The Black Keys - Attack & Release
The Black Keys meets Jethro Tull with the “Same Old Thing” including a flute!
The Black Keys have perfected their own brand of Delta-tinged, garage rock. Last year they were contacted by producer Danger Mouse to do an album with Ike Turner; but then Ike died. This left the Keys with a truckload of material that became their most unusual album to date.
The instrumental additions are mind-blowing. As well as the flute you can hear acoustic guitar and organ; along with a banjo in “Psychotic Girl” and bass guitar on a few tracks. Add to that a sonar ping on “Oceans and Streams” and a vibraphone in “So He Won’t Break”.
People who have enjoyed the Keys earlier material might be surprised the first time they hear Attack & Release. There is a hint of Memphis soul in "Lies" and a mixture of vintage Southern R&B, British blues rock, and country blues. But after a couple of listens you notice that the Keys still have plenty of fuzzy riffs and maintain their blues-garage-rock feel. Having said that, there are songs ("Remember When – Side A”, “So He Won’t Break") that have an early ‘60s sound and there is a bit of country influence in the closing track, “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be”, with pedal steel and vocals from bluegrass and country singer Jessica Lea Mayfield. Along with this Waits and Elvis Costello guitarist Marc Ribot brings his skill to a number of tracks.
And just for a bit of closing trivia; Jethro Tull was very much a blues band on their debut album in 1968!