The Black Keys - Let's Rock

Thinking of Blues Rock and Americana, one of the first people to come to mind are probably ZZ Top, Creedence Clearwater, or Jack White with his numerous projects, like The Raconteurs, The Dead Weathers, or his solo stuff. You’d also maybe think of early Black Keys; albums like 2002’s The Big Come Up, or Magic Potion from 2006. However, with their newer releases, they’ve moved more into a rock/alternative/pop direction. And they were really good at it! Just think of El Camino, their 2011 multi Grammy Award-winning masterpiece, or its follow-up, the equally impressive Turn Blue from 2014.

But Blues Rock? Americana? Folk? No, that was the first years, the first releases. Until now.

Five years it took singer, songwriter, and guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney to release their latest album. And many fans didn’t even think it would happen. Because both Auerbach and Carney are not known for taking a break. After their last world tour, both had numerous side projects as musicians and producers, just not as the Black Keys. So when the first teasers for the new album were posted to social media, anticipation was sky high. And let me tell you: they outdid themselves.

Their newest output is simply called Let’s Rock, and it’s a return to the roots of the Black Keys. Strong influences from the Beatles share equal parts with homages to blues-rock legends like ZZ Top or Creedence Clearwater. An almost British vibe is combined with an inherently American sound. This is an album you put on in your car while you’re driving down the Interstate 40 towards Nashville, Tennessee. It wouldn’t be surprising if their home town played a bigger role in the sound of their new album. Nashville isn’t just the home to The Black Keys, but also to the aforementioned Jack White, whose latest album with The Raconteurs has strong parallels with Let’s Rock. In an interview, Carney said about their latest album that it’s “a homage to the electric guitar” – and boy, it definitely is. If you’re even just slightly into blues rock, you can’t pass this album.