in the correct mood to enjoy it.

They should start a go fund me for a new microphone

i think i've been giving the arctic monkeys a lot of credit for what the black keys have done...

Love me some Black Keys.

I enjoyed the album a lot, felt like a really good first listen, but I will need to listen more to give an honest opinion on it. Enjoyed the style of rock.

Undeniable banger

Similar to BRMC. Quite a long album at over an hour.

this black keys album unlocked a deep nostalgia that comes with some sadness and longing for the past. HOWEVER, it's really good. love the vocals and variations in distortion in both the vocals and guitar

Some great tracks on here. Don’t love the album as a whole though as a lot sounds the same. There is a looseness to everything. Drums, guitar, sound.

I enjoyed this - catchy, bluesy rock and I'm such a sucker for some strong percussion and/or basslines.

Favorite tracks: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Ten Cent Pistol. Some standout tracks throughout. I do prefer the more garage rock sound of Rubber Factory overall. The tracklist could have been trimmed down though, too much filler.

Black Keys. Soulful. Groovy. Aside from the hits, I've always liked Black Mud. Pretty cool instrumental.

Tighten Up and Howlin' for You have been regulars on my personal playlists for so long that I'm almost tired of them at this point, lol. I really liked the Black Keys when they arrived on the scene, I dug their unique sound and catchy beats. I'm a little more so-so on them now, I feel like I've somehow outgrown them a little. This is still a solid album though. Everlasting Light and The Only One are my two faves on here. It does all start to sound a bit samesy as it goes on, and some of the slower songs where he's talking more than singing get a bit dry, but it was an enjoyable listen overall!

cool rock album!

Bra vibe

Very enjoyable. Album flows.

Just one of these very good Black Keys albums that they released over the years. Usually go for Rubber Factory, but that is just because that was the first BK album I listened to.

Pretty solid album. Cool blues sound with modern production. Catchy tunes. The vocals are also good, but get a little boring after a while. I remember being more impressed with Magic Potion, but would have to check again.

Terrific bluesy sound, great songs.

El blues rock contemporáneo e independiente de los Black Keys llegó en 2010 con este disco a las grandes audiencias. Tiene tres exitosos sencillos, "Tighten Up", "Howlin' for You" y "Next Girl", en los que ponen el énfasis en el blues duro con el que se forjaron casi una década antes. Las canciones de Brothers tienen también una veta psicodélica que hace que sean tan especiales. Algo que es muy evidente en otros dos temas que me gustan especialmente en el disco: "The Only One" y "Too Afraid to Love You". También destacaría el arranque del álbum, otra de las canciones con las que más disfruto: "Everlasting Light".

First album I don't recognise Admittedly, when I saw it was an 18 song album I was skeptical since I assumed it'd be too bloated, but the first few songs have been really enjoyable. The opening track, Howlin' For You and The Only One are amazing tracks Fuck me Ten Cent Pistol is good My initial fears of it being bloated were partly true, although most tracks deserve to be on the album. I probably wouldn't miss The Go Getter or Unknown Brother. Definitely one to revisit every now and again

Really solid album. Definitely will listen this again and more Black Keys in general.

4.5 What a monster of a debut album. YT music did not have the original Link album but had the remastered. And that felt like a double album but was easy to listen throug start to finish.

I have a soft spot for white boy blues, what can I say?

Great album. Good beats. Good soul. It's impressive when two people can create a such a rich sound. Specifically liked 6 tracks: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Howlin For You, She's Long Gone, Ten Cent Pistol, Never Gonna Give You Up.

With the Black Kets, I always can't help but wonder how much of their sound is just a pastiche of blues rock. But, I also can't deny the effectiveness of their fuzzied out blues guitar sound.

Like Led Zeppelin and the Stones, these dudes are standing on the shoulders of giants. But man, the hits (Everlasting Light, Tighten Up) really hit.

豪庭

I've never given these guys an honest listen, just whatever I may have hear on the radio. This first track is cool. I like the sound. Tighten is the one I've heard from these guys. Howlin' For You too. ooh I like Black Mud! Too Afraid to love you is awesome too. I really liked this album. Not quite a 5 but a solid 4 stars!

chill relaxed bellinghamy climbing vibes, gets a little repetative.

Almost a modern classic just a few dud songs let it down, but still a great album 4.5*

i love a da black keys :)

Awesome. 4.5 stars

This used to be one of my favorite albums because of the amount of good songs on it. Upon further listening, I think it's a tad boring although there are still many hits on the record. I still enjoy it.

I was so into this when it came out - feel like I have outgrown it a tiny bit, but still a lot of fun.

I forgot that I love this

It’s always going to be The Black Keys’ best, I think. It’s a good midway point between the authentically raw blues of their earlier career and the throwback pastiche of the later albums. The tunes are great but the production is sublime. I have to be in the mood to listen to this, but when it hits it hits.

Songs flow nicely together

To me, this record represents more of the quintessential sound of The Black Keys. While their record "El Camino" probably had more commercial success, the lo-fi, stripped down sound of this record is a true reflection of what this band is all about to me. With bands like this and The White Stripes, it's truly remarkable that a full, rocking sound can be created with as little as two musicians. Notable Tracks: - Next Girl - Tighten Up - Howlin' For You - She's Long Gone - Black Mud - Sinister Kid - Unknown Brother 7/10

Strong album, some great songs, some okay.

I love this album. It's just banger after banger. Is it the best album by The Black Keys? No. But it's better than a lot of these random albums from 1985-2003 that I've gotten so far on this list.

A little rocky for my taste. At times like the Doors meet Led Zep.

Great album, love the Black Keys!

Brother - The Black Keys (2010) 👌 Uma mistura de indie, blues, garage, com um resultado agradável que para o ouvinte ocasional vai gerar um impacto positivo, conta com várias boas canções, e o instrumental é bem interessante e cativante. Vale a pena ouvir! Melhores músicas: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, She's Long Gone, Sinister Kid, The Go Getter, Unknown Brother, Never Gonna Give You Up (cover de Jerry Butler), These Days. Piores músicas: N/A 4/5

Good enough alternative Rock.

A consistent sound thought the album. Muffly guitars and vocal recordings reminiscent of The Strokes with nice backup vocals. Catchy lyrics performed by a cool raspy voice.

I came across The Black Keys' music years ago and for, like, two and a half days, it seemed like one of the best things ever. Until it very suddenly wasn't. I was satiated. Full. Now... this could turn into a whole, deep food metaphor with artificial additives and everything but I'm not gonna work that out now. Point being: this album is a roadside burger. It sufficiently serves an archaic need for an old, classic dish but that's all there is to it. That said, I'm munching on some of these songs.

Never been drawn to this band, but they at the very least can put together some good tracks. "The Only One" is a highlight here for sure. 4/5

Quintessential 2010’s indie rock. Truly encapsulates the vibe of that decade

Another one from my days of hanging out in our local rock and roll scene. This minimalist bluesy stuff was all the rage there for awhile. The front half of this album is solidly good. The back half gets a little bit too farting the way through the blues, but it's still worth a listen. I can imagine they still get plenty of royalties from that Howlin' For You lick. Unexpected bangers: Sinister Kid, Unknown Brother

Some cool songs, some meandering jazz

Me gustó mucho, tiene clásicos de la banda, por ahí en algun momento se vuelve un poco monótono al tener tantas canciones del mismo estilo pero es un discazo por donde lo mires. 8.2/10

Great album. Such a different sound. Something to get lost into

Nice crunchy album. Modern production on a well tried theme. I like it a lot

Really enjoyed this album, modern blues rock definitely something I have time for Little bit of filler makes it a 4.5 and I’ll round down.

This was good. I’d forgotten how much I liked them. But the album was a bit repetitive.

One didn’t realize how much one liked this band so much.Some great pscyh-blues ‘60s power and vibes, plus real depth and feeling (especially on last few songs). "These Days" is very much a saved-best-for-last kinda closer.

Wow - this is the first time I’ve listened to this. I had to listen to it again straight away. It’s just amazing - I never knew I loved The Black Keys.

Gritty and soulful, Brothers oozes with raw emotion and timeless rock energy. Each track is a powerful blend of bluesy riffs, infectious grooves, and haunting vocals, all wrapped in a lo-fi, vintage vibe that feels both fresh and nostalgic. Every listen uncovers new layers of brilliance—this is a classic rock 'n' roll work of audio art.

A lot of hits

Lived this album. Big fan of the black keys. Favorite song was Howlin for you

I enjoy this album a lot and it's a total vibe but so many of the songs just slide off of me for me to consider it a 5/5.

I love these guys. El Camino is stronger, but this is a great album.

Epic, love the black keys. Although listening to this makes me realize how shit they're new stuff is

Very nice!

Ahhh the Black Keys remind me so much of high school. This was when I started to take more notice of contemporary music, and this album stood out, it’s bluesy, and mostly good. In hindsight this album still holds up okay, I think it suffers from cultural rot. Like I associate the Black Keys with previews for an AMC show that no one remembers. Something about crime and sex, as like Gold on the Ceiling plays on the background. I also think they kinda wind up poisoning what would become later mainstream indie rock. Dan Auerbach producing Cage the Elephant being my favorite example, what a fucking nightmare. This album is good. It sounds good, I remember a lot of the songs. It’s good. Do I think a better singer would have helped? By god yes. But still

I got this album when it came out as I was and still an a fan of the song Tighten Up and I loved it back in the day. Haven't listened to it for a long time so it was nice to go back at revisit it and ideas surprised to find I still really enjoyed it, Tighten Up is still a cracker but Everlasting Light & Howlin' For You are both great too.

Real good record, probably the Black Keys best.

**Album Review: *Brothers* by The Black Keys** Released in 2010, *Brothers* by The Black Keys marked a pivotal moment in the band's career, serving as both a commercial breakthrough and a critical triumph. The album combines the rawness of garage rock with a soulful, bluesy edge, creating a sound that resonates with both the heart and the ears. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, offering a comprehensive analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. ### **Lyrics** The lyrics in *Brothers* are characterized by their simplicity and emotional directness. Dan Auerbach, the band's vocalist and guitarist, often employs straightforward language to convey themes of love, heartbreak, and personal struggle. The album’s opener, "Everlasting Light," sets the tone with lines like “Let me be your everlasting light / The sun when there is none,” a clear expression of unwavering support and love. The lyrics are accessible, yet they carry an emotional weight that allows listeners to connect with the music on a personal level. Songs like "Next Girl" and "Tighten Up" explore themes of romantic disillusionment and frustration. "Next Girl" presents a candid narrative of a man who’s been wronged, with lines like “My next girl will be nothing like my ex-girl / I made mistakes back then, I’ll never do it again.” The simplicity of the lyrics belies the complexity of the emotions involved, reflecting the universal experience of moving on from a failed relationship. However, the lyrical simplicity can sometimes veer into the realm of predictability. While the directness of the lyrics makes the album approachable, it also means that there is little in the way of poetic nuance or metaphorical depth. The lyrics serve their purpose effectively but don't always offer new insights or layers upon repeated listens. ### **Music** Musically, *Brothers* is a rich tapestry of blues, rock, and soul. The Black Keys, consisting of Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, draw heavily from the blues tradition, but they infuse it with a modern sensibility. The album features a variety of tempos and moods, ranging from the upbeat, foot-tapping rhythm of "Tighten Up" to the slow, melancholic groove of "Too Afraid to Love You." One of the most notable aspects of the album is its instrumentation. Auerbach's guitar work is gritty and raw, often characterized by distorted riffs and fuzz-laden solos. The guitar tone is central to the album's sound, giving it a rough-edged, almost primitive feel that harkens back to the roots of rock and roll. Carney’s drumming is equally compelling, providing a solid, often minimalist backbone that allows the guitar to take center stage. The album also experiments with different musical textures, incorporating elements of soul and R&B. "Howlin' for You," with its infectious rhythm and catchy chorus, is a prime example of this, blending rock with a pop sensibility. On tracks like "The Only One," the band introduces keyboard and bass lines that add a layer of depth and warmth to their sound. One of the strengths of *Brothers* is its variety. The album never feels monotonous, with each track offering something slightly different in terms of mood and style. However, this variety can also be seen as a weakness. Some critics argue that the album lacks a cohesive sound, with certain tracks feeling like they belong to different projects entirely. While this diversity showcases the band's versatility, it also means that the album can sometimes feel disjointed. ### **Production** *Brothers* was recorded at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, known for its association with classic soul and R&B records. The decision to record there is evident in the album’s warm, analog sound, which stands in contrast to the more polished production of many contemporary rock albums. The production, handled by the band along with Mark Neill, retains the raw, unrefined quality that has always been a hallmark of The Black Keys’ music, while also introducing new sonic elements that enhance the overall listening experience. The album’s production is both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, the lo-fi aesthetic and the emphasis on live, organic sound give the album an authenticity that is often missing in modern rock music. The use of vintage equipment and recording techniques adds to the album’s retro vibe, paying homage to the blues and soul records that clearly inspired it. This approach creates a sense of intimacy, making the listener feel as though they are in the room with the band. However, this same rawness can be off-putting to some listeners. The album’s sound is intentionally rough around the edges, which might be seen as a limitation for those who prefer a cleaner, more polished production. Moreover, the heavy use of reverb and distortion, while effective in creating a certain atmosphere, can sometimes obscure the details of the music, making it difficult to fully appreciate the nuances of the instrumentation. ### **Themes** Thematically, *Brothers* is steeped in the classic motifs of love, heartbreak, and redemption. The album often explores the darker side of relationships, with many songs dealing with themes of betrayal, loss, and emotional pain. This is most evident in tracks like "Too Afraid to Love You" and "Unknown Brother," which delve into the complexities of love and the scars it can leave behind. "Too Afraid to Love You" captures the fear of vulnerability with lyrics like “My heart is in my hand / And I’m too afraid to love you.” The song’s haunting melody and Auerbach’s plaintive vocals underscore the emotional weight of the lyrics, creating a sense of melancholy that permeates much of the album. "Unknown Brother" takes a more reflective approach, addressing themes of loss and mourning with a sense of quiet dignity. The album also touches on themes of resilience and perseverance. Songs like "Next Girl" and "Ten Cent Pistol" depict characters who have been hurt but are determined to move forward. "Ten Cent Pistol" in particular tells a story of revenge and justice, with lyrics that paint a vivid picture of betrayal and retribution. The narrative quality of the song highlights the band’s ability to tell stories through their music, even when the lyrics are relatively simple. Despite the album’s often somber themes, there is an undercurrent of hope and redemption. The closing track, "These Days," reflects a sense of acceptance and moving on, with lines like “These days I barely get by / I don't even try.” While the lyrics convey a sense of resignation, the music suggests a quiet strength, a determination to keep going despite the hardships. ### **Influence** *Brothers* had a significant impact on both The Black Keys’ career and the broader rock landscape. The album was a commercial success, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 and earning the band their first Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. Its success marked a turning point for The Black Keys, propelling them from indie darlings to mainstream rock stars. The album’s influence can be seen in the resurgence of interest in blues-rock and garage rock that followed its release. Bands like Alabama Shakes and Gary Clark Jr. have cited The Black Keys as an influence, and *Brothers* played a key role in bringing raw, blues-infused rock back into the mainstream. The album’s success also paved the way for the band’s subsequent albums, including the Grammy-winning *El Camino*. *Brothers* also contributed to the broader trend of retro revivalism in the 2010s, where many artists began to draw inspiration from the sounds of the past. The album’s blend of vintage blues and modern rock appealed to a wide audience, bridging the gap between older generations who grew up with the blues and younger listeners looking for something authentic and raw. ### **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Emotional Depth:** The lyrics, while simple, resonate deeply with themes of love, heartbreak, and perseverance. 2. **Musical Variety:** The album offers a diverse range of styles, from gritty blues to soulful rock, keeping the listener engaged throughout. 3. **Authentic Production:** The use of analog equipment and vintage recording techniques gives the album a warm, organic sound that stands out in an era of digital production. 4. **Strong Instrumentation:** Auerbach’s guitar work and Carney’s drumming create a powerful, dynamic sound that is both raw and refined. 5. **Cultural Impact:** The album played a key role in the revival of blues-rock and influenced a generation of musicians. **Cons:** 1. **Lyrical Simplicity:** The lyrics, while effective, lack the poetic nuance and depth that might elevate the album to the level of a masterpiece. 2. **Lack of Cohesion:** The diversity of musical styles, while a strength in some respects, can also make the album feel disjointed at times. 3. **Rough Production:** The intentionally raw production, while authentic, might not appeal to listeners who prefer a cleaner, more polished sound. 4. **Predictability:** Some of the album’s themes and musical choices can feel predictable, adhering closely to the conventions of the blues-rock genre without pushing boundaries. ### **Conclusion** *Brothers* by The Black Keys is an album that captures the essence of modern blues-rock while paying homage to the genre’s roots. Its emotional depth, musical variety, and authentic production make it a standout in the band’s discography and a significant album in the broader rock landscape of the 2010s. While it has its flaws, including a lack of lyrical nuance and occasional disjointedness, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The album’s influence on the resurgence of blues-rock and its role in shaping the sound of the 2010s cannot be overstated. *Brothers* is an album that resonates with both the heart and the ears, offering a raw, unfiltered look at the complexities of love, loss, and resilience. It remains a testament to The Black Keys’ ability to craft music that is both timeless and contemporary, solidifying their place as one of the most important rock bands of their generation.

At the time when this came out I wasn’t a much of a fan. But after giving this a couple plays, I think it’s very solid rock record. Enjoyed, still not a big fan though.

Distinctive sound but not that interesting track to track

Pretty good album will come back to it again. liked sinister kid,tighten up,she’s long gone

A lot to like here. I think 4 stars or B- is fair.

I appreciate reading the criticism of this album, because my own judgment is a bit clouded by the influence it had on my adolescence. It’s still good music, but I agree that the album could do with a few less songs. It particularly drags in the middle around “The Only One” and “Too Afraid to Love You.”

Great album. This is a band people now love to hate, maybe because this album got so overplayed. Not deserved tho these songs are great. If it was 10 minutes shorter I would have done 5 stars

Listening to The Black Keys' “Brothers” brings me back to a significant time in my life—my wife and I's first apartment together in 2010. Our place was in a historic chair factory converted into lofts, right off the city square. The building’s past was palpable, with remnants of its old self peeking through the renovations. This sense of history juxtaposed with the new made for a unique living experience that mirrors my connection with this album. Released during that time, “Brothers” was on heavy rotation in our apartment. As a longtime fan of The Black Keys, having enjoyed their previous work like “Rubber Factory”—which was recorded in an old rubber factory—I couldn’t help but notice the parallel between the settings of their recordings and my living space. “Brothers” was originally recorded in the abandoned Muscle Shoals Studios before its renovation, much like our loft had remnants of its past. The band’s ability to capture something historic and transform it into something fresh resonates deeply with me. The Black Keys' dynamic is beautifully complementary: Patrick Carney’s drums are bold and thunderous, while Dan Auerbach’s guitar, bass, and vocals provide the soulful core of their sound. The music feels raw and almost on the verge of disintegration, yet it always remains cohesive and moving forward. This quality gives “Brothers” its distinctive, human touch. Standout tracks for me include “Howlin’ for You,” “Too Afraid to Love You,” “Sinister Kid,” “I’m Not the One,” and “These Days.” Each song encapsulates that blend of historic grit and modern energy, much like the environment in which I first experienced the album. “Brothers” is a testament to The Black Keys' ability to breathe new life into old spaces, both literally and metaphorically.

This is a review by evon. The name of the reviewed is Brothers by The Black Keys. The distortion on "Everlasting Light" is crunchy yet warm, the rhythm funky, and the backing vocals add a gospel to this blues. Perfect opener. "Never Give You Up" is another great highlight, musically in line with early Temptations. I know this album, and I still sing "I'm Not the One" and "These Days," so some of these songs do have staying power. On the latter song, the nostalgic sadness (in not only the lyrics but how they're sung) of "The little house . . ./ is where I felt most alive/ . . . that old Ford / I miss it Lord, I miss it Lord" gets me every time. It reminds me of a time when everyone I ever knew was still alive, blissfully unaware of a life any other way. We had it so good at one point, guys. --------------------------------------------- This was a fun re-listen. Music can do so many things; it came make you feel rebellious against injustice, get you lost in a distant land, shake your booty, or question our purpose. I tend to lean more towards the self-reflecting soul-searching over just musical entertainment. The songs are fun and mostly upbeat, and combines blues with R&B and garage rock, and I am thoroughly entertained, but for me most songs lack some gravitas; it's just fun. But when it hits, it hits hard.

I never listened to the Black keys before but a few songs in and I'm like, yeah, I've heard this before. In like, a whole bunch of commercials? I'll have to look it up to be sure, but it seems like some of this has been licensed a lot. Anyway, it grew on me. I love how they took elements of old soul, blues, r&b and 60s rock, and put a new spin on it. Their sound is consistent and unique to them. Now I'll be able to recognize who it is when I hear their stuff. And I wouldn't mind listening to more from them.

Good album with a very distinctive sound. Alternative groove with blues and Motown(?) influence. The last few songs were standouts including "Sinister Kid", "The Go Getter", "I'm Not The One", "Unknown Brother" and "These Days".

Nice record

it's ok

I know this is considered like a perfect album and I think it probably is very good but I only kinda like some of the songs.

This is the first Black Keys album I’ve listened to from front to back. I really liked it!!

Their 2nd best album and one of the best of 2010s.

A modern blues album. All the songs have a similar structure which perfectly reflects that of Blues: that's the only problem that I found on this album. It doesn't really add anything to Blues, it just try to bring it in the present and sometimes it feels like there isn't real creativity behind it. The Camino, despite being more mainstream, is more original and the songs haven't the same structure. Still 🔥 by the way

Es ist ein abwechslungsreiches Rock-Album, das spielerisch auf rockige und Retro-Elemente wie die E-Orgel zurückgreift. Die Band schafft es, einen einzigartigen Sound zu kreieren, der sowohl nostalgisch als auch frisch wirkt. Besonders hervorzuheben sind die Titel “The Only One” und “Howlin’ for You”, die mit eingängigen Melodien und kraftvollen Riffs überzeugen. Ein weiterer Geheimtipp auf diesem überraschend guten Werk aus dem Jahr 2010 ist “Too Afraid to Love You”, das mit seiner emotionalen Tiefe und atmosphärischen Klängen beeindruckt. Insgesamt ist “Brothers” ein gelungenes Album, das sowohl alte Rock-Fans als auch den Erst-Hörer (wie mich) begeistert. Wir hören uns wieder.

Loved it. Great album.

Pissed this isn’t the album with “Little Black Submarines” but I guess I’ll get over it. It’s vibey. It’s just the first song but I like “Everlasting Light.” It’s giving Arctic Monkeys realness or 1975…. Is that illegal to say? Maybe. “TIGHTEN UP”!! Ok I understand why this album is on here because “Howlin for You” is also on here. I like “Unknown Brother.” I like this album.

Not my favorite Black Keys album, but it's a good one.

Don't have the energy for a thoughtful review today.

Really enjoyed the first 5 or 6 songs but a lot of what they did started to sound very similar

Love this album. Pretty perfect to me. Old school sounds, bluesy, full of hits and “classics”

I need to listen again.

Too Afraid to Love You, The Go Getter, I’m Not the One, and These Days are too slow

great album, higher than 4 lower than 5

Retro rock

7/10 I had a nice time listening to this. I like the older feel with the distortion. It worked for me, what can I say 7-1-2024

Actually pretty good, I was surprised. One major flaw, though - they also use the white keys (see the video for 'Too Afraid To Love You'), so their name is a misnomer. I plan to litigate for false advertising.

I hadn't heard of the Black Keys before. I like the album. I'll definitely listen to it again. 4/5

Another one of those bands that I've been aware of but never really dug into. I quite enjoyed this and certainly think it's worth another spin in the future. For now, faves are Everlasting Light, Sinister Kid

I liked the single "Next Girl" when it came out, and have given this album a couple of spins over the years, though I don't know it well. It's pretty good! Very pleased with myself, because at some point I was thinking "Huh, this kinda reminds me of "Kiwanuka" by Michael Kiwanuka, and I found out that's because they both have Danger Mouse doing production! Kiwanuka does it better, though. I find the amount of hate this album's getting in the reviews kinda surprising! Fave tracks - "Next Girl", "The Only One", "Ten Cent Pistol"

- this is peak 2010s alternative - sounds like high school - some really great songs but a few fillers as well

I enjoyed this one a lot.

Great rock album that starts out great and kinda of peters off at the end.

3.6 to be listen later once again

Liked it more than I thought I would at first.

I love this vibe.

Real feelin.

I think this might be their best album and was definitely their last truly solid album. Was gonna give it five stars but I forgot there's a few filler tracks, specifically Black Mud through Ten Cent Pistol and the two tracks after Sinister Kid. The Go Getter has some pretty dumb lyrics. The rest of the album rocks though.

I just fucking love The Black Keys. This might not even be their best album, but it absolutely fills my soul with joy. Top fucking notch! 👏👏👏👏

Ridiculously fun, oversaturated blues rock. Every instrument on this album is mixed so thickly, it’s really crunchy and full. Such a cool sound!

Great album to proclaim that rock is not dead.

I did enjoy it, however it didn't really stand out much. It reminded me of Lucifer's OST. Update, Lucifer used these songs a lot a lot

having not been a huge Black Keys fan in the past, this album really surprised me! i super enjoyed it and think that i am going to be keeping it in rotation. even with the second half of the album slowing down a bit, i really don't feel like it ever lost steam and I was super into it all the way through. this is one album i am truly waffling between a 4 and 5 stars. for now, it gets a four, but if I end up keeping this in my rotation more, I'll switch to a 5

👌🏻

This is just a generally great root-rock album

Like their sound, especially the buzzing high-gain guitar tones on most of this album. I feel a sense of melancholy when I hear a song by The Black Keys over some new Ford car commercial, but the music is still nice.

Good album.

I really do feel like this is a great album for the early 2010s. More hill country than what you typically hear in terms of newer blues rock

Great album. I've listened to it before, but it's interesting to put it up next to the classic stuff we've heard lately. It definitely holds it's own. Fun songs. Clean recording. Distinctive style.

Muito legal! Gosto praticamente de todas as fases da banda!

Blues, rock and all the nonsense that comes with the Black Keys.

I bet they would be fun to see live.

First listen to this and first full Black Keys album. No bad!

Just an all around good album. 4/5

Tight, tuneful and not a lot more to say. Do they have anything massively original to say in terms of music or lyrics. Not sure they have, but they wear their influences well.

White guys doing blues! What could go wrong? To be tbh with you I like this record a lot. It’s fun, it has some groove, and I think it sounds great. I don’t know a lot about the band but the hits were pretty big back when this came out. Did they have some scandal at some point? I don’t know. All these guys kinda blend into each other. The first few tracks are pretty good. There’s some riffs in there for sure. The single Tighten Up had its moment and a cute video with some kids but it’s a solid tune. It’s definitely got that radio friendly vibe but every 2010 alt rock band did lol. Same kinda thing for the other big single Howlin For You- you might tap a toe or something. The rest of the record has some really cool bluesy but modern sounds, the vocals are fun, coupla two tree riffs. The track The Only One has a sick organ track, and I am famously a sucker for that. I think my favorite track is Ten Cent Pistol because it really has a unique sound. Kinda sultry? Sure I’ll go with that. For a modern-ish band it uses some classic techniques that don’t feel faked. I’d definitely be into seeing them live but for what it is, it’s a decent album.

I liked it quite a bit.

I enjoyed this listen very much. I love the blues sound and grooves. I marked several fav tracks. A very unique style with a splash of rockabilly in places and some smooth R &B also. Yet another band I wish I had seen live at some point. 3.75/5

This was a solid listen, albeit a little too long. It probably ventures into 5* territory if there were some songs cut since it did start to sound repetitive on the backend. Still, I can dig the analog production which plays perfectly for two guys known for jamming in the garage.

Definitely the album that took these guys from Ohio garage band to giant commercial success. While this album makes me miss their more raw, unproduced, two man jam sound, this is such a great album loaded with some of their best songs.

Forgot about this album so good to see it pop up and back in the rotation. Really solid album with great songs and most enjoyable guitar.

4.5 stars. Revisiting after listen to this dozens of times as a teen, I was ready to realize wasn't as good as I remember, but it still holds up very well. "Next Girl" and "Only One" are great. Every song a simple but subtly complex with excellent production. "Black Mud" is a very bluesy instrumental, and "TATLY" has a great vocal performance by Dan Auerbach, with a very dramatic piano-y beat. My least favorite songs were actually the singles. "Tighten Up" sounds very pop-py, especially with the whistling. It was more fresh sounding at the time, and the switch up at the end of the track is interesting. "Howlin for You" is a song that, if I were listening to for the first time today, I would find rather boring until the last minute where the track progresses. "Unknown Brother" is a really touching song that I'm just now realizing may have inspired the title of this album. "These days" is nice, but it's kind of a sleepy song. I would rather have "Never Gonna Give You Up" as the album closer.

A strong mix of classic blues rock created using both new and old recording techniques. You can definitely feel the power of the instruments here, particularly the grief-addled drums reverberating through the defunct recording studio.

Great stuff

Forgot how much I liked them!

8/10. Great album. Vibes were good. Not consistent enough to get 9 or 10 - but enjoyed throughout. 4 songs made the 5 ⭐️ list.

# Playlist track - Tighten Up # Notes - Great mix of rock and blues. Catchy riffs. - A bit too long at 1h 17min.

They get extra points for being so explicit with the album name, making it so very clear which is the band and which is the album title. And I really enjoyed the music. Not sure I believe the sentiment at all times but very nice to listen to.