The Black Keys – El Camino (2011)

I discovered The Black Keys in 2010 when the band had just released their album Brothers. There was something very special about that album. Generally, it was very close to other guitar-driven indie bands I listened to at the time, but it also had amazing groove and powerful rhythms that were often absent from 00s indie rock. I didn't get inside the album quickly. It took me some time to start fully appreciating it. When this album was released a year later, I didn't even pay much attention to it. It was only a little bit later when I saw the music video for the hit song Lonely Boy that I got excited about this new album. The song was different to the songs on the previous album. It's somehow a bit ironic that this new style has later on become the less interesting part of this band and I appreciate the more soulful songs I didn't fully get into in the first place.


El Camino is not as good of an album as Brothers, but it's the one that made The Black Keys a superstar. This is what always happens. The Masses only find bands after their greatest career is in the past. I'm not saying El Camino isn't a good album, because it really is. I'm just saying it doesn't quite compare to its predecessor. I bought El Camino here in London quite some time after its release when I found it with an affordable price. I haven't listened to this album that much to be honest, but it re-kindled my interest in the band.

The album starts with the mega-hit Lonely Boy. This upbeat rock song really makes you want to dance and jump along. I guess that, along with the catchy chorus, made it such a big hit. Dead and Gone has a pounding beat and echoey choral vocals that make it sound really big. Despite of this, it doesn't sound too commercial or polished, but actually quite raw and organic. Gold on the Ceiling brings on buzzing electric guitars and raunchy rock organs. This song reminds me of Black Mountain, another band that I found around the same time as The Black Keys. Little Black Submarines is a gentle folk song with very stripped instrumentation and production, until about half way it turns into a full-on rock song in the style of 70s hard rock. Money Maker has some catchy riffs and some psychedelic echoey elements in the vocals. This is some proper retro garage rock. Run Right Back starts with piercing electric guitars and along comes the amazingly sharp rock organ. This sounds like a phenomenally good running song. Sister turns the funk up with amazing guitar riffs and a steady bass beat. This is one of the greatest songs on the album. Hell of a Season, on the other hand, is a bit boring compared to the rest of the album. It's a very straightforward rock song, where the chorus sounds good, but rest is just waiting for the chorus. Stop Stop has great soulful groove and quite lo-fi production. Melodically it's not that interesting though. Nova Baby brings back the galloping guitar rock and as a result the song sounds more like other rock bands of the time. The album ends with the song Mind Eraser, which is a phenomenal ending song. The pianos give it nice touch and the groovy bass lines really get you moving along.

The Lonely Boy has a simple, yet fantastic music video. It just shows a man approaching middle-age doing this ridiculous dance throughout the song. This is exactly how I would probably look like I was dancing to the song playing loud at my house when no-one was watching. It's pure pleasure of moving about to the music and mouthing the lyrics along.

The Black Keys is one of those bands that I immensely enjoy listening to, but I rarely do. I guess because it's so clear that this music is for parties. And as a man who's approaching his middle age, I find less and less situations where I want to crank up the music and dance. That's a bit sad really. El Camino is a great album for when life is looking up and you want to feel the good energy flowing through you.

Listen to the album on Spotify.