Attack & Release

Where has this band been all my life? Just discovered them when I bought this CD. And I'm loving it! Now, I'm busy adding the rest of their albums to my music collection. I can't get enough of this band - their sound is so hypnotic and sensual. There is not one bad song on this CD. I especially like "Strange Times" and "I Got Mine." Buy this album - you will not be disappointed.

For all the fans that are complaining about their progression on this album, you must be insane. I was just telling a friend before "Attack and Release" came out that I loved the Black keys music but their music was too redundant. It's not even a dramatic evolution in their sound, it's more of maturation. I always though that the Black keys were super talented and made great songs, but unfortunately they had like 4 albums of songs that sounded pretty-much the same. I love them to death, but they started to get boring. And by the grace of God they got a talented producer that was able to put their talent to proper use and pull a sound out of them that could elevate them as artist. This album is a blessing; it has much more depth and body to it. It shakes off the stale hipster aura and stands on its own legs as underdog masterpiece. Sometimes I think alternative music fans should really learn how to grow with the bands instead of being stuck in a remedial state of mind.

The earlier works of the Black Keys were fantastic. I really didn't know what to expect when I was picking up Attack & Release. After hearing that the Black Keys would be working with Danger Mouse, I was a little worried. Was the Black Keys raw style of blues rock coming to an end?

After listening to this album multiple times I grew to appreciate the new direction the Black Keys were going. In my opinion this album is near flawless. While Danger Mouse's touch is noticed, it is not overbearing. Attack & Release not only surpassed my expectation but now I am excited to hear their next release. The Black Keys followed a artistic progression and nailed it.

One of my favorite albums this year. Attack & Release gets extremely high play in my mp3 player.

I always thought the Black Keys were a cool little band but with Danger Mouse production skills it just makes them so much better. It gives them a fuller sound with beats you can bob your head to. Back story to this album is amazing. Supposively Danger Mouse was going to produce a blues record for the legendary Ike Turner but he needed a backing band. The Black Keys agreed to be that backing band. While they were reheasing with Danger Mouse(Turner not present), Ike Turner passed away. Eventhough the Turner record was a no-go Danger Mouse and Keys formed a great chemistry together and decided that they should make their album together. Pure Genius. DM did not uber-commericialize it, he just sharpened the edges a bit plus adding nice bass line for a back beat to songs like, "Psychotic Girl" or using a syntheseizer and keys on the chorus to "Strange Times" to give it bigger body without ruining it.
Favorite songs- "Psychotic Girl" "Strange Times" "So he won't Break"

Much like their Midwest brethren, the White Stripes, the Black Keys are a blues duo specializing in raw, lo-fi DIY tunes, and much like the faux-sibling pair, the Black Keys have steadily progressed from workmanlike blues and rock to, well, still more solid blues and rock, albeit with slightly more advanced recording techniques.

Attack & Release continues this trend, although with the versatile Danger Mouse producing, some deviation from the formula is to be expected. "Psychotic Girl" sounds eerily like what Gnarls Barkley might sound like if they were a blues outfit with a penchant for banjo, and Dan Auerbach's vocals on "Lies" call to mind the best of the great southern soul singers.

The Keys haven't lost focus, however; "Remember When (Side B)," I Got Mine," and a host of other songs continue the barnburning minimalist tradition that they've been perfecting since the 2001, and while it isn't particularly anything new, it's still old school enough to be interesting.