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.
