Reviews (page 7 of 15)
3.5 It’s not bad at all, but I think lower of it now because of how many beer and truck commercials these songs have been in the past 15 years, and what a dillweed Patrick Carney is irl. I had fun, but it gets a bit long in the tooth. Why is a Black Keys album an hour long?
De fondo está bien, buen blues rock, pero monótono y casi sin grandes momentos
Always had a soft spot for this album.
Black Keys, solide als altijd.
Heard a lot about these but didn’t love this
One of my faves…
There were times during this album when I thought I was getting sick of it, but then the next track would start and I'd be drawn back in.
Pretty good, haven’t listed to this since college.
solid blues album, songs have good variety and pop feel in places. Not a bad listen by any means id give it an 8/10
good 3.5
Heard this… great album.
booooo
I am sure everyone my age is aware of The Black Keys, whether you listened to them yourself through the radio or just El Camino as a whole or were exposed to it through your dad. There is no denying they are a staple of the 2010s as a whole, but do they still hold up 15 years later? On today's 1001 albums to hear before I died I pulled The Black Key's Brothers and man was this quite a wake-up call of sorts. This project mixes Blues Rock with a more Garage and slightly Psychedelic sound to create a sound that would define Rock in the 2010s, and I can't lie The Black Keys aren't even that special or good in their own sound. A lot of these songs sound very similar and feel so clocked in that they appeal to a more mainstream audience. To be frank, this album got very lucky and exploded into the mainstream the way the band did because they offer next to nothing besides a barely good listening experience. Nothing here is original or even all that engaging as it is so aggressively safe it waters down the impact of the genres involved. In basic terms it is good and nothing more. Nuff said.
Greit nok. Starta bra.
Just so mid. All the songs sound the same, all the instruments are playing the same riff like half the time. The vox and instruments do sound good, and it feels too well put together to give it lower than a 3. But I was bored listening to this.
I really struggled to see the point of this album. There's a point where having retro influences becomes a pastiche, and this crosses that line in places. Besides that, it's just so generic. It wore me down.
Every song sounds the same. I try and pick a track from every album and I honestly can’t remember anything about any of them. Boo!
Свого часу дуже багато слухав їх і цей альбом зокрема. Якщо на перших був такий брудніший гаражний звук, то на Братах вже відчувається, що хлопці зібралися записувати бенгери. Є одні з найбільших їх хітів (хоча наступний мені здається яскравішим), багато хороших рівних блюз/гараж рок пісень. Хороша рок-музика кінця нульових.
Я люблю блюзові кавери від БК, chulahoma або delta cream - це прям воно. Їхній сольний матеріал звісно непоганий, навіть оцей поп-період; але якось не знаю.. блюзова форма личить їм більші ніж стадіонні хіти. Ще згадав що дуже любив їхній проект blakroc
Haha funny cover. I've heard their album from 2011 with the car on it, "Gold on the ceiling", and it was cool to listen to another one of their albums. Lots of instrumental parts. I kept waiting for the songs to build or have exciting parts, but they all felt boring and repetitive. None of the lyrics stood out to me, and the voice he sung in wasn't my favorite. It was fine to listen to once, but I don't need to hear it again. 3/10
Just ok. Starts off good with some bluesy guitar rock, but gets a little tedious as the album goes on.
Its really good, I like it
4.5
It's surprising to learn I know pretty much all the songs on the album without ever listening to it as a whole. Witness to how many hits this album contains I'd say.
Det va ikke fornærmanes dårlig, men det va jo ikke akkurat interessant av den grunn.
I was expected this to be a lot heavier then realised I was mixing them up with the Black Crows! I really quite like this album though it goes on for a bit longer than necessary in my opinion. I will listen again though which is good sign.
I really liked this. Worth getting on vinyl
Unknown band for me. Surprisingly enjoyed the album. I liked the musical arrangements and the vocal was good.
ugh
The brand new Skoda Octavia from just £26,740, various payment plans available. Terms and conditions apply… …wait, you're telling me I haven't just spent an hour indulging myself into a barrage of car adverts that someone with a deep seated self-hatred assembled into a YouTube playlist? Does anyone seriously care about these soulless hacks? This is the definition of “live, laugh, love” blues rock for people whose greatest sense of danger and excitement in their life was mixing cider and beer on a night out once. Music for people who don't like music. Thoroughly depressing stuff.
Solid album. I had heard it multiple times.
The first half of this album is great. The hits are all back to back and if the album were 20 minutes shorter I think I would rate this a 4. The second half really drags and detracts from the overall experience and my feelings about the album. Too much fuzz, too much feedback and too much same same makes me give this a 3.
I really enjoyed this, it's a bit like imagine dragons with more bite, I am pretty sure it's manufactured to shit but regardless of all that it's got some bops on it.
This album is great.
Album sinmasero, algunas canciones top y otras flojillas. Nota: 7/10
Not a fan of Black Keys. I'll try to give it a listen. Welp, still very meh. I don't see the appeal to these guys at all.
Favourites: Next Girl, She's Long Gone, Black Mud, The Only One, I'm Not the One, Never Gonna Give You Up, Chop and Change
I discovered the Black Keys in college. The mix of blues and rock reminded me of The White Stripes (don't tell Jack White I said that...) but with a higher production value and better instrumentation from the rhythm section (no shade to Meg White). I found, too, that the emotional core of the songs was stronger and more genuine (talk to me about "The Lengths"...) This album was certainly their commercial breakthrough. And while it might sacrifice some of that authenticity for commercial appeal, it still is an excellent record. "Everlasting Light" is such an excellent opener, oh my god. What a song. Almost funky, definitely bluesy. Really sets the tone for the rest of the record. Hell, the album itself starts off really hot with that, "Next Girl," and the two singles off this one, "Tighten Up" and "Howlin' for You." Both of those last two are so incredibly singable and fun to listen to. Ear candy at its finest. The emotional core of the album is about either wanting love ("Everlasting Light," "Howlin' For You," "The Only One") or the fear of losing or anguish from just having lost it ("Next Girl," "She's Long Gone," "I'm Not the One"). It's a fine balance, and then there's also "Ten Cent Pistol," which is a moody as hell and I love it. And then don't even get me started on "Sinister Kid." What an absolute banger. Moody, soulful, bluesy and just an absolute vibe. What works here really works for me. What doesn't work so well is fine, but there are skips. I don't need to listen to the slower stuff. "Never Gonna Give You Up" is a fine track, as is "These Days." But they bring down the mood established by the majority of the rest of the tracks. I love this album, but it isn't a no-skip situation. An easy four stars. I wish it could've been five, but I really don't like the slow stuff as much here. Standout Tracks: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, Howlin' for You, Ten Cent Pistol, Sinister Kid
A bit repetitive album + not really my style
I listened to the Black Keys a bit back when this album came out. I particularly remember "Howling For You." Others sounds familiar too, like "The Only One." I don't think I ever found their music particularly compelling though to listen to a lot of because some of it is a bit too same-y. Favourite: "Never Gonna Give You Up"
Dit kenn ick
Good slick peckers
I have never DISliked this band, but I have never really LIKED them that much either. I've enjoyed some of their catchier stuff but fair or not I have always compared them (unfavorably) to the White Stripes. I only own one of their albums and it's not this one - it's the next one, El Camino. Reading about this album on Wikipedia, it sounds like "Tighten Up" was "the hit," but it doesn't sound familiar to me at all. "Howlin' for You," on the other hand, sounds VERY familiar. Pretty sure it's been in a bunch of commercials. I would give this album 2.5 stars if I could, because I feel pretty meh about it. I'll give them a 3 because I'm feeling generous.
Great sounds and music
Yeah it's good
Groovy album man
Still grated album i appreciate the second half of the album more as well Fav tracks: The only one, unknown brother, next girl, everlasting light
Pretty fun
Meh
Crap
I’m a fan of their entire catalog for the most part, but this is definitely the one that first drew my attention. I’ve read comparisons to the White Stripes since they’re both power-duos, but the Keys seem to project a bit less hipster and a bit more blues.
Good bluesy sound, but the distortion on guitar and vocals could easily get tired after a while.
Such a cool album. Great stuff.
I mean no. 2/5
I liked this less than their Thickfreakness album but it's still enjoyable.
Featured in playlists such as "Music to walk like a badass to" 3/5
This sounded good but kinda seemed like it was written with adverts in mind at the same time - 3 stars maybe?
kedelig. Genren er ok, men udførelsen ligegyldig.
Ist echt solide. Manchmal klingt es sehr nach Werbemusik für den nächsten ford oder Blockbuster aber nach den letzten Alben freue ich mich über etwas was zumindest spaß macht. Eine warscheins zu hohe 4/5
Tighten Up and listen to this! It’s Howlin’ for You!
Very pleasent surprise. It rang a bell the band, but i didn't know the album. Very good music
Enjoyable sounds,
I don't know the scathing reviews aren't really warranted in my opinion. This is a fine album, deeply blues rooted but doesnt steal or rip off anything. Black Mud won best instrumental rock song in 2011? So like, it was the best for its time. Do the Black Keys suck ass now, yes of course. But their 2008 Rubber Factory to 2013 Turn Blue run was the stuff of legends. They straight up grabbed the arm of the average American listener and injected it with midwest deep grooves and blues rythmns. In fact I followed this band from Rubber Factory from YouTube videos all the way through their grammy win. They matured well and ilicited one of the best albums of all time Turn Blue. Managed to create a hit everytime without over extending themselves or watering down the sound. I am deeply disappointed this this bands post 2013 trajectory though. Delta Kream was okay but we're here to talk about Brothers. And its a great rock album, easy to listen and enjoy. Connoisseurs and pop enjoys alike had their time in the sun with it. Those calling this white people blues, listen to Chulahoma and Their Debut to see what they are about. And those calling this aimless filler, consider Turn Blue to see cohesion and concept.
good album
Rollicking, bluesy, full-throated roll ‘n roll with bass lines that don’t quit. A great time but never gets too deep.
I’m OK with the Black Keys in smaller doses. A whole album just doesn’t hold my attention - they’re not that good.
great, really like it
If it was a bit shorter I would view it more favorably, as is the hour runtime felt excessive. It's a decent throwback sound but overstays its welcome.
I dig T Rex but it was pretty clear to me from the jump that Marc Bolan was a bit of a one-trick pony. I get the same feeling listening to Brothers. There's a formula at play, or maybe a couple, that's hard to ignore. The result is solid, I mean the songs are clearly popular. And I know enough about music psychology and theory to know, especially with pop music, formulas are everywhere. Ultimately, good for The Black Keys for finding something that works, but for my taste I wish there was a bit more variation. On another note, I never really know how to feel about a band that presents themselves with less members than who's playing on the album. Not like every last instrument has to be represented by a person in photos and interviews, but all I ever see are just two dudes. Like whoever's on bass knows they're gonna get snubbed going into the gig. Solid 3
Some great songs in a very black keys style. Howlin for you being a global smash. Whole album is well halted but quite understated from song to song.
Best Black Key album of their collection. This is when they hit their peak.
Quite good. Liked most of the songs. Fave song: Howlin' For You Honorable mentions: Tighten Up, The Only One
Good songs here and there but overall generic Favourite Song: Howlin for You
i think the best way i can describe this is generic. it honestly sounds good at times (because danger mouse is goated) but idk why this is on this list honestly.
Nostalgia from the 2010s Favorite track: tighten up other picks: howling for you, everlasting light, she's long gone, sinister kid
Like it
i don't trust any blue rock album made after the 80s. idk why but its a red flag for me it's good. it has its moments but it pretty derivative. so much so that i cannot fathom how it could possibly be a must hear album. someone on here said its "Blues for people who are afraid of black people". i get why this album feels off to me now, couldn't agree more
Aalxi lagyo 🤣
Day 20 First listen- I zoned out a lot while listening and the tracks did not feel very memorable so its a 2.5/5 for now.
Mettons les choses au clair d'emblée : "Brothers" des Black Keys est un album qui mérite un 5 sur 5. Non pas parce qu'il représente un sommet de virtuosité ou une révolution musicale complexe ; il n'est pas un chef-d'oeuvre au sens académique du terme. Sa grandeur est ailleurs. Elle réside dans sa texture, son âme, et surtout, dans son son. Un son franc, direct, et délicieusement imparfait. Un bon gros son bien gras qui colle aux oreilles et prend aux tripes, et c'est précisément là que réside son génie. Cet album, c'est avant tout le triomphe du duo Dan Auerbach et Patrick Carney qui, après une période de tensions et de projets parallèles, se retrouve dans le mythique studio de Muscle Shoals en Alabama. Et cette réunion suinte par tous les pores du disque. L'influence de leur projet hip-hop "Blakroc" est palpable, infusant leur blues-rock originel d'un groove nouveau, plus lourd et plus chaloupé. La batterie de Carney est puissante, tribale, tandis que les guitares d'Auerbach sont gorgées de fuzz, épaisses et granuleuses. Mais la vraie nouveauté, c'e sont ces lignes de basse profondes et cette âme soul qui parcourent l'album, lui donnant une rondeur et une chaleur qu'on ne leur connaissait pas auparavant. De "Everlasting Light" et son falsetto surprenant à la noirceur cinématographique de "Ten Cent Pistol", chaque morceau est imprégné de cette atmosphère moite et authentique. L'inévitable comparaison avec The White Stripes, autre grand duo garage-blues de l'époque, trouve ici ses limites. Si la formule de base est similaire, The Black Keys s'éloignent de l'urgence punk-blues de Detroit pour plonger dans un son plus sudiste, plus funk. "Brothers" est moins frénétique et plus lascif. C'est un album qui prend son temps pour installer ses ambiances, que ce soit sur le stomping rock de stade "Howlin' for You" ou le riff abrasif de "Next Girl". Même le tube "Tighten Up", seule piste produite par Danger Mouse, conserve cette tension brute sous son sifflement pop et sa production plus léchée. C'est la parfaite synthèse du projet : un pied dans le grand public, l'autre fermement ancré dans la boue du blues. Au final, "Brothers" est un disque qui respire l'honnêteté. C'est le son de deux "frères" de musique qui se réconcilient en faisant du bruit, transformant leurs doutes en une catharsis sonore d'une richesse incroyable. Ce n'est pas un disque qui s'analyse, mais qui se ressent. C'est une oeuvre physique, qui demande à être écoutée fort, pour apprécier chaque grésillement de guitare, chaque coup lourd sur la caisse claire. En capturant cet équilibre parfait entre le blues-rock le plus crasseux et une sensibilité soul mélodique, The Black Keys ont signé bien plus qu'un bon album : un classique moderne, essentiel et vibrant. Un pur plaisir auditif, brut et sans compromis.
Great album. I should probably get them in my music rotation every now and then.
Never been a huge fan of theseguys. Overall good album.
I burned myself out on these guys, at one point I would have given it a 4. It’s like a 2.75 for me now.
8/10 enjoyable
Sounds like the black keys. Some decently catchy songs but the vocal processing ain't it for me
Definitely a very consistent album in tone, which is fine because I like their sound. There were a couple standouts and overall I enjoyed the listen.
Mellow rock. Not the most interesting, but ok to listen to.
I quite enjoyed that one. Never heard of them before but the sound they have is really distinctive and original. I would rate it 4.5/5, just because I have certain albums in my mind, which I am very sure about, that they are on this list, that deserve the 5/5. But this one gets close, I did save some of the songs to my liked songs playlist.
It was alright. A band whose music I've heard over the years which mostly includes the hit Howlin for You, a song that is probably on most 2010s indie playlists. Haven't got that many 21st Century albums yet on here but this is just alright.
Their sixth album. 21st century Blues ? I guess. Very good production. Howlin' For You is a decent track. The album is pretty bloated. Twenty one tracks for one hour and seventeen minutes. When does repetition become dogma? This is all very samey. I am bobbing my head along now and then but it isn't really grabbing me, musically or lyrically.
A departure from their early blues garage rock sound, less raw and more polished, think they got the balance right.
this feels so stuck in the 2010s it's just not it
Idk I think it would’ve been better with more distortion
I went into this thinking "Great. Another lo-fi garage group. This is going to suck." I was quite surprised to find out that there IS some really good music in that genre. The Hives, White Stripes, The Strokes, etc. have really done a shit job in the genre, but these fucking guys TEAR IT UP! Great fuzzy guitars, simple but catchy rhythm section, nicely implemented keys...really pleased and surprised. Damn, this was good. Super happy to have heard this today. On another interesting musical history note, the band members talking about the way the Muscle Shoals booth was constructed and its effects on the final mix was fascinating. It would definitely explain why the bass on this album is a little hot (in a very pleasing way to me) and how some of the very rich soul/rock/R&B recordings of its heyday sound so fucking good. I've even watched a documentary about Muscle Shoals and hadn't heard this before. Neat! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
There are some redeeming qualities in few songs... But still not enough to rate it 2. I've got so bored :( I Don't know why people call it garage rock or blues rock. It's so bland and the album lasts forever
Bluesy influence, great for your backyard tailgate without your racist neighbors.
Very good.
If gentrification had a soundtrack it would be this album.
Good bluesy midwestern rock n roll. First listen to a The Black Keys album.
Done
This gets better as it goes. I generally dontlike the modern bluesy vocal delivery over indie instrumentals (as opposed to their earlier more dirty garage sound) from the 2010s, like hozier and all that. But the songs get stranger as it goes and i like that
reminds me of cold war kids, some fun ones for sure
Ok
This is the 174th album I’m rating. I only know them because Lebron likes them. Probably because they're from Akron. Adding to my Playlist - Everlasting Light, Next Girl, Tighten Up, Howlin' for You, She's Long Gone, Black Mud, The Only One, Too Afraid to Love You, Ten Cent Pistol, Sinister Kid, The Go Getter, I'm Not the One, Unknown Brother, Never Give You Up, and These Days. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Howlin' for You - I know this song. I wonder where I heard it. Probably 2k. All in all I liked 15/15 songs. The Black Keys are pretty basic but I like basic.
I've loved the Black Keys since I first listened to El Camino back in 2011, while sitting in an APC driving across the Australian outback. The problem with listening to them for too long is that they end up sounding a bit one note. I enjoyed this album purely as background music, though I'm not sure why this specific album is on this list. El Camino? Sure. Not this. 3/5
Cool album and a neat band. Just not my go-to favorite, but I enjoy the music when it's on.
This is the sonic equivalent of that wood textured paneling people would put up in their basements instead of drywall. Like a veneer of a facsimile. I feel like the singer is doing an impression of something. I can't articulate why I hate it so much but I do.
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck youuuuuuuu
Disappointing This album irritates with distortion so overused as to be pointless, percussion so repetitive and persistent that it annoys. I love the blues, but the majority of these lyrics are too trite (like the tritest songs on a Tarantino soundtrack) to be believable or felt. She’s Long Gone The first song of lyrical interest. A welcome shift from the plain and emotionless lyrical offerings of the first four songs on the album. Black Mud An instrumental interlude offering a nice break from the distorted vocals of the album’s opening. Works as a transition piece into the mellowness of The Only One. The Go Getter This one works: nice movement and a unique setting that the band’s sound accentuates meaningfully. Fresh California narrator in a song that knows its bluesy roots. Worth a listen. Never Gonna Give You Up Stands out too much, as it’s far more melodically interesting than the rest of the album. Doesn’t work in this setting, and it’s an unnecessary cover of the outstanding, heartfelt, and vocally masterful original by Jerry Butler. The Days If this kind of song is what The Black Keys are capable of, I’m interested in giving more of their albums a listen. Nice and devastating with moving, genuine lyrics that speak of lived experience. This conclusion showcases the vocalists’s ability to craft blues emotion in a felt and mature performance; also offers balanced instrumental production. I had higher hopes for this one.
Cool, catchy, modern rock. Nothing revolutionary but really enjoyable. Some great riffs and the vocals match the music very well. For such a big album I was surprised to only recognize Howlin' For You. Also I really enjoy the start of Too Afraid to Love You. It sounds like a nasty beat for a rap track and I was half-expecting a sick verse to come in but it was just the usual singing. Favorites: Tighten Up, Howlin' For You, Too Afraid to Love You
Not for me, and not for this list, in my opinion. I see that The National’s High Violet, also released in 2010, has since been removed from the 1001. I suggest Brothers would be a better candidate for removal.
This has completely flown past me, but wow, what an album. I really like the swamp blues feels I get, mixed with grunge and distortion. Works really well. The album takes off straight from the get-go with a stellar intro track in 'Everlasting Light'. Really nice groove and overall rhythm to it. The singing complements and works great with the instrumental as well. While the following tracks after were good as well, the formula repeated itself a bit for a while, but then came 'The Only One' which had some oriental vibes to it, and completely flipped it around. Probably my favourite track of the record. In summary this record took me completely by surprise. It rarely happens that I instantly like something when hearing it first time, but this was one of those records. Really impressed!
I haven’t listened to The Black Keys in ages. I was late to discovering them, but I think I listened a lot to the songs from this album around 2012–2015. Because of that, it will always be a “university album” for me. The first four tracks deliver some solid hits — real bluesy rock. “Next Girl” and “Howlin’ for You” are among the best on the album. But even early on, I started to feel it sounded a bit too polished, too radio-friendly. This continued throughout the rather long album. There wasn’t much variation, and I missed the raw edge that some older blues records have. There are still a surprising number of catchy tracks, but overall, it feels a bit bland. They’re both clearly talented — Dan Auerbach’s solo album is good, and Patrick Carney composed the excellent theme to BoJack Horseman. I’ll land on a weak 4 star.
The Black Keys. What a great band for times like these. I think that El Camino is their best album, but Brothers were their peak of creativity. I'd like to listen to more bands like this on mainstream.
2.5
I was actually surprised because I mentally had this rated higher from back in the 2010s though I have not listened to this album or the follow-up since the early 2010s. I do rather prefer *Rubber Factory*, the only album I own by them. I got into them from their single "10 a.m. Automatic". (7.8) ★★★½
Quite cool garage rock. 4 stars
The Black Keys have long been a band I just thought was pretty good. I first heard them around the time of Rubber Factory. I heard this when it came out and that's probably the last time I really thought about it. The first few songs are really good -- "Everlasting Light" and "Next Girl" being the clear standouts here. After that, it's kind of just okay. There's nothing egregiously bad, and everything sounds good, but the songs are just not that exiciting for the most part. 3.5 stars.
This is an album by the Black Keys. This is the dictionary definition of bog-standard and shouldn’t be anywhere near a 1001 Albums To Listen To Before You Die list.
Very similar not bad but that crazy. Fine
Just Ok. 2/5
Funny how the only 2 upbeat songs are the 2 popular ones. Everything else was easy to listen to but not remarkable.
i read a review about this being music for ford ads and now i cant get the idea out of my head and i hate it and it instantly reduced my enjoyment by 50% 5.4/10
I've never really clicked with the Black Keys, similar to the White Stripes (although I do marginally prefer them). On paper I should like them, and they have some great songs. But there's something a bit hollow about their music. It just doesn't stick with me. This album is also a bit too long, and fairly front-loaded.
Bleh.
The Black Keys have two prefect albums and this is one of them.
Very iconic sound 6/10
Y otra más. Se me cortó la diarrea.
good album, few good songs
Great album, very consistent all throughout. It's a very Black Keys album. I suspect it functions as a good soundtrack for an evening of food and friends.
The black what? Less than the black...
The last real rock band? I can’t help but feel this is the hipsters’ choice of Black Keys albums. It’s ok actually. Really good to be fair. But surely the big seller is the one you’d introduce. Not this one. 3
Glenn (with two ‘n’s) introduced me to the Black Keys pretty early in their career. “Try this”, he said, “I reckon you’ll like it”. I did indeed like it, and I subsequently acquired their first couple of albums. I really like the rough and ready minimal bluesy indie rock they served up on those albums, occasionally psychedelic, occasionally soul inflected, drums up front and fuzzy guitars. What’s not to love? But those three albums I owned were enough, and I stopped following them closely. A few years later, another mate Glen (with one ‘n’, no relation) burned me a CD-R of El Camino and Jack White’s first solo album on a single disc. I was surprised at how much the Black Keys had changed. You could still feel their “funky-garagey-bluesy indie two-piece band” roots, but the whole thing has been buffed up into radio-ready hook-laden pop songs, courtesy of their collaboration with Danger Mouse. It’s not super-polished – there is still plenty of roughness and texture on there – but it is loud and shiny and assertive. The approach on Brothers is basically the same as El Camino, and the two albums are really interchangeable. The thing I noticed, especially in contrast with Jack White’s Blunderbuss, is how compressed it is. It is consistently loud and in-your-face all the way through. I would argue that every individual song on Brothers (and El Camino) is designed to be the best thing you hear on the radio all day. They are recorded, mixed and mastered to pop out on radio, much like some of the key influences on this record (T.Rex or Gary Glitter spring to mind – there is strong glam pop DNA here). The problem with that, as an album, is that it is _exhausting_ to listen to all the way through. Don’t get me wrong; there are some excellent songs here, and they do sound absolutely terrific on radio or on a mixtape or in a DJ set; lots of hooks, great tunes, and a loud and gritty texture that sounds amazing. I love it when one of the singles from this album (or El Camino – did I mention these albums are largely interchangeable?) comes on a playlist or the radio or a DJ drops a track. But one or two songs is plenty. The Black Keys should really be regarded as a singles band rather than an album band. They are analogous to T/Rex in many ways; they are (these days) a rock-based pop band who produce amazing singles. And I don’t begrudge them their success -- they are one of the few rock bands who have managed to establish relevance on the pop music scene this century. Good on them for that. Has the bloom faded from the rose these days? Was the partnership with Danger Mouse an artistic dead-end? Was their commercial success a form of golden handcuffs? Well, you could argue for any of those things. But it’s great pop music you can dance to, and I dig that. 3.5 stars, rounding up for being one of the very few 21st century rock bands I enjoy.
Had to double check if I accidentally put on Imagine Dragons. Among all the albums I've heard, this is the one that closest associates with the term "Home Depot rock" in my head. It's the sort of thing mainstream rock radio stations would put on at peak hours. Like, it's not terrible, even sort of heavy at times, but it's the most safe, blandest, unimaginative shit you can imagine. I don't hate it as much as pop rock since there's a lest some cool riffs, but it's not much better.
Amazing how many variations on a theme can sound so good.
on the cusp of 4, great mucisians, just not all gems
album cover, songs, length, genre all top tier.
this was fine. i wouldn’t wish for it to be turned off at a party or anything. but it sounds like it was made for commercials and nothing else.
Enjoyed the rhythm and harmonies in the music. First time listening to the album but will keep it in the mix!
awful. get away from me
Great album, really enjoyed it and ill definitely listen again
I don’t know if any Black Keys albums are less than 4 stars. Solid album.
So good but maybe a little too long?
Great blues-rock!
I like some of the Black Keys songs but this album was interminable and I was relieved when it finished, which isn’t really what you want is it.
I'm about 4 tracks in. It's got some all time popular hits on the first half of this album. However I'm feeling really disconnected from it, and I'm wondering if that is because so many movies, commercials and other content has used these tracks for their ads and whatnot. Like this album suffers from the over saturation in culture since it's release more than most would. It's such a cool gritty sound, but at early in this listen i'm feeling unattached from the songs. I take back my earlier sentiment as the 3rd act of this album is frickin awesome. Just big time D kickers all the way.
Not bad; not my favorite. Derivative and repetitive, but not as offensive as some other white ppl blues we are subjected to. Better just to listen to actual blues.
I’d say that I enjoyed this album quite a bit but I had to listen to some sort of deluxe anniversary edition so it felt a bit bloated and I would have preferred to listen to the original but eh ho!
A bit surprised I ended up here, but it's one great song after the next. This is the Black Keys at their stripped-down, tight best.
Solid album
none of the songs really stood out to me and they all sort of sounded the same. the album kept reminding me of something else which annoyed me
2.5
I’m not sure really what came first or not but this sounds remarkably similar to Arctic Monkeys. Got a good amount of jams and grooves though and I generally liked it.
It's so boring, man.
really interesting and good feeling from this album, difficult to describe but great guitars and lovely pacing from vocalist. sounds like arctic monkeys if they were good
5/1001 :: The Black Keys - Brothers Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: Solid 6, Light 7 Fav Tracks: Tighten Up, Howlin’ For You, Everlasting Light, Unknown Brother I’ve listened to this album a bunch actually. It’s not my favorite Black Keys album but Tighten Up probably my favorite song from them (if I had to choose). I said I would revisit the album because I do plan to buy this on vinyl one day. Waiting till the day I see it in the Used Bin for $15 bucks… But other than in a vinyl format I’m not sure I would listen to the whole thing without skipping tracks. Overall, the album would benefit from a nip and tuck. Clocking in at almost an hour I would probably cut 4 or 5 tracks especially because there are a bunch of tracks that are doing similar things. The Black Keys are always a little one dimensional in that way but sometimes it’s exactly what I’m looking for. Should also be noted this album would play well at a backyard BBQ…🍻
Fine
There are albums that define a moment in time—and then there’s “Brothers”, which transcends it. Released in 2010, this powerhouse from The Black Keys isn’t just a record; it’s a gritty, sweaty, soul-drenched experience that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. From the haunting organ swell of “Everlasting Light” to the deep, bluesy swagger of “Next Girl,” Brothers hits like a bourbon-soaked sermon. Dan Auerbach’s guitar work feels raw and urgent, like it’s clawing its way out of an Alabama juke joint, while Patrick Carney’s drums punch and rumble like thunder rolling through a rust belt skyline. It’s garage rock, it’s soul, it’s delta blues—it’s a genre cocktail that somehow never spills. “Too Afraid to Love You” aches in all the right ways, soaked in vintage synths and regret, while “Tighten Up”—the breakout track—proves that a whistle and a stomping groove can still start a fire. And then there’s “Ten Cent Pistol,” a noir tale of betrayal that sounds like it was recorded through the walls of a dive bar at midnight. What sets Brothers apart is its authenticity. It’s unpolished, deliberate, and oozing with character. It feels like the band locked themselves in a desert motel room with old amps, a case of beer, and some ghosts—and came out with something timeless. Fierce, fuzzy, and unapologetically soulful, Brothers is a modern classic that cemented The Black Keys as more than revivalists—they’re torchbearers. If you’ve got a pulse and a speaker, this album will find its way into your bones.
Listened to album many time’s back in day
Lovely album
drei bis vier tighten up, howlin for you,
Not my style, overplayed during childhood
Low 4, super solid album
This isn't a sound I would pick for myself, but I like it!
Fantastic! So much energy! Immediately saved album.
It's a pretty good one but a little too long for the style. Howlin for you is kinda trash arena rock Will I listen to again: 45%
This was pleasant to listen to but mostly all the songs sounded too similar to me. I think it’s his voice combined with the style. Sounds all too similar to listen to for an hour. Nothing stuck out as anything Is want to listen to again and again.
Dull, lifeless, overproduced stuff from a band that used to be good. 'Unknown Brother' is about the only tangible thing on the album.
The high energy songs are all front loaded but otherwise this is fantastic. Big booming drums and overloaded guitars, bluesy vocals. Looked up Dan Auerbach and his solo stuff is great too. The criticism of Black Keys is that the drums are too simple and similar from song to song but I very much liked this as a rock album that does what it does very well.
Love everything about this album and this band. Just doing their own thing in a world ruled by disposable pop. One of the few current acts that will keep me listening for years to come!
I don’t get some of the reviews here - rated 3.6 at the moment, but 75% of the top reviews are absolutely ragging it. I really enjoyed this - a really good rock album, and one I will definitely be coming back to great stuff.
Great
Conhecia apenas a faixa "Tighten Up" do Fifa11. Tem a virtude de trazer sons "naturais", para um disco de 2010. Uma sonoridade crua que funciona em faixa como "Black Mud" mas não tão bem em "Sinsiter Kid" e "Howlin' For You". A psicodelia de "Ten Cent Pistol", é apenas razoável. Também não me agrada a opção de vocal soul music em "Never Gonna Give Up You". Enfim, um disco mediano, razoável, satisfatório, sem empolgar.
I liked it pretty well when it dropped but I found revisiting it to be kind of a slog outside of a few highlights.
Really took me back to retail and restaurant work. Sickening stuff
solid
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.
Cool
No interest in this band or this album. Even if Richard Osman is the drummer.
Grand
Yeah good stuff
This is a Review by Tim The amount of stars that I will give it is 3 I really got into the Black Keys in the late noughties, loving 9AM Automatic, I still love that riff. Then they became really big and had a lot of commercial success. I did see them live a fair amount of times and it was always quite fun. Until I saw them in Alexandra Palace when the crowd was just full of losers. This has really put me off the band resulting in me not really listening to them at all anymore.
Yay - another album I have but have not listened to in a while! #albumsky #musicsky #musicchallenge 4/5 - love the sound!!
I respect it but easily got a little boring towards the end. May relisten though I wasn't quite in the mood for it
Excellent album. No bad songs and 5 or 6 absolute bangers. Their best album among many great ones.
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.
Enjoyed but as others have pointed out is a bit samey.
Listening to one track or two is fine but after that it all sounds a little similar.
Not as good as there other stuff. A bit tired and samey with too many blues tropes.
Good lyrics interesting but I just don’t really like it
Love the sound...dirgey and swampy but gets monotonous.sinister Kid wad the standout for me. 2.5 stars
It started well - some wonderful moments and then I was willing it to deviate. Would be a sweet EP - 5 tracks would have been bliss… 18 is a bit silly
Home Depot theme
okay, I like El Camino, the one after better.
Buen disco, pero lejos de los años 70.
This album is filled with the type of songs that if I heard on a rock radio station, I’d flip through stations to find something else. And I’m not talking about the classic rock stations that play AC/DC and Led Zeppelin over and over again. I’m talking about the modern rock stations. The kind of stations that will put this on along with Imagine Dragons. My biggest gripe is that all the songs sound almost the same. Everything is just the same indie fluff, complete with that annoying vocal reverb. I know the top reviews point this out, but this was just a collection of commercial songs. Hell, I recognized Howlin’ For You because I heard it during a commercial. I don’t even remember what the fucking product was, but I remember the song. This album is not abysmal. It’s okay. But I think I’m good with anything from the Black Keys ever again. Favorite track: Howlin’ For You Other hits: Sinister Kid, Black Mud, The Only One, Tighten Up
Irritating, repetitive noise that seems to larp as blues. OK if you say so. I will try not to hold other blues musicians responsible for your trangessions. At least I managed to listen to all 18 tracks so that must mean ... not very much.
I liked this. It's like if you want a little T-Rex in your blues.
A lot of bangers on this but as a Black Keys fan, even I think this album is a little long. Favorites: Next Girl, Howlin' For You, She's Long Gone, Sinister Kid Would I listen to it again: Yes
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
The music is simple and huge, loved the mix as well. The songs didn't overstay their welcome, but the album did. I would guess Danger Mouse added a lot of the interesting ideas we hear, I thought it was well-produced. After looking at DM's catalogue, I do notice some intangible groovy element which carries across the music he's worked on. That said, the songs are good but the "same"-iness of suburban white guy blues made for Chevy commercials got a bit much after a straight hour of it - so IMO the consistency, while a good thing, still doesn't justify not cutting the album down to, say, 12 tracks. Solid 3.25/5. Favorite track: still Tighten Up
Really loved this album when it came out and lots of nostalgic tunes - feels a bit out of place compared to the scale and quality of some other albums on this list.
Iconic sound and some catchy melodies, but could have benefited from more diversity.
Great album by one of the greatest indie rock bands. So many hits from this album already have a permanent home on one of my best playlists. So... Yeah, it's great and I recommend it.
#620. Some of this is catchy enough, but you find yourself asking who cares? This is blues rock for people who hate blues and rock. 3/5: by hipsters, for hipsters.
1 star All filler. I was never even a fan of the singles, although “Howlin for You” isn’t bad. But this is not an impressive album and is not memorable.
Good background listen. A few great highlights 3
It's fine. Competently executed vintage fetishism. Feels like they want you to hear how fine their gear and how exquisite their taste is above all else.
Ok at first but gets so repetitive as the album goes. I didn’t hate it but I just was wishing for it to be over about half way through.
es posta muy bueno. 4.5
This is my most ideal album
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
I’d like this more if I didn’t associate it with sandy bonnaroo sunscreen
Initially I was grooving on this one, but every song sounds kind of the same and every song sounds like it was designed to be in the background of a kia commercial. Not bad but a little variety would have been nice
A few good tracks, feels a bit try hard and monotonous at times
7/10
everything sounds the same and nothing is really peaking my interest. it’s okay.
The song Never Gonna Give You Up was not what I'd hoped it would be
Its a bit long for what it is, but good. Laid back at times. Decent
Generic
Classic at this point, loaded with fun songs.
While I admire the two-man show, it doesn't translate well to a studio record. Listening to these songs without the live and bluesy energy they deserve makes the records feel meandering and slow. Tighten Up and Howling for You are solid cuts that are over too soon on a nearly hour long record. Nothing else is tuneful and memorable. Its just reruns of old Cream and Blind Faith riffs.
didnt wanna listen to it
Great
they do more with more and don’t lose themselves or me…yet. they’re still my guys on this one.
I like them pulling from soul and motown voices from the past.
Surprisingly good, excellent arrangements.
5.5/10 This was fine. I’m sure they get compared to the White Stripes constantly, so I will too: O prefer the WS. Well put together, poppy blues rock. Doesn’t have the sensibility nor the fun of the WS. Best: Too Afraid to Love You
Not bad, not great. Good enough to listen to.
Car commercial music
Amazing. They've tapped into the best of 60s and 70s rock to create a rhythm that fits my heart. 4.5/5
I liked this and found it a solid three. Had it had one or more songs that spectacularly grabbed me, I'd have it as a 4. But none did, though it was only one listen of the album, so I'm open to reconsideration.
Great
Not perfect, but a real heavy hitter. This is among my favorite albums of all time.
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
Decent album
Opened pretty strong, then I tired of the similar sounds/themes, then i had 6 more tracks left. There was nothing terrible wrong with it, few hits, felt like a lot of background noise filler though on reflection
This is #day306 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… It's sad to see such a high rating for this kind of music. But then, I guess people have always gravitated toward simple and accessible, right? What we have here is garage/blues a la The White Stripes and The Kills with a kind of Arctic Monkeys-circa-AM feel (I know it was released only three years later, but still). That's not the most compelling mix out there. This album/band hasn't aged well enough to be worth hearing before you die. I doubt it/they ever will. This is a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day307.
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
Якби мене попросили назвати найбільш характерних представників олдскульного рок звучання, то першим я б напевно, безперечно, назвав Джека Вайта, ну а другими б були The Black Keys. Увесь час до цього альбому вони намагалися знайти щось нове, бо у стилістиці блюз року, вони здається сказали все що хотіли та могли ще на Rubber Factory (2004). Але після трохи дивного психоделічного Attack & Release (2008), вони все ж повернулись до свого фірмового гаражного звучання з впізнаваними блюзовими мелодіями. Альбом Brothers став втіленням цього повернення та по суті не сильно виділяється чимось новаторським на фоні їх попередньої творчості. Напевно єдиним елементом, що дійсно дивує, так це доволі високі вокальні партії. Але ж цей альбом вважають видатним не просто так, правда? Нууу, тут важко сказати, для когось він є найбільш "безпечним" альбомом цього гурту(і це так), та за це його відповідно не люблять. А для когось - це квінтесенція їх творчості де втілено все найкраще що міг колись продемонструвати гурт (і це також так). Якщо говорити особисто про мене, то у порівняні з вищезгаданим Rubber Factory цей альбом, не дивлячись на вторинність, виглядає більш виграшно. Відчувається в ньому майстерність, та впевненість з якою гурт до нього підійшов. Усі музичні малюнки тут максимально яскраві, а партії на The Only One та Howlin' For You раз і назавжди врізаються в пам'ять. Ба більше, альбом просто здоровезний та нараховує цілих 15 треків в якому немає жодного філера, ніби слухаєш компіляцію їх кращих речей. Він як стейк, готуючи який, нарешті вдалося отримати ідеальну просмажку, це напевно і робить альбом видатним.
I was in pretty early with the Black Keys and as these things tend to go, this meant I was pulling for them to have success. I also kinda lost interest just as fast: their genre exercises, committed and believable, never broke out of being imitation. After thickfreakness long faded from memory I remember giving the one-off BlakRoc collaboration a go, mostly because of the sample material from which the project’s name half originated. It’s not the greatest rap-rock pairing, but hinted at a malleability the earlier classic r&b sound never did. That sets up Brothers, a wide-eyed rock and soul record that lets in hooks and melody. Maybe too many hooks and particular melodies for some, as their reliance on advert placements grew to make them an inescapable sound on tv for the better part of the early 2010s. As with most BK records, there’s a handful of memorable songs and a lot of filler, but the melding of old blues sounds and contemporary production, if cheapened some by the subsequent advert exposure, sits well and sustains a particular tone.
4.3 - Simple and super effective. I think its just great music thats not overly complicated and knows exactly what it is.
Good ol fashioned rock music. I don't mind this album and The Black Keys but it feels very non-essential for me. I would give up their seat at the table for something nicher any day of the week. Cringe album cover also. Fave Tracks: Everlasting Light 3.3/5
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
Hell yeah, The Black Keys. I have loved this group since I heard Lonely Boy for the first time, and Brothers is so quintessentially them. Bluesy, rocky, muddy, skunky, all things I would say make The Black Keys a band I could listen to all the time and they always make me feel real cool.
This is a high three, but it’s just not 4 quality for me
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.
fun, a few songs i didnt care for but a good album!! cohesive, intentional
Enjoyable. Wouldn't listen to on repeat
Bland like magnolia paint
The "radioification" of the blues by a couple of dorky white guys.
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
It's a good album, I've already listened to it.
This is a boring album by The Black Keys. If Jack white is derivative, I’m not sure what to call this. Tighten up and howlin for you get it done. The rest, maybe I would like it more if xl102 shoved it down my throat too. Just a really boring hour of my life where nothing really stood out except the songs I was familiar with but even on those the context of the album made me wonder if those are even good. Take this 2, Dan.
Not bad but definitely wasn't as good as I remembered this album being. Feels pretty one dimensional and felt kinda boring at times. I still think the black keys are cool ass white dudes, but I'm leaning a weak 3 on this. Never Going to Give You Up and These Days were two songs that I enjoyed more than others
Didn’t age well
Meh
Excellent white guy blues/rock. Back before the Black Keys got boring.
Blues Brothers.
The Black Stripes
I was skeptical at first, but these riffs are infectious.
my cuppa tea
Really great album with modern blusey sound. One of my favorites from this era, although El Camino is probably my favorite Black Keys album. If anything, it’s a little long and you could probably cut a song or two.
this is great!
These seem to be a marmite band but I love marmite!
Here is a a perfect example of when the stars align and a great album is produced.
Skulle tru en bluesmann som meg liker svarte tangenter, men fikk endelig bruk for doisern!!
Litt for monotont og flinkis
Dette er litt kjedelig.
Flinke folk uten skikkelige låter. Groovy, da.
Mycket bra. Många kända låtar. Lite mycket av samma samma.
Boring and repetitive.
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.
What a terrible album
It’s alright but El Camino is a better album.
I'll admit that all these songs sound kind of the same, but I like that sound at least.
I perked up at Ten Cent Pistol but I can't see what sets this apart from other (and better, imo) blues-rock acts. Vocals are particularly dull.
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
boring and listless
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.
Used to be a big black keys fan, this was my favorite for a while but honestly it fell off, for me, still some great songs
Really nice music
Sounds like music made for beer commercials. The highlight for me was thinking track seven was going to be a cover of Dr Hook's When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman from the opening couple of bars. The low point was realising it wasn't...
These guys have been one of my blind spots, can’t deny it.