The Black Keys; El Camino

The Black Keys are a group that both my parents and I love. I remember getting a coupon at Starbucks for a free download of "Run Right Back", and my mom encouraging me to listen to it. I ended up downloading the song to my itunes and completely forgetting about it. About a year later, I listened to it by accident and fell in love. My dad had the CD in his huge collection, so I was happy to have the entire album to listen to.
El Camino is an alternative album filled with more catchy beats than catchy lyrics. This is what really separates it from some of the other music I listen to. The power in this album is definitely in the beat, as well as in their garage rock feel. Tracks such as "Little Black Submarines" and "Sister" have more of a raw feel to them than others. I feel like those are the songs that give The Black Keys a retro rock tempo. One of the most popular songs, "Lonely Boy" won 3 Grammys, and for good reason. It has an upbeat tempo that really shows how well The Black Keys incorporates their rock influences with their indie influences. This combination is also apparent in "Dead and Gone", a personal favorite. I love how El Camino has kept the same recorded-in-the-basement feel that their earlier albums had.
Currently, The Black Keys have several tour dates planned both in the US and Canada. Check out their website for more information. http://www.theblackkeys.com