Black Keys

Black Keys Say They Are Ready for New Album

The Black Keys have stated that they are ready to begin work on their new album.

Drummer Patrick Carney said that he and Dan Auerbach wanted to start working on a new album as a follow-up to their last album, Turn Blue right away. However, Carney acknowledged that these plans will likely be held up by their touring.

“I think if it were up to Dan and I, and we didn’t have to consider the fact that we need to complete the full tour circuit, we’d probably be back in the studio in January, I think by the time this record came out we were ready to make another one. We started the band because we wanted to make albums,” he added. “We wanted to make one record, and then we found out we had to tour. We didn’t play our first show ’til after our first record was recorded, so it’s always been about making records, and it’s been a process in growing to become good performers.” Carney said.

Carney also stated about the new album: “It’s not like we have an idea of what direction we want to go in or anything. I’d like our next record to be… I don’t want to go somewhere too pre-planned. We always want to go somewhere different.”

Black Keys Release “Weight of Love” Video

The sequel to “Fever” is a short film for “Weight of Love,” the psychedelic opening track of Turn Blue. The video begins with a group of women watching the “Fever” video, then shows that they are part of a cult that is run by model, Lara Stone. The women were laden in all white. The cult lives in a lighthouse and do laundry topless, because it can be hard not to stain your all white attire. The cult worships and follows a strict religious regime for whoever they follow.

Turn Blue – The Black Keys

There’s something about the Black Keys that keeps people coming back to their music, whether it is their bluesy vocals or their raw garage rock instrumentation. On their eighth-studio and newest album, Turn Blue, the Black Keys show more psychedelic and soul influence. The Black Keys consist of the duo, Dan Auerbach, guitar and vocals, and Patrick Carney, drums. Even with different sounds and influences in Turn Blue, there is still elements of the classic blues-rock sound of the Black Keys. Much of the song-writing revolved around Auerbach’s messy and highly publicized divorce, giving the album a much more moodier tone to it.

Lyrically, Turn Blue varies between simplistic story telling, such as in the track, “Fever,” and a narrative about heartbreak, especially in the nearly seven minute long opener, “Weight of Love.” However, this variety and sort of accessibility gives these tracks a fresh feel to them. The lyrical shift from record to record for the Black Keys is dramatic undoubtedly because of the emotional impact on Auerbach after his divorce in 2013. The lyrics are straightforward and Auerbach delivers these with the same vocals he has in virtually all of the Black Keys’ previous albums.

With a take on a more soulful sound while sticking to their typical blues rock tone. The coexistence of the Auerbach’s guitar and Carney’s drumming blends together fluidly as much as the Black Keys’ previous releases. The guitar riffs are  smart and fluid and Auerbach has developed a style that unique to him. Carney’s understanding drumming meets the guitar with shifting tempos and beats that hard to beat. The bass lines on Turn Blue is one of the strongest elements to this album, giving it a much funkier sound than if it stood back behind the drums and guitar.

“Gotta Get Away” is a bold finish to this slow album but with this upbeat song, it seems to remind listeners that although Turn Blue is a drastic step away from the old Black Keys, they still have what drew them in in the first place.