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Avg: 4.5 (949 ratings)
- Date Released: April 8, 2003
- Genre: Blues
- Style: Jam Rock, Contemporary Blues, Punk
- Label: Fat Possum Records
Just don't call it the blues
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We Say...
The Black Keys aren't really a blues band. As demonstrated by the duo's cover here of the Sonics' "Have Love Will Travel" — both heavier and bluesier than the Seattle proto-punks' 1965 original — the Keys are a contemporary garage band that draw directly from the blues, rather than cribbing it secondhand from older garage-rockers. Dan Auerbach grinds out the thickest low-end guitar this side of ZZ Top and drawls in the thickest low-end groan this side of an Alan Lomax field recording.
Rather than compensating for the lack of a bass player by beefing up the lower register even further and driving the beat into the ground, Patrick Carney drums with a subtlety that pulls to the surface the grooves embedded within Auerbach's riffing. In fact, a bass might dilute the direct interaction between the two musicians on songs such as the sprightly call-and-response "Set You Free," in which Carney answers Auerbach's blocky chords with a variety of speedy fills.
The duo reportedly laid these tracks down in 14 hours straight, which creates such a mood of workmanlike persistence that only after several listens does Auerbach's seemingly tossed-off fretwork reveal all the virtuosity of a Stevie Ray Vaughan — with none of the self-indulgence. -
They Say...
While the vast majority of post-punk bands who have an obvious taste for the blues seem to enjoy taking the style apart and messing around with the bits and pieces, the Black Keys are the (relative) traditionalists within the subgenre. With their two-piece, no-bass format, there's no room for clutter or wank, and the raunchy fuzz of Dan Auerbach's guitar (and drummer Patrick Carney's production) owes more to the Gories/Blues Explosion/White Stripes school of aural grime than anything else, but look past all that and the Black Keys are a straight-up blues band who could probably cut an album for Alligator if they were willing to clean up their act and fill out the lineup. And Alligator would doubtless be glad to have 'em -- the Black Keys's wail is hot, primal, and heartfelt, and Auerback's lean but meaty guitar lines and room-filling vocals drag the blues into the 21st century through sheer force of will without sounding like these guys are in any way mocking their influences. In short, if you're looking for irony, you're out of luck; if you want to hear a rock band confront the blues with soul, muscle, and respect, then Thickfreakness is right up your alley. Points added for the fact that the Black Keys performed, recorded, and produced Thickfreakness all by their lonesome in a single day -- further proof these guys are not messing around.
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| 01. |  |
thickfreakness |
3:48 |
|
| 02. | |
hard now |
3:15 |
|
| 03. | |
set you free |
2:46 |
|
| 04. | |
midnight in her eyes |
4:03 |
|
| 05. | |
have love will travel |
3:04 |
|
| 06. | |
hurt like mine |
3:27 |
|
| 07. | |
everywhere i go |
5:40 |
|
| 08. | |
no trust |
3:37 |
|
| 09. | |
if you see me |
2:52 |
|
| 10. | |
hold me in your arms |
3:19 |
|
| 11. | |
i cry alone |
2:48 |
|
11 Total Tracks, 38:39 Total Length
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Credits
- Michael Carney - Artwork // Michael Carney - Design // The Black Keys - Main Performer // Patrick Carney - Drums // Patrick Carney - Producer // Patrick Carney - Engineer // Patrick Carney - Mixing // Dan Auerbach - Guitar // Dan Auerbach - Vocals // Dan Auerbach - Engineer // Jeffrey Saltzman - Engineer // David T. Viecelli - Booking
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