The Black Keys - Thickfreakness
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Free Music Notes for Thickfreakness
Free Music Review: The definitive answer
Hit: 4 Stars
The definitive answer for what the Black Keys are reminiscent of is Blue Cheer, the late 60's band responsible for the muddily chaotic electro-fuzz version of Summertime Blues. I am thrilled and amazed that a band would throw this sound out in this age and the singer is a terrific soul singer. Ahhh...a terrific soul singer backed by a near incompetent sludge band.
The playing is clumsy, but soulful, however, the songwriting is solid.
Only 4 stars because some of the songs aren't up to the standard set by Hard Row and Set You Free, but the approach is so fresh that I have little to grumble about.
Free Music Review: Better than great
Hit: 5 Stars
Ive been listening to The Black Keys since they were local around akron and they have to be one of my favorite bands ever. Thickfreakness has more of the rock edge (minus a few tracks, I Cry Alone is all blues) but The Big Come Up was more blues than rock, at least thats how I saw it. I give both discs 5 stars, buy them, they're great. And im not a very big fan of The White Stripes, I dont see how The Black Keys sound anything like them.Free Music Review: Blistering, . . .
Hit: 5 Stars
. . . scorching, HOT. The guitar playing is downright raunchy. This is an album of true love songs, many of which are downright sweet, but don't worry, there's no soft mush to be found. I love Auerbach's slushy vocal style and the content of the songs, and I admit to being a bit disappointed to learn that he and Carney, the drummer, are only 23 years old. (Maybe I'm just jealous.) However, this is the real thing; these guys are no poseurs. They're both natural musicians, and you can tell that they've spent years listening to and loving a lot of great music because it all seems to be pouring back out of them -- in a NEW way.
The Black Keys is not white boy blues. It's blues-rock, and it takes that subgenre to a new place, though the band's many blues and '60s rock influences are obvious. The only criticism I'd level is that there gets to be a sameness about halfway through the album. But each song is a powerhouse on its own and some (like the first three) are absolutely brilliant.
Enough already with the White Stripes comparisons! There is no connection. Their names are reminiscent of each other, and they both have 2 bandmembers. That's the extent of their similarity. I love both bands, but they work for totally different moods.
Free Music Review: please.....
Hit: 5 Stars
If all you can say about a band is that they're NOT another band (ie: White Stripes), then you have nothing to say. Judge a band and the record on its own, not in comparison to another band's record. The Black Keys are a great sound in independent music, and you should support them because they're a good band, not because they do or don't sound like another over-hyped band that has two members. Oterwise, your review (and opinion) holds no water or validity whatsoever. Do you really think the members of Black Keys sat down and said, "Well, the White Stripes are making money. Let's do a White Stripes album?" I'd bet against it. This album rocks and deserves to be in the collection of any indie music snob. Buy it.Free Music Review: Not the White Stripes, even better
Hit: 5 Stars
Whoever said that the Black Keys are like the White Stripes is going on the fact that both have only two members.The Black Keys are on the Fat Possum record label, one that deals with legendary bluesmen like R.L. Burnside, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Junior Kimbrough, and Solomon Burke. It shows too. The Black Keys play dirty, nitty gritty blues, drawing from all of the aformentioned at Fat Possum. Thickfreakness was recorded in the same manner as any R.L. Burnside; it is very raw and rough around the edges. The Black Keys were going for this sound in their blues because it adds character and a certain element of, "wow, this is bad-...". Basically, it fits the label.
Thickfreakness isn't completely original, some of the songs are covers (including one of Mississippi Fred McDowell's). That doesn't mean it is not a good album--look at the North Mississippi Allstars's record "Shake Hands With Shorty". It won them a Grammy and yet almost every single song was a cover from a bluesman on the Fat Possum label. They took the standard blues and made it their own, something that I believe the Black Keys have done well. The singer/ guitarist has the voice of Warren Haynes and a true mastery of the guitar that the White Stripes simply don't have. The drummer is excellent too.
But now you're saying, "Wait, the White Stripes have blues too". They do. You will hear some of the same Zeppelin-esque sound in both of the bands. The Stripes are built on Zeppelin and punk, but the Keys are built on Fat Possum and Zeppelin. If you like the blues, Thickfreakness is just for you. If you're expecting something a little more punk like the White Stripes, you may be dissapointed. I think that most anyone who has enjoyed listening to the delta blues, Zeppelin, or the Stones should enjoy this album tremendously.