There’s few genres of music that are more drag out rock n roll than flat out blues. Of bands nowadays who all say that they’re inspired by the blues, or listen to the blues, or eat the blues or paint with blues, there is only one band nowadays that is actually PLAYING the blues. That band is The Black Keys. And their new album is just as bluesy and just as much, “I’m gonna hit you in the face with the ass end of my guitar” as Attack and Release is.

This new album is just as good as their other work. I’ve been following these guys since Attack and Release, but have known that they’ve been solid for a long time ever since 2003 with my roomate in college touting their greatness. Well, needless to say, sometimes it takes my ears a couple of years to catch up.

Brothers is flat out blues rock at it’s finest. The band line up here is drums and guitar. Think Jack White and the White Stripes without the clangy clang whiny sound and the outfits, and you have the Black Keys.

From Akron, Ohio, these local boys (local in the sense that I lived in Cleveland growing up, so shaddup.) have been together since 2001, and the tightness in their playing and the structure of their music is like they play well together regularly. I’ve read in interviews (mainly Rolling Stone) that they’re known for finishing each other’s sentences.

I think that’s what makes this album so great. The theme here is lost love and regret, which are staples in Blues since the 1960s. While timeless, I think that The Black Keys bring a new appreciation for being in that stage where you hate life, don’t want the girl and just wanna be left alone. This album is pretty much the eponymous break up album from the guy’s perspective.

Some of the guitar riffs on this album remind me of the 70s and funk, but for the most part it’s just flat out rip that nose ring outta your nose rock. The drumming on this is always tight, always on time.

Personally, I like to listen to an entire album to get the full effect of what the musician’s are going for. I think that track selection, order, and everything are extremely important. Maybe I’m just a throwback to the producers of old, like Alans Parsons, Rick Ruben or Phil Specter (All of which, seriously had problems with hair. Great producers but come on, the hair, man, the hair.)

If you were JUST getting into this band, and wanted to sample some tracks off this album that I feel sum up not only the gist of what they were trying to do musically but also lyrically I’d suggest the following:

Howlin’ For You – Lyrically, one of the best tracks on the albums, and automatically makes me think of those Tex Avery cartoons with the big bad wolf.

Black Mud – A small number, very 60s sounding, I’d imagine this being played live would seriously just go on and on and on and be amazing.

Everlasting Light – The opening number to the album. A great song to open to, explaining the singer’s wants and hopes for still being with this girl. “Let me be your everlasting light.” great, great great poetry.

Sinister Kid – Some serious funk action going on here. Good lyrics, great mood here. “I got a tortured mind, and my blade is sharp. A bad combination, in the dark. If I killed a man in the first degree, Baby would you flee with me?” Seriously…. this is some pulp writing stuff right here.

All in all, I highly enjoy this album. It has a lot going for it. It’s tight, it’s great musically and lyrically and overall the mood that it puts you in is flat out gritty and dirty and good.

Optimal listening environment. Fly to Memphis. Go to a hole in the wall bar with no AC. Order a beer and put this on the jukebox and slump into a mystery-stained couch and just sit. When you get back, lemme know what you think.