The Black Keys “Let’s Rock” 2019. Nonesuch Records, limited edition blue vinyl. Let’s Rock is The Black Keys’ 9th studio LP, which debuted at its peak chart positions of #4 in the US and #3 in the UK. They released it after a five-year hiatus and wrote it mostly in-studio; the title and cover art inspired by last words of a Tennessee convict executed by electric chair in 2018, as well as an “homage to the electric guitar” (Patrick Carney). And also because it’s a rock-n-roll record, blues-inspired for sure – waaayyyy less lo-fi than their early work – even though Dan Auerbach says, “We’re not rock’n’roll guys. We fucking hate rock’n’roll guys. We always have. The idea of pyrotechnics on stage and lasers is always so goofy.” We saw The Black Keys perform this past weekend at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and they indeed did not have pyrotechnics or lasers, but did have some pretty great lighting and a giant electric chair replica from the LP’s cover behind them at one point. I was also pleasantly impressed with the Fiserv, a really new venue in Milwaukee (this was our first time seeing a concert there as we generally avoid big shows). In the past when I saw concerts at the now-demolished Bradley Center (which the Fiserv replaced), the sound was horrible. All concrete and echoes – just imagine seeing the last show I remember going to there: Neil Young with Social Distortion and Sonic Youth. The bands were great but the sound was fucking horrible.

Anyway, it was a great show, the duo’s sound beefed up by three backing musicians. They played several songs from Let’s Rock including a few of my favorites: the singles “Lo/Hi” (which went to the top of  Billboard’s Mainstream Rock, Adult Alternative Songs, Rock Airplay, and Alternative Songs charts simultaneously, making it the first song ever to do so), “Eagle Birds” and my top-pick, “Go” which is a great summer anthem with a hilarious video. I also really love “Shine a Little Light,” the album’s opener, and “Under the Gun.” I don’t love the whole LP though: “Walk Across the Water,” “Sit Around and Miss You” (though the video is damn funny, a parody of the commercial that aired incessantly in the 80′s for “Freedom Rock”) and “Breaking Down” are all a little too 60′s/70′s smooth California blues-rock for my taste. Though, weirdly, I really like “Tell Me Lies,” which has a similar sound as those last two (kinda Eagles-ish with a dash of Steve Miller Band) but it’s got such a great hook that I’m overlooking it. Honestly it’s taken me awhile to really warm to Let’s Rock: The Raconteurs Help Us Stranger was released about a week before Let’s Rock and there’s that (untrue??) rivalry between Jack White/The White Stripes and Dan Auerbach/The Black Keys that makes comparisons virtually impossible to avoid – and I really really love Help Us Stranger. So when I had the choice of which to listen to on repeat, The Raconteurs inevitably have won out – but I’m making more of an effort now.