The Black Keys - El Camino - A Blog For Valeska

The 'The Black Keys' aren't a new band, or even a band that are just realising their potential, in fact 'El Camino' there 7th studio album, and the 6 that precede it were far from steping stones to stardom. However, it is 'El Camino' that saw 'The Black Keys' soar to new found heights of popularity in the States and across the world. 

'El Camino' released on 6th December 2011 by 'Nonesuch Records' under the 'Warner Music Group'  has rapidly become an album on the CD racks and iTunes lists of people from all walks of life. The greatest testament to that is that I ran an online contest to determine the subject matter of my next blog. It could have been anything and Marta, a well-educated Nicaraguan women who works for the United Nations, asked me to write about this band, and this album. If that doesn't speak of their universal appeal, then I don't know what will. Some people could see it as their 'sell out' album..others as the album simply good enough to fixate a wider target audience. Lets put the needle on the record take a listen…

As successful and as popular as their sixth album, 'Brothers' was, it was 'El Camino' that firmly stamped them as one of America's favourite talk show, award ceremony and A-list event rock groups. It isn't hard to see why people started taking notice with Hollywood A-lister 'Johnny Depp' paying homage to the two-piece band's avante garde contribution to Rock and Roll with their collaborated live performance at the MTV Movie Awards in 2012. There is nothing quite like jamming with 'Johnny Depp' to get heads turning.

The album starts with intent; leading track and premiere single 'Lonely Boy'  delivers the knock out punch to any doubters. 'El Camino' and 'Lonely Boy' were nominated in five categories for the 2013 Grammy Awards. The song also became the group's best charting single in several countries. With the clear influence of co-producer 'Danger Mouse' it's a fantastically well constructed Rock/Dance mash up, all the while staying true to the root instruments of Rock and Roll. A track that is impossible to ignore, even when you delve into the lesser promoted tracks on the album, it will keep you coming back for another guilt-free listen. The duo declared this their legacy album releasing two more singles 'Gold On The Ceiling' and 'Little Black Submarines'. While 'Little Black Submarines' shimmeringly-soulful introduction lends hand to their blues/soul influences, briefly breaking the album up intently before thundering back the years with a riff not out of place on another of the bands influences, T-Rex, album. It also serves to jump start us listeners back into sonic bedlam. 'Gold On The Ceiling' is another impossibly catchy rock infusion with anthem-esque choruses and hip shaking rhythm work. 

The album is a roller coaster of emotion and musicianship which would be impossible to ignore by any music fan; not just rock fans or indie fans but music fans of all genres. I believe this goes a long way to explaining the rocketed reputation of these determined chaps from Akron, Ohio. The entire album carries on in the same vein, keeping it's listeners guessing as to wether they'll be dancing, grooving, head banging or crooning to the next track. But one thing is for sure: they will be moving.

New 'BRMC' - Teasing us into anticipation

Time to dust off the black jeans and leather jackets 'Black Rebel Motorcycle Club' are back! They have just released a teaser track from their up coming seventh album 'Specter At The Feast'.

Now I can't speak for all of you, but up until this release I was stating 'BRMC' as a band soaring higher and higher in credibility. As hard as it is to beat 'Baby 81' the bands fourth studio album, and as much as they might of failed to in your opinion, I would argue we weren't left disappointed with the follow up albums. With 'The Effects of 333' and 'Beat The Devils Tattoo',  it was the bands dedication to their Rock and Roll roots that kept us panting for more. Now that the time has come, it seems as though we won't be disappointed this time around either.

All you need, in true 'BRMC' fashion, is the first five seconds of newly released teaser track 'Let The Day Begin' to get you're heart bouncing around inside your chest in anticipation for another, credibly underground, possible favourite album of the year. Keeping faith with the dirty grooves and moody vocals, drenched with sing back choruses that their avid fans have fed on for over 14 years, they are straight back to business.

As with most 'teaser tracks' this probably won't be selected as the first single and will probably end up as a middle album track, and even if such tracks do sometimes end up as the album gem, you could still argue the best is yet to come…

Check out new track 'Specter At The Feast' here http://blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com/

Jack White - Going Solo

Jack White is a man dangerously close to needing no introduction around the globe, with a back catalogue of projects consisting of 'The Dead Weather', 'The Raconteurs' and of course 'The White Stripes' it isn't hard to understand why.

However, for those of you unaware of his extensive back catalogue, sit comfortably…

Jack White, real name John Anthony Gillis, started his career as co-founder of 'The White Stripes' along with drummer 'Meg White' real name Megan Martha White. They started their ascent as a part of the Michigan garage rock scene, eventually being signed by a local independent label called 'Italy Records'. The band commenced by releasing their self titled album in 1999, moving on to release cult classic 'De Stijl' in 2000. In 2001 they released 'White Blood Cells' drawing critical acclaim from both the UK and soon after their native USA. In 2003 the band released their most commercially and critically successful album to date, 'Elephant'. Including single 'Seven Nation Army' propelling 'The White Stripes' into rock and roll folk law and to the forefront of rock fans minds across the globe. 'The White Stripes' went on to make two more studio albums including 'Icky Thump' debuting at number one in the UK and number two on the Billboard 200. On 2nd February 2011 the news of the bands split went public through their website www.whitestripes.com. Sighting a "myriad of reasons" for the break up.

Jack White then went on to form 'The Raconteurs' in 2005 along with Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler. They went on to enjoy great success on both sides of the Atlantic, rocketed with first single 'Steady As She Goes' from debut album 'Broken Boy Soldiers'. In 2008 second album 'Consolers of the Lonely' received a Grammy nomination, ensuring Jack White to be a magnet for the 'music experts'.

'The Dead Weather' were the latest group formed by a man seemingly on a mission, driven by success, inspiration and hunger for more of the same. Formed in 2009 with 'The Kills' front woman Alison Mosshart, Jack Lawrence remaining on bass duties and completed by 'Queens of the Stone Age' keyboardist and guitarist Dean Fertita. Debut album 'Horehound' was released through White's own label, Third Man Records on the 13th July 2009. On 16th October, 2009, Mosshart confirmed that the second album was "halfway done". The first single 'Die by the Drop' was released on 30th March 2010. The new album, 'Sea of Cowards' was released on 30th May in the UK and again on White's Third Man Records label.

Right, now that's the back drop, the moulding and progressive talent that all lead towards Jack White's solo career and first album 'Blunderbuss'.

The album is spearheaded by first single 'Sixteen Saltines', a riff drenched in White's signature 'ballsy blues' style, stirred with his screeching vocals and poured into our ears with a simple pulsating drum groove. Okay, so you're not being handed a revolutionary new sound or direction by White, but why change something that is still relevant..if it's not broke, right? 

Second single 'Freedom At 21'  follows directly after 'Sixteen Saltines' on the album, it hands us a riff capable of evoking neck jaunts from even the most stiffened of listeners, polished with Jack's direct vocal and tingling lead guitar parts it leaves no questions or lasting wonderment, just saw necks and raised upper lips. The album has its diversity though, with songs like 'Love Interruption' lending hand to Jack's well celebrated musical upbringing of blues and soul. It floats out of the album like the a tepid heated breeze passing over Whites song book on his Nashville, Tennessee ranch.

The diversity doesn't stop at the album either, he presents his latest showcase with a typically unique live performance. Splitting his set in two Jack collaborates with an all male backing band for the first half and all female backing group during the second. The first time this has ever been attempted and evidently pulled off.

So that's Jack White's career to date. A rocketed, hard earned ascent to the top of Rock and Roll folk law. Counting several bands, several albums, several more band members, and several, several more songs. All gathered into a repertoire not short of most people's life times work, and not one to be sniffed at, wouldn't you say?