Ryan’s Reviews: Let’s Rock by The Black Keys

The Black KeysLet’s Rock – (blues rock)

The Black Keys are at it again and have just released their ninth studio album, Let’s Rock, which is their first in five years. They are currently back on tour following its release.

Let’s Rock is the same old Black Keys vibe, but decidedly less bluesy and they’ve taken a much cleaner approach this time. Lead singer Dan Auerbach seems to have become a more dynamic songwriter during his hiatus from The Black Keys, in fact releasing his own successful solo album Waiting on a Song. Let’s Rock has been a much anticipated release, and it came with months of promotion and hype, plus a slew of music videos and the single “Lo/Hi.”

So let’s get into the meat of Let’s Rock. This album sounds super similar to some of their earlier studio releases, yet more refined and restrained. It feels more deliberate, and focused on intent for quality, rather than some of their previous releases. Let’s Rock is a very easy to listen to rock album, and maintains The Black Keys throwback, yet modern blues rock sound, and it’s reassuring to see a band changing slowly and for the better than drastically and commercially. Let’s Rock is just a great album that shows sophistication and growth that both band members have gained during their hiatus. We can only hold our breath and wait to see what they come out with next, and personally I am pretty excited to see as well.

Check it out and pick up a copy for yourself!