The Black Keys have always had pop and soul in their arsenal, though often masked by a rougher garage-rock sound. On their 13th studio album, they lean fully into the more commercial sounds, with synth-heavy arrangements and a smooth flow. There are no standout classics here, but they can churn out this kind of material in their sleep.
They’ve described the album as a nod to the music they loved growing up. That said, it follows a turbulent period: they cancelled their 2024 US tour due to poor ticket sales and parted ways with their management. Perhaps they just wanted to make themselves feel happy.
It’s instantly familiar — which, of course, makes it less memorable. “No Rain, No Flowers” is upbeat and optimistic; “The Night Before” is almost too catchy for its own good, though it’s anchored by a meaty bassline. The message “There’s no place like the night before” is about as deep as this seems to get.
There are echoes of their earlier sound in tracks like “On Repeat” and “Man on a Mission,” which carries their familiar blues-metal swagger. It’s not their best, but it’s far from their worst. It’s no “Rubber Factory”, nor even “Turn Blue” (equally slick), but it’s pleasant enough — and may well draw in a broader fanbase.
JMC
