Brothers

The Black Keys

Brothers

Eighth studio album of garage rock from Akron Ohio duo Dan Auerback and Patrick Carney

ADM rating[?]

7.6

Label
Universal
UK Release date
17/05/2010
  1. 9.0 |   The Observer

    Though past collaborator Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton only produces one track, such is the ingenuity on display here, he's hardly missed
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  2. 8.5 |   FasterLouder

    Taken as a whole it comes across like blues funk fusion but look closer and you begin to hear a real soul base to the songs
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  3. 8.2 |   Beats Per Minute

    The bottom line is, this is an extremely intelligent record that isn’t spoiled by self-awareness; it’s genuine without being niche. Is it accidentally great? Maybe
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  4. 8.0 |   Tiny Mix Tapes

    There's plenty of the stompers the band built their reputation on, like "Next Girl" and "The Go-Getter," but the record offsets them with some of the tenderest work the band has put to tape
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  5. 8.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    It’s tracks like ‘Go Getter’ that marks Brothers out as a continuation of the Black Keys development, rather than a treading of water
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  6. 8.0 |   Rolling Stone

    With its rusted electric piano, aching bridge and Auerbach's ravaged vocal, it is a deep-fried wrong-love song destined for a payday cover in the straight world
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  7. 8.0 |   Rave Magazine

    The Black Keys are now a thrilling outfit where you don’t quite know what’s coming next
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  8. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    Carney and Auerbach more than happy to take their foot off the accelerator to let the songs breathe and the space between the notes work some magic
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  9. 8.0 |   The Age

    With their spooky, dark production, Tighten Up and Too Afraid to Love You are the icing on the cake of this modern-soul masterpiece
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  10. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    They've always stood an awkward head and shoulders above their peers, but this time round, they've emerged from their Akron woodshed armed to the teeth and hungry enough to fight for their place at the front of the pack
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  11. 8.0 |   The Independent

    It all adds to the impression of a new, idiosyncratic branch sprouting from this oldest of rock'n'roll roots
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  12. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    The Keys sound like their morphing into a bold new beast, but if this slab of wax is any indication they’ll keep putting quality over experimentation every time
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  13. 8.0 |   BBC

    Brimful of air guitar moments and other guilty pleasures, Brothers is pleasingly diverse and diverting, with barely a duff track
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  14. 8.0 |   Eye Weekly

    The Black Keys reinvent themselves once more as a sweaty, Southern soul act
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  15. 8.0 |   The Sunday Times

    There is scarcely an ounce of fat here, further evidence that, six albums in, the pair remain as lean and hungry as ever
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  16. 8.0 |   The Fly

    Six albums in, The Black Keys are going stronger than ever.
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  17. 8.0 |   The Times

    This is vintage Keys — Everlasting Light is the sort of scuzzy rocker that the White Album-era Lennon was so fond of
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  18. 8.0 |   NME

    Authentic? Who cares when it sounds this good? Print edition only

  19. 8.0 |   Uncut

    Brothers is really all about The Black Keys' swaggering journey from sub-White Stripes curio to one of the best rock'n'roll bands on the planet. Print edition only

  20. 8.0 |   Mojo

    The old stomp is still there but Alabama has stoked The Black Keys' dark side. Print edition only

  21. 8.0 |   Q

    Will shiver the spine of anyone in love with unsanitised rock'n'roll. Print edition only

  22. 7.7 |   Pitchfork

    Finds Carney and Auerbach augmenting their sound with some new stylistic tics, suggesting that they might've learned something from working with Danger Mouse
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  23. 7.0 |   The Digital Fix

    This collection gives every indication this invigorating pairing have an eye or four on the long term
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  24. 7.0 |   No Ripcord

    Brothers doesn’t break new ground for the band, but it continues to affirm the band’s soul, further demonstrating the unlimited power of blues music
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  25. 7.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Brothers is their sixth album, and it finds The Black Keys taking on elements of what they’ve learnt on their journey here, but sticking resolutely to a recipe of guitar, drums and raspy, wisened vocals
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  26. 6.5 |   Bowlegs

    The Black Keys have again immersed themselves in the music they live and breathe, and when they make it their own, the future, as well as the past, is always there for the taking
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  27. 6.0 |   State

    Brothers is a good record, just not a great one. It seems a bit top-heavy and with the 15 song collection running at almost an hour, it risks losing the listener at various points throughout
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  28. 6.0 |   Clash

    Auerbach’s bearded bark now has some slickness to go with the soul; touches of synth-sleaze fizz alongside his guitar-work and Patrick Carney’s languid, offbeat rhythms
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  29. 6.0 |   The Guardian

    There's plenty of life here, but interest wavers when howling barroom guitar-note after howling barroom guitar-note wafts to the back of your brain
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  30. 6.0 |   Evening Standard

    The Black Keys are ploughing a blues/rock furrow with single-minded intent. The downside is they are not primarily interested in outstanding individual songs
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The Black Keys: Brothers

  • Download full album for just £7.99
  • 1. Everlasting Light £0.99
  • 2. Next Girl £0.99
  • 3. Tighten Up £0.99
  • 4. Howlin’ For You £0.99
  • 5. She’s Long Gone £0.99
  • 6. Black Mud £0.99
  • 7. The Only One £0.99
  • 8. Too Afraid To Love £0.99
  • 9. Ten Cent Pistol £0.99
  • 10. Sinister Kid £0.99
  • 11. The Go Getter £0.99
  • 12. I’m Not The One £0.99
  • 13. Unknown Brother £0.99
  • 14. Never Gonna Give You Up £0.99
  • 15. These Days £0.99
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