Brothers

I've been listening all week to a subtly gorgeous record called Brothers by The Black Keys, who sonically embody their name by creating music that, while combing elements of funk, blues, and swamp rock, carries a thread of malevolence. These songs seem to be sung by characters who who are in the throes of either danger or desperation.

The band is made up of two men: Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach. Carney is a drummer, and in this era when computers have almost made the drummer irrelevant, it is refreshing to hear a master drummer at work. Some of his rhythms are as interesting as the melodies, such as in the song "Too Afraid to Love You." Or consider the absolutely stunning arrangement of the best song on the record, "Ten Cent Pistol," which begins with a seductive drumbeat, and then introduces a penetrating guitar riff by Auerbach, who then chimes in with the vocals.

"Ten Cent Pistol" also has terrific lyrics, as do all the songs on the record. It makes one think of a pulp crime novel from the 1950s: "There's nothing worse in this world, than payback from a jealous girl. The laws of man don't apply when blood gets in a woman's eye."

This song is immediately followed by another gem, "Sinister Kid." If "Ten Cent Pistol" is Raymond Chandler, then "Sinister Kid" is Jim Thompson: "A sinister kid is a kid who runs to meet his maker. A drop dead sprint from the day he's born, straight into his maker's arms. And that's me, that's me, the boy with the broken halo. That's me, that's me, the devil won't let me be."

Auerbach's vocals are another big plus. He sings falsetto on a couple, but mostly he has a soulful growl. I think his best work is on the song "I'm Not the One," where he manages to give the word "one" two or three syllables. His voice works in perfect complement to the fuzz guitar and echo techniques of the music.

Brothers has a retro feel to it throughout--I wouldn't be surprised if there's nothing on it that couldn't have been created in 1973. There's even a wah-wah guitar sound the instrumental "Black Mud," which could have been on the soundtrack of a vintage Blaxploitation picture. "Howlin' for You" has a rhythm track that recalls Gary Glitter. And the one cover that The Black Keys choose to do is "Never Gonna Give You Up"--no, not the one by Rick Astley, but by Philadelphia soul singer Jerry Butler.

Brothers made a lot of best of 2010 lists and the accolades are deserved. This record was perfect listening on a recent drive home at night. It really should be listened to in the dark.