The Black Keys, Let’s Rock | Album Review 💿

Following a five-year hiatus, Grammy-winning rock band The Black Keys don’t miss a beat on their ninth studio album, “Let’s Rock.”

The Black Keys had been missing in action for nearly five years.  Prior to the arrival of “Let’s Rock”, the last time Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney released an album was in May 2014, when the excellent divorce-fueled Turn Blue arrived.  Since then, Auerbach released a second solo album, Waiting on a Song (2017). Thankfully, “Let’s Rock” finds the duo “reunited and it feels so good.” Indeed, “Let’s Rock” is a stellar return for Auerbach and Carney.

“Shine a Little Light” 

Question: “Do you feel like you’re the only one living on a prayer?” ✓ “Shine a Little Light” kicks off “Let’s Rock” with mad energy.  The guitars bite – raucous to the nth degree.  Dan Auerbach shows incredible control overall, yet also provides the energetic opener with the oomph it deserves.  The centerpiece of “Shine a Little Light,” unsurprisingly, is the catchy chorus:

“If evil lays his hands on me
Shine a little light on my soul
Show me things I cannot see
Shine a little light on my soul.”

“See twin eagle birds up / In the tree / One for you and there’s / One for me.” The Black Keys pack quite a mean punch on the two-minute-and-forty second gem ✓ “Eagle Birds”. “Eagle Birds” begins with a compelling drum groove by Carney, adorned with distorted, old-school rock guitars. Auerbach sounds rock solid, maintaining his composure, yet delivering an effective, expressive performance with his distortion-filled vocals. Lyrically, it’s simplistic with a limited number of lyrics on each verse. The first verse is excerpted above, while on the second, Auerbach sings: “…All night long I / Had you on my mind / Flying high.” Later, there’s also a third verse, referencing those eagle birds. Worth noting, a superb bluesy, turned-up guitar solo follows the chorus after the second verse.  “Eagle Birds” is nothing short of awesome.

“Lo/Hi” 

“You get low (low) like a valley / Then high (high) like a bird in the sky / You get low (low) ‘cause you’re angry / Low, high, high, low.” ✓ “Lo/Hi” sounds like what you’d expect/have been accustomed to hearing from The Black Keys.  There’s a sick, consistent drum groove, biting, distorted guitars, and assertive vocals from Auerbach.  The assertiveness of Auerbach’s vocals is amplified by distortion, a trademark of the duo. Further helping Dan’s cause are rousing background vocals, which have a soulfulness about them. Ultimately, once more, the band does a great job of capturing old-school rock, with its 60s, ‘garage-styled’ vibes.  Lyrically, there’s nothing spectacular, as the aforementioned chorus suggests, but it’s sufficient without dare ‘going above and beyond.’ 

After three surefire gems, “Let’s Rock” is sure to step back some right? Perhaps the four-minute-long “Walk Across the Water” doesn’t reach quite the same lofty heights, but it’s still pretty strong and certainly C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-T.  The production is one of the selling points here, specifically the colorful psychedelic organ sound.  The harmonic progression and extended instrumental section mark other notable pros.  The prominence of rhythm and the overall groove mark the strong suits of follow-up ✓ “Tell Me Lies.” The layering of guitars is pretty sweet, both capturing that old-school sound, yet also sounding refreshing in 2019. Dan Auerbach continues to exhibit poise yet feel totally commanding at the same time.

“Every Little Thing” 

Nothing like a robust bass line, just one of many things that makes “Every Little Thing” pretty sweet.  Like the aforementioned cuts, the guitars are magnificent, Dan’s compelling, and the songwriting is simple, yet highly effective.  Shouting out the guitars a bit more, the solo, though short, just might be the crowning achievement.  Of course, the effects are sick too. ✓ “Get Yourself Together” segues, providing an energetic contrast. Notably, the harmonic progression is simple but potent, with the bass emphasizing I, IV, and V more often than not.  Once more, the guitars are remarkable – incredibly colorful and creative in the various ways they’re used.  A catchy chorus doesn’t hurt either:

“You gotta get yourself together babe
Try to keep it cool
You wanna make it last forever maybe
Get behind the new
You gotta get yourself together babe
Keep your motor clean
We wanna make it run forever maybe
I’m your gasoline.” 

Following some ‘longer’ cuts, contextually, “Sit Around and Miss You” is one of the shorter cuts to grace “Let’s Rock,” tying “Eagle Birds” for second-shortest song.  Follow-up “Go” locks down the honor of the briefest number, just missing the two-and-a-half-minute mark.  The brevity of both cuts doesn’t inhibit either.  “Sit Around and Miss You” continues to showcase the impressive guitar-fueled backdrop, adding some soulful background vocals to the mix.  Furthermore, Dan continues to be ‘the man’ vocally.  As for “Go,” the guitars continue to bite, while the pace is quicker.

“Breaking Down” 

The final quarter of the album commences with “Breaking Down,” which once more crosses the three-minute mark in regard to duration.  “Breaking Down” is a solid, heavy, old-school rock joint. Perhaps it doesn’t stand out as the best of the best, but ‘consistency’ is the modus operandi once more. Penultimate cut “Under the Gun” also maintains the ‘c-word’ without a hitch.  The same boxes checked off throughout “Let’s Rock” continue to be checked off, beginning with the frontman in all his glory.  But also, Patrick Carney, who’s hardly been mentioned, is on his game as he has been throughout the band’s career.  

“Roll on fire / Higher and higher / Living in a fever dream / Feeling that fire walk with me.” Definitely! “Let’s Rock” concludes brilliantly with ✓ “Fire Walk with Me.” The big selling point of track twelve is definitely the groove – it’s infectious AF.  Lyrically, its spare and simple – typical of The Black Keys – but definitely memorable.  After hearing it, who wouldn’t want to “fire walk?”

Final Thoughts

Five-year-hiatus – no problem for The Black Keys, who come back strong AF on “Let’s Rock.” At this point in their career, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney don’t do anything that’s necessarily game changing, but as aforementioned, the consistency is ‘off the charts.’  All twelve songs are worthwhile, with the selected gems merely shining a smidge brighter than the rest. What is missing from “Let’s Rock” – notable miscues.  This is a damn good album, period.  

✓ Gems: “Shine a Little Light,” “Eagle Birds,” “Lo/Hi,” “Tell Me Lies,” “Get Yourself Together” & “Fire Walk with Me”

The Black Keys • “Let’s Rock” • Nonesuch • Release: 6.28.19

Photo Credit: Nonesuch