The Black Keys - El Camino CD

"El Camino" is the eagerly anticipated seventh album by the brilliant American blues rock duo The Black Keys, and is the follow up to their album "Brothers", which was released in 2010.

The album is a rugged, fiery, passionate and soulful masterpiece, drawing on all musical aspects and elements of blues and soul and injecting them in to this innovative, raw, rock influenced creation that can only be defined as the sound of The Black Keys. The guitar chords and progressions are both slick and rough at the same time, this combination allowing each note to be played with absolute definition, and adding reverb to give it incredible power. This guitar is combined with precise drum playing that provides a multi-dimensional and textured background through the patterns and beats, with the throaty vocals providing a passion with every note lead vocalist Dan Auerbach sings.

Featured on the album is the lead single "Lonely Boy", which is a triumph to the band's distinctive and innovative approach to their blend of blues and rock. This song boasts both a brilliant melody and a catchy chorus, provided with the help of their meaningful and well written lyrics, on top of the energetic and up-tempo instrumentals.

With each record they make, The Black Keys just prove over and over again that they and their music are just getting better as time goes on, and this album is a sure fire hit. Brilliance personified. (Cat Emerson)