The Black Keys: Brothers

As someone who’s heard of The Black Keys but has kept them neatly on the peripheral, their new album, Brothers, is enough for me to make them front and center. The word is that once you’ve gotten hooked on one of their albums, your instinct screams for you to immediately go on a buying or downloading frenzy to complete the collection. I haven’t done that yet, but the more I listen the more I’m sure it’s inevitable – my bank account will just have to deal with it.

Opener “Everlasting Light” is a bit of a curveball to the rest of the album, as it features singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach throwing out some serious falsetto. For the remainder, tracks like “Tighten Up,”  “The Next Girl,” “Ten Cent Pistol” and “Howlin’ For You” showcase the true grit of the band’s bluesy, rock ‘n’ roll sound.

In just under an hour, the album drips heavily of syrupy comfort through its 15 tracks, relying on heavy distorted guitar riffs – compliments of Auerbach – and drummer Patrick Carney’s consistent (if not understated) percussion. Plus, the tight – and strictly purposeful – production is a definite asset.

With this release, The Black Keys are primed to be one of the favorite bands of 2010, a recognition that is absolutely deserved.

Watch the ridiculously cute video for their current single, “Tighten Up.”