Review: The Black Keys - Turn Blue
[Nonesuch; 2014]
Rating: 7.5/10
By Alexa Smith, News Editor
Key Tracks: “Weight of Love,” “Fever”
The Black Keys have earned high praise in the music world by creating albums that are simply good for the ears. After three years off the market, they have once again presented something rather delicious to those of good taste with Turn Blue.
The first couple passages of a book, or even the first sentence, can tell a reader all he or she needs to know about the hundreds of pages that follow. The writer is responsible for crafting a good first impression so that the rest of the work can truly be appreciated and enjoyed. Turn Blue makes a sensational first impression with the insane genius that is “Weight of Love.”
With a charming number like “Weight of Love,” The Keys lay out the path for the following 10 songs, maintaining their focus on real, solid music. The tune accents twilight-zone keyboards, an independent and driving bassline setting things up for space-cadet guitar work. Not to mention the omnipresence of radical riffs, reaffirming what everyone should know by now: that Dan Auerbach knows how to fuckin’ rip on the guitar. Damn.
Turn Blue proves to be a more experimental release from the Keys, throwing in more zoned-out guitar with some real trippy usage of the whammy bar and airy, futuristic noises that lurk in the background. As for the general theme for the album: sexy, independent and a little depressing.
The record impresses musically, but vocally, there's nothing new to note. Auerbach’s distinct sound makes it difficult to critique because he’s good and always has been as the voice of the Keys. But he doesn’t seem to try anything new with his pipes, and it would have been nice for him to venture into unfamiliar territory to better suit the more experimental nature of the music.
This reviewer, for some reason, pictures the two lookin’ real sharp on songs like “In Time” and “Fever,” in some clean-cut suits and shades, struttin’ around and making all the ladies swoon with just a glance. These songs are hot with some real thick and creamy guitar, as is the latter half of “In Our Prime,” where notes ooze through the listener’s veins.
As far as lyrics go, shit gets kind of depressing. In “Bullet In the Brain,” as one could guess, Auerbach claims that a brutal death would be more pleasant than his current situation. In “Fever,” lyrics like “might as well just kill me” suggest the same. Talk about a downer.
On a brighter note, drummer Patrick Carney picks things up on tracks like “It’s Up to You Now” as well as “Fever” with crazy-wild, energetic pounding that gets things going. And although its bits and pieces are rather mellow and chill, “10 Lovers” has something about it that makes one’s insides feel quite nice. It might have something to do with the funky, soulful bassline which Black Keys fans may not be quite as accustomed to.
Of course The Black Keys' latest has that energy and unmistakable sound that any fan could distinguish just from a few measures, but Turn Blue might fool the average joe. The album is the Keys in their most brutally honest form, sounding like the aftermath of a life-altering event that makes them shake things up a bit. The change of mind resulted in two great musicians bestowing something better than just good due to its vibrant and refreshingly authentic qualities.
