Premature Evaluation: The Black Keys - Attack & Release
Danger Mouse is a good producer. Or at least we like the accents and aesthetic he brings to his projects. His dreamy sheen saves much of the mediocre Odd Couple, for instance. In general, there's better songwriting on the Black Keys fifth album, and follow up to 2006's Magic Potion, Attack & Release, but the woozy choirs, ghostly keys, and spectral whirls he adds to Daniel Auerbach and Patrick Carney's blues rock, pushes the Akron duo into engaging new directions. Remember, these dudes didn't always record in official studios. Then again, good blues players don't need to...
There is plenty of hot rock on Attack -- see the Stripes-y "Remember When (Side B)" -- but DM's deft input is most felt on the slow, grinding tunes like "Lies" or the flanging, whistling "Remember When (Side A)." Or, have you heard the hand-clappy, guitar riffing "Strange Times"? There's an explosive video for it.
See, it's during the breakdown that you get a sense of how DM added a deeper atmosphere to the sound. Likewise, we already mentioned strutting album standout "Psychotic Girl"'s wobbling, oozing rhythmic cushion that flairs beneath slide guitars, twangy banjo, and achy, cavernous vocals. Instrumentally, it sounds like early Beck -- which makes us curious about what Danger Mouse will do on that new Beck album. The '70s pastoral flute/fife/fawn-y woodwind overlapping with guitar feedback and crunch in "Same Old Thing" is a thing of beauty. That ice/fuzz overlap happens on the slide-guitaring of "Oceans & Streams," too, which also had a sound that hits like an underwater radar. The Mouse has certain go-to/signature accents. He's fond of this sort of Snoop Dogg organ/saw/synth quaver that shows up on a few tracks.
Besides Danger Mouse, other guests include guitarist Marc Ribot, Patrick's uncle Ralph Carney (who, along with Ribot, has played in Tom Waits' band), and youngster bluegrass singer Jessica Lea Mayfield, who sounds great (but mixed low) on the ballad-y album closer "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be." It's a total grand-finale torch song.
All said, and all Danger Mouse production analyzed to hell, there are songs that pass by unnoticed, or drag in the wrong ways (yeah, sometimes dragging is right), but by and large, Attack & Release is a solid effort, without much fat to trim: It sounds great, the dust kickers hit sharply, and the ballads have a spooky vibe that makes 'em both memorable and affecting.
Attack & Release is out 4/1 on Nonesuch.
Posted at 6:23 PM in Premature Evaluation, Video
Tags: Danger Mouse | The Black Keys
Also, call 949 836 7407 and they'll talk to you:
http://theblacklips.blogspot.com/2008/03/black-lips-hotline.html
Posted by: Registered User at March 21, 2008 6:43 PM | ReplyScore = -16
Strange Times sounds like Ian Astbury fronting the White Stripes .... poor execution guys.
Posted by: Capt Colours at March 21, 2008 10:58 PM | ReplyScore = -2
I like this album, it's one of my favourites of the year so far. Took me 4 or 5 listens to get into it properly though, due to the contrast between it and their previous work. "So He Won't Break" is excellent.
Posted by: Stephen at March 22, 2008 8:32 AM | ReplyScore = 2
i wish they would come out with something as consistent and raw as thickfreakness was. this album has a few good songs but they just aren't as strong with the droney, slow stuff. i was expecting a little more life in it, especially since dangermouse had a hand.
Posted by: karmaonion at March 22, 2008 11:26 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Sweet video.
Posted by: Scott at March 22, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply"If you run, you're done..."
Score = 3
That typeface and style looks an awful lot like what The Laureates use on their website and their last record:
http://www.laureatesmusic.com
Posted by: jim at March 22, 2008 6:24 PM | ReplyScore = -2
jesus no one else will say it? the black KEYS idiot, not the black lips.
Posted by: charlie at March 23, 2008 1:03 PM | ReplyScore = 4
the design work you compared the keys cover is not even in the same ballpark. That stuff looks cheap and uninspired.
Posted by: gb at March 23, 2008 1:50 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Ian Astbury is laughably far off, as far as descriptions go.
Strange Times is a solid Black Keys album, to the point where I don't recognize much of a contrast between this latest work and anything from before. Danger Mouse opened the sound up a bit more and not much else. Still solid riffs and heartbreak.
"Psychotic Girl" and "Lies" tie together like a bow.
Posted by: brian h at March 23, 2008 7:12 PM | ReplyScore = 1
nice video. i have seen the video on intimatemingle.com which is a dating site for interracial singles.
Posted by: jeff at March 24, 2008 5:42 AM | ReplyScore = 1
Don't forget, losers, these songs were written by the BKs for Ike Turner to record for his return album. When penned, they were for another entity entirely. After his passing, the songs were recorded so as not to lose them in an abyss of dead rock stars. I think it sounds great. You are mostly haters here anyway so... Fuckin' Ian Astbury.. What a joke.
Posted by: Shockadow at March 24, 2008 8:02 AM | ReplyScore = 2
The is TBK's best album to date, hands down. What's truly laughable is the comparison to the white stripes. Jack and meg couldn't touch these guys live on a good day.
Posted by: JAck at March 24, 2008 9:21 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Disagree. I can't imagine anyone who has seen Jack White live would ever say that. He's in a league of his own when it comes to live performance.
Posted by: drgoop in reply to JAck's comment at April 1, 2008 11:56 PM | ReplyScore = -1
This is a black keys album, not a danger mouse album. why isn't there any talk about the member's of the band's contributions to their own album? geez.
Posted by: Dwil at March 24, 2008 11:06 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Mouse did to the black keys what walla did to the decemberists. he took their soul. awful record.
Posted by: robert moore at April 1, 2008 12:45 AM | ReplyScore = -1
danger mouse and the black keys are a match made in herculean heaven
Posted by: msigur in reply to robert moore's comment at April 1, 2008 12:00 PM | Replywalla and the decemberists are women compared to the burly men in the black keys
Score = 1