THE Black Keys never sounded modern even when Lonely Boy jived to the summit of the ARIA charts in 2011. Any dabbling in synths, which they attempted on 2014's Turn Blue, have been jettisoned for guitar-heavy album No.9, Let's Rock.
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That's not a bad thing. Nobody has done blues-infused rock better in the past two decades than Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. Let's Rock is packed full of swampy riffs and high-energy moments like Lo/Hi and Eagle Birds that'll warm the hearts of fans of their mid-2000s period. Ashley Wilcoxson and Leisa Hans' backing vocals also add richness, especially to the show-stealing Breaking Down.
The Black Keys might have given up on becoming one of the world's biggest bands, but old fans will be ecstatic.
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
