THE BLACK KEYS – BROTHERS

If The Stones retreated to the south of France for Exile on Main St. then The Black Keys retreated to the legendary Muscle Shoals (minus the tax problems) to record their best album yet, Brothers. After the patchy experiment of Attack & Release with Danger Mouse at the helm, the blues fueled, psychedelic tinged band of old have returned…and then some. Tighten Up does just that, a bitchin’ riff, some of the best vocals this side of the 60’s and a swingin’ rythm section make for a killer tune. The falsetto vocals and Abbey Road era fuzz guitar on the opening Everlasting Love show the versatility of The Black Keys right up front. And harpsichord and loop treatment of Ain’t Afraid to Love show their time with Danger Mouse has not been forgotten. But overall, what makes Brothers such a good album is not the diversity of playing, nor the brilliant vocal performance from Dan Auerbach, but the great songs he and Patrick Carney have penned. They even take Jerry Butler’s Never Gonna Give You Up and own it. Own This.

**** 1/2