I know I have come into this late but....

LOVE THE BLACK KEYS! I disovered them just before I met my boyfriend in 2009, turned out they were one of his favorite bands, so he shared his love for them and got me hooked. That fact already makes me totally biased towards their awesomeness :p but I will try hard to contain myself on all things BK related.

Tough one for me, but this is my rank of their albums (favoritism alone):

1. Thickfreakness
2. Brothers
3. Rubber Factory
4. Attack And Release
5. The Big Come Up
6. El Camino
7. Magic Potion

Just got my hands on Chulahoma so I can't rank that yet as I still need to give it a listen. Blakrock omg don't even go there.

I used to be down on Magic Potion too, but I'm coming around on it. I think it represents their best production work. The sound Dan gets out of his guitar might be their high water-mark, even if the songwriting is lacking...

Rubber Factory>Thickfreakness>Attack & Release>Brothers>Magic Potion>El Camino>Big Come Up

Like all of those, a lot. They've gone in a more produced sound, and explored some other genres besides the bluesy garage rock, and I like it all very much. People calling them sellouts were just too attached to the power blues thing IMO.

For some reason I just can't get through their earlier, blues-rock stuff. I don't know why, I just can't sit and listen to an album of it. El Camino, Brothers, and Attack & Release I can gladly listen to, but for some reason their other stuff just doesn't hit me in the same way.

Some people like the catchier pop lyricism and production of later albums more than the earlier stuff. I got into the Black Keys only about 2 years ago, though I'd always liked the song 10 AM Automatic.

I don't understand how people are ranking magic potion so low. It's definitely one of my favorite albums. Just about every song is great. "you're the one" and "the flame" are some of their prettiest songs in my opinion.

It's subjective, that'd be why.

I'm sure there are people who prefer Metallica's Black Album, and Celtic Frost fans who prefer Cold Lake.

Obviously. Nearly everything discussed on this site is subjective, that's why I was looking for a more detailed response.

I never understood it, I like Magic Potion a lot, but the Keys set a very high bar for themselves, thats about all I can think of.

It's definitely in my top 3. Every track is pretty solid, not a weak point on the album in my opinion. The only song that ranks up on the level of "you're the one" and "the flame" in terms of softness and beauty is "the lengths", which is probably better than both.

I love "The Lenghts". Best song on that album as far as I'm concerned :p

Thickfreakness is my favourite BK album. Especially the song Hold Me In Your Arms which I find really appealing. Magic Potion is a great album but feels to under control and held back somehow - you might not be able to objectively measure that but I just feel it. The grit is part of the reason I like the band and without a good dose of it I'd rather be listening to something else.

i think 'brothers' is my favourite followed by 'el camino'

i brought 'big come up' and 'thickfreakness' for £4 Used but really good condition.

Nice!

Wow thanks for that video!

Also, being new to MB, I did not realize at first that the thread had been created in 05. Me reading the first few posts: "Under what kind of rock have these guys lived these past few ye... oooh created in 2005... I see..." :laughing:

I saw them in February when they were at Alexandria Palace in London. Needless to say they bossed it, particularly with Everlasting Light (beautiful sing a long with the disco lights) and I Got Mine! Probably my favourite band (although it's always changing, they're the one constant in my top 3).

I've heard they are amazing live, I can't wait to see them at Leeds Fest this year!

They have a great overall sound.

Oh, god. I know I've posted here before, but I cant go back through all those pages just to find my post. Anyway, yeah. Black Keys are AMAZING. Loving their new album, El Camino. But one of my permanent favorites is The Lengths....its just so... raw and heartfelt. I saw them a while back at a venue in Kentucky. Loved every minute of it. The fire alarm did go off, and Dan looked pissed, while Pat was laughing it off. They got us out of the building and we were in the back of the line, but still managed to get back to our spots at the front of the stage, which made me happy....and I remember I met a cute boy in a fedora...but I threatened to knock over his SISTER just to bring him, myself and my friend even closer to the stage. So, if you're on here, boy with the fedora, Im sorry, I didnt know. :P All in all, I had an AMAZING time. Quite the experience. :)

Their best song, in my opinion. as well as Elevator and Give Your Heart Away from Magic Potion. Also, Them Eyes from Big Come Up.

any recommendations based on those?

rock!!

El Camino I think is alright

despite people screaming "sell out" and all

still, I don't feel the urge to put it on that often

I never much cared for that album either. Way too overproduced

Plus, they are sellouts. If they were to make an album that brought back their sound from Rubber Factory or Magic Potion, I'd appreciate them all over again

The Black Keys
 

What are everyones thoughts on these guys? I havent heard much of their stuff (in fact I havent really heard any of it.) But I have heard nothing but good things from everyone who has listened to them. I thought I would check your guys opinions on it first, just to see what the general consesus on them is.

Heard "Brothers" and I liked it. Haven't heard anything else.

I love them, they bring it old school like nobody else nowadays.

Mick Jones respects them, together with QOTSA. That says enough.

Brothers is just pure gold

Who is the best artist from Akron; Chrissie Hynde, Devo or Black Keys?

I think compelling arguments can be made for all.

DEVO enjoyed the least popularity but is certainly the most recognizable. Wearing a flower pot as a hat is uniquely timeless!

I saw them play at Antone's in Austin, Texas, back in 2004. Hadn't heard of them at the time but a friend I was with recommended that we go to the show. There were probably around 100 people (at the most) that showed up for the gig and there were no seats, so you could stand as close to the stage as you wanted to. They sounded good with a few pints under my belt and it was a fun show but I never got into them beyond that one time.