05/19/08
Reviewed by – Matt Rowe
Attack & Release is the fifth album by Ohio duo, The Black Keys. Produced by noted producer and musician, Danger Mouse (one-half of Gnarls Barkley), The Black Keys has moved into Rock’s consciousness with a harsh and bluesy work that is tough, edgy, and wildly reminiscent of a blues/rock past. What this makes Attack & Release is a ‘best of the year’ entry that will have you warmly remembering those moments, if you were alive during them (‘70s). The fact that this album entered at 14 on the US Billboard album charts only indicates that many already know this, and the rest of us are just now finding out.
Attack & Release begins with the excellent, soft-keyed “All You Ever Wanted” concluding with a thick carpet of organ before launching into a dirty blues/Rock tune that could have been done by Foghat with great success. However the influences here spread out, The Black Keys have this Rock and Roll thing nailed down as if they own it.
There are
11 highly memorable cuts on this magnificent album that won’t shake
easily from your mind and so you might as well give in to its
infectious creative flow. “Strange Times,” sounds like a T-Rex
arrangement, while “Psychotic Girl” plays in Lennon / Beatles
territories, all with a particular Black Keys stamp. You won’t find a
bad song on the album. Attack & Release concludes with “Things
Ain’t Like they Used To Be,” another grand piece of work.
Attack
& Release will have you rockin’ until the next best thing comes
along…which might be the next album by The Black Keys.
Release Date: April 15, 2008
Produced by: Danger Mouse
Format: CD