By Chris McLafferty

It feels on this album they’ve given up going after a broader audience and evolved authentically, maybe for the first time. If you were concerned the Black Keys had lost or sold their soul, you would be right and wrong.

The Black Keys put your worries away with the opening, “Weight of Love,” which has a baked out, smoke filled college room rip from the 70’s record player. Dan Auerbach channels his inner Zeppelin to release some time warped riffs. “Weight of Love” feels like the most epic song they’ve done…just…holy shit.

And the album keeps rolling, “In Time,” continues the trend of guitar haze of blurred memories and blistering heat. The haunting beat keeps this one pounding in your brain and the chorus is on Pop 40 level catchy. “Turn Blue” is the laid back, cigarette in your mouth, on top of your roof, 5am breeze tickling your drunked out face, heartbeat. It steadies with aroma creeping swallows.

“Fever” feels like the bridge between the mass-audienced creeping into pop El Camino, where at times it tried too hard, and the new out of this world, feels more kosher Turn Blue sound. It feels a bit over-produced looking to be that big hit instead of being that big hit which at times El Camino was. The only track on this record I can see myself skipping. This is the song that got me worried about this upcoming album, but I can feel it growing on me.

“Bullet in the Brain” whisks into your mind like only a hit of the Black Keys can. It’s the soundtrack to the best weed you’ve ever bought. “It’s Up to You” sprints a guitar heaven and a shaking so contagious you should keep away from babies.

“Waiting on Words” mellows it down to let your emotions feel every chord, every falsetto, every heart-aching note, while “10 Lovers” radiates like a 90’s hip hop jam.

“In Our Prime” trickles down your spine into something that you usually have to dig through countless record boxes to find. It’s a beautiful rock odyssey perfectly contrasted to El Camino. It doesn’t care, it just flows so raw and creates a connection with the Black Keys you’ve never felt.  Its here you realize what you’ve stumbled upon. This is the album they turn the corner. This is the album they’re finally everything you’ve ever hoped they would be. Its here they’ve established themselves as the Best American Rock Band in 20-30 + years. And this, will be the album you show your kids as an example of the great music you listen to back in your day. And it will live it on.

With “Gotta Have It” acting as their celebration song, the album closes with another old school rock throw back.

This is their most exploratory, open, hazy, creative, fucking rocking album they’ve ever put out. It’s easily the best since Magic Potion. They’ve evolved past the garage rock which may have lost some listeners but this is their best album they’ve done in years, and time will tell if it’s their best ever. It’s powerful and epic, it’s chill and high, it’s arena and indie, it burns and soothes. They’ve never sounded so free while also sounding so in control. It’s a ying/yang tightrope that few artists can pull off. They pull influences from all over the map yet create something so new, especially to this generation. The feeling you have when you listen to this album rivals that of when you first heard Led Zeppelin. It’s just something you couldn’t believe to exist, but it feels more familiar and maybe proud as you’ve walked the path with them each album. And to see them erupt in this way…it’s just so amazing.

I can’t wait to listen to again…and again…and again…and again.