The Burden of Modern Baggage

The Black Keys - Psychotic Girl (stream).

Sometimes I just need to get it right. Sometimes the big picture is more important than the rules. Sometimes I just can't say no. Maybe this is one of those times. After a night out in a packed, sweaty club with no air conditioning that has no business being that hot on a monday night in March, it's nice to come home to something with one boot in reality and the other on the back of my neck. Packing my shit for Texas tomorrow and trying to forget a few things, it's nice to have the musical equivelent of biting into a fresh-picked apple.

It was a smart move for warner to send out vinyl promos of this record. When I first heard it on CD I wasn't really into it. But with the vinyl I was forced to sit down, put my good headphones on and see what this shit was all about. I had a lot of questions going into it, but mostly I was curious about the choice of dangermouse. I have no idea how much he actually contributed, but as far as I can tell he added just enough soul to finally make this band relevant.

What do we have here? Baritone guitar, drums, and a plinky piano? But wait... Is that some gospel brunch choir in the background? Is that some kind of wicked fuzzed up slide line coming from the guitar, buried in the mix? And a banjo. Don't even get me started on those drums, dry and crispy like hickory smoked barbecue. Fuck.

So I'm sorry that's only a stream, and not an mp3, but my hands are tied. I'll make it up to you by linking to the Black Keys new laser game that was obviously designed by someone who's played a little atari star wars and robotron in their day. So blast some nerds already. The new record is probably the best thing they've ever done for two reasons: 1, the production is incredible, and 2, the boys have finally done enough living to make the blues seem natural, not forced. It works. It comes out on March 1st.