Keep It Hid is the debut solo album from Black Keys' singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach. He plays pretty much every note on every instrument throughout the record.
While Auerbach doesn't stray too far from the blues rock formula that has made his band so successful, he does strip away much of the bang and clatter. The result is a greater focus on the songwriting and musicianship.
The sound on Keep It Hid is crisper and cleaner than what we're used to hearing from the Black Keys, which is a good thing. These songs benefit greatly from the enhanced sound definition.
The album opens up with the subtle "Trouble Weighs a Ton", an almost spiritual blues number. That spiritual feeling is repeated on a number of tracks, not the least of which is "Whispered Words". Auerbach makes that song sound like Buddy Guy covering a Johnny Cash gospel track.
Most of the album has an electric blues base. "I Want Some More" is a funky stomp. "Heartbroken, In Disrepair" is a grinding song, while "The Prowl" is an honest, down and dirty track.
Jerking the album out of its incredible blues groove, "When the Night Comes" is a touching and soulful duet featuring Jessica Lea Mayfield that seems lifted directly from a classic Van Morrison record.
Keep It Hid is as good a debut solo album as you are going to get this year. It will have you reaching for your John Lee Hooker LPs.
Best tracks: "When the Night Comes", "Trouble Weighs a Ton"
Track listing for Keep It Hid:
- Trouble Weighs a Ton
- I Want Some More
- Heartbroken, In Disrepair
- Because I Should
- Whispered Words
- Real Desire
- When the Night Comes
- Mean Monsoon
- The Prowl
- Keep It Hid
- My Last Mistake- MP3
- When I Left the Room
- Street Walkin'
- Goin' Home
9.0
0 praise/complaints:
Post a Comment