BLACK KEYS - Attack & Release

There's been a lot of confusion around the Black Keys, with people throwing around the word garage when they shouldn't. Or at least, some have talked about them in those terms...

Well, even though on their early records the duo had a rawer approach and a rather crooked sound - though still far from a garage aesthetic - the Black Keys' music has always been tough, well-played rock-blues. Let's call it a dancehall version of 70s rock-blues: how can you not hear echoes of Led Zeppelin in "I Got Mine", or of Cream in "Lies"?

If the freshness of their early days now seems lost - and the disappointing "Magic Potion" was an important turning point in this regard - "Attack & Release" wins back credibility in terms of songwriting, reaching downright excellent heights at certain moments ("Psychotic Girl", "Strange Times")

The record springs from a collaboration with Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz), who handles production duties (a partnership originally born out of writing an album for Ike Turner, later shelved following his death), adding fresh shades to the duo's usual, discreetly woody sound. "So He Won't Break", for instance, manages to sound soulful and aggressive at once, thanks to a layering and tonal variety previously unheard of for the Black Keys. The same goes for the closing, if somewhat overly polished, "Thongs Ain't Like They Used To Be", which even seems to wink at the mainstream.

In short, not everything runs smoothly. A few lapses in quality crop up here and there ("Same Old Thing", "Remember When (Side A)"), and Danger Mouse's production doesn't quite convince on the more rhythmic tracks, but so be it. Overall, the record is an enjoyable listen... which is no small thing these days.

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09/06/2008