One of the most consistent bands over the last decade, The Keys have put out six records in only eight years time with each album just as groovy and soulful as the last. 2008's Attack & Release was the band's most polished and, thanks to producer Danger Mouse, most hypnotically catchy.
Brothers is a subtle affair filled with songs of scorn and forlorn aplenty. Vocalist Dan Auerbach's sombre serenades sound like a poor man's Greg Allman while his guitar gently weeps.
Recorded in Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, made famous by Lyrnard Skynard and The Rolling Stones, The Black Keys sound as inspired as ever, yet at times a tad too much for their own good. Brothers runs an hour long and features a slow-march toss offs about the same evil minded woman and features the same bluesy guitar lick.
Auerbach's new trick is to sing in a pained falsetto. But it doesn't sound authentic. Instead it only makes songs like "Everlasting Light" come off as nothing more than My Morning Jacket b-side material. "Mudd" is a pointless instrumental and too much of the opening third of the album is a snoozefest.
Yet when this tag team get it right, they still prove a good groove is what they do best. "Tighten Up" is the only real upbeat tune offered. The lone track produced by Danger Mouse, show just how inspired the trio can be. However the rest of Brothers was produced by The Keys themselves and sounds like a band biting off more than they can chew.
I have a better idea for their album cover. It should read "This is an album by The Black Keys. The name of this album is Tiresome Growing Pains."
Grade: C
Stream The Whole Album Here.
Key Tracks: "Tighten Up" "The Only One" "Never Give You Up"
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