I do realize that posting anything currently topical here in the comments on RP can be meaningless when you scroll through song comments that are marked 12 years ago, 10 years ago, etc., but here goes anyway.

Recently the Black Keys had to cancel their big stadium tour for 2024. Some people blamed it on their current album (this one) not being very good or generating many sales. And then others stated it was due to the outrageous prices some of these groups are charging for tickets to these shows. Last year, the average ticket price for one of the top 100 tours around the world was $131, up 23 percent from the year before, according to Pollstar. I'm with those blaming the ticket prices. Here in the States, we've managed to get inflation down from over 9% to just a little over 3% in a little under 4 years since the dreadful COVID outbreak. And yet Greedflation continues to soar. I'm glad people are refusing to pay these insane prices just to see a musical act for a couple of hours, because it's forcing the corporations like Ticketmaster and LiveNation to reevaluate their greedmongering ways. It's working with fast food joints like McDonald's and Burger King having to offer $5 specials to lure customers back who were fed up with paying nearly $10 bucks for a Big Mac. That's the only way greedflation goes away.

So it will be interesting to see if this strategy plays out. Otherwise, in another 10 or 12 years when someone reads this comment, they'll think, Aw, isn't that cute, this guy thinking $130 was a high price to pay to see the Black Keys way back in 2024.

Black Keys just keep cranking out those hits.

you hit me every time with that bowl right in the middle 

I like this. It sounds fresh to me with a modern sheen and little Motown thrown in.

Each of their albums have a distinct flavor to them, whether it's grungy garage blues, psychedelia, classic soul, straight ahead retro-flavored rock. I saw them on the "Attack & Release" tour when it was just the two of them cranking out solid blues rock tunes. It was phenomenal and workmanlike but how long can you keep doing that same thing? I love that they have not stood still, and always look to add to their sound and welcome different collaborators and producers. They've evolved but still sound like themselves. 

And if you don't like their evolution, the good news is that those old albums still exist for your enjoyment.  

 tompoll wrote:

Interestingly, this is only of the only songs that Beck didn't work on the album, but his production can be felt throughout.  Noel Gallagher has a writing credit and sings on the track though.

I prefer the raw beginning. This id just noise.

 tompoll wrote:

Because their early stuff was crystal clear?

 tompoll wrote:

They've gone soft and MOR going by my hearing of this album in a record shop. It's even got rap on it  FFS! I miss their crunchy rock. This is ok but as a listener below writes, pretty bland. Mostly harmless and forgettable. A mere 6 from the Nottingham jury.

 tompoll wrote:

Certainly, not their usual sound.

 tompoll wrote:

Agreed. Rather bland for the Black Keys. 

Sounds WAY over-produced to me.