Album Review: The Black Keys' "El Camino" Drives the Path to Ongoing Success

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The Black Keys

El Camino

Nonesuch Records/Warner Music

Rating: 8.5/10

For me and many others, the name El Camino is synonymous with the Chevrolet model of half car, half truck from back in the day.  While growing up, our neighbour's daughter, Wendy, used to drive a suped-up black one with a red racing stripe down the side.  The thing was a beast...... Our entire block would shake whenever she turned the engine over!

However the actual term, roughly translated from Spanish, means the road or path.

Fittingly, The Black Keys - singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney - have travelled an interesting path to arrive at this particular point of their now ten-year career.  And the picture of an old beat up van on their new album's cover is similar to the one the duo travelled in during their early touring days, so their newest release is symbolic of a "this is how far we've come to get here" type vibe.

Since their 2002 debut The Big Come Up, the Akron, Ohio band has slowly but surely crept into the mainstream musical consciousness, expanding upon their early traditional blues-rock formula and slightly re-inventing their sound with each subsequent release.

Today marks the official drop date of their latest LP, a blistering, Danger Mouse-produced set of punchy, quick-fire rock numbers that lean more on their toe-tapping catchiness and infectious grooves, and less on impactful, profound lyricism.

What is truly impactful and profound about El Camino is the cleverness of the songwriting, and the duo's open embrace of new sounds and musical influences. Sure, the garage rock feel from the band's early records like Rubber Factory and Magic Potion is still present.  But this time around, The Keys spit-shine their sound to give it a brighter lustre.

The band has traded in the mellower, soulful influences that were prevalent throughout their last LP, 2010's Brothers, and instead crank up the tempos: the result is a quicker, no-nonsense product (the album's length is only 38 minutes).  It's straight forward, direct, and makes it point very quickly.

The influence of 70s Glam and Arena Rock is prevalent here.  The biggest examples are on two of the album's stellar tracks:  The Degüello-era ZZ Top meets Norman "Spirit in the Sky" Greenbaum fuzziness of "Gold On The Ceiling," and on "Little Black Submarines," complete with double tracked rhythm and lead guitar just like how Jimmy Page used to draw it up.  One could almost call it Stairway to Heaven Jr. - and that is by no means a belittling insult.

"Money Maker" is a deadly, slinky song with an absolutely menacing bass groove and a hook that reminds you that it means strictly business.

"Run Right Back," released as a B-side to the first single "Lonely Boy," has a Tom Petty meets The Byrds "open road" feel, but there's definitely a 60s go-go danceability to it as well.

"Sister" has one of the tightest, in-the-pocket grooves the band has ever committed to tape.  It's a complete style departure reminiscent of the Greg Kihn Band's 1983 hit single "Jeopardy."  And "Stop Stop" made me want to break out my Mick Taylor-era Rolling Stones records - it's sounds like a lost song from the Sticky Fingers sessions.

The album is not without it's shortcomings.  By the time "Nova Baby" comes around, I'm practically begging for the Keys to take their foot off of the gas pedal.  The shimmering guitar and bright keyboards that open the track are slightly unrelenting in nature.  At this stage of the record I felt a bit worn down. But who cares...by now I've so gotten my money's worth that it's a rather moot point.

For The Black Keys, El Camino marks a continued trek along the road to critical and commercial success.  Some fans of their earlier albums may have decided to jump out of the car while it's still moving, as they're not fond of the new 'direction' that this band's trip is taking.

As for those sticking around, or for those just hopping onboard, you're in for one hell of a ride.

Album available now on Rdio, iTunes, and in stores

-Turnbull