Attack and Release

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Editorial reviews

Album Description
Limited Edition pressing of their 2008 album comes in double fold digipak packaging. On Attack and Release, Danger Mouse is more creative co- conspirator than traditional figure behind the boards. He doesn’t radically alter the duo ’s sound so much as coax out more of its inherent soulfulness, groove and bittersweet emotion. Two versions of 'Remember When' illustrate how the duo can swing easily from smoldering ballad to thrashing rocker. 'I’ m more pleased with the sound of this record than any one we’v e ever made,' says Carney, and Auerbach concurs: 'We never let it all go l ike we did for this one, anything was game. It was just fun to make, and that’s why I t hink it’s so successful.' V2.

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Amazon.co.uk
Of all the two-piece rock bands (Dresden Dolls, The White Stripes, The Kills, John & Jehn) out there making a royal racket, The Black Keys are by far the least affected by the last three decades of popular music, and evolution. Even more so than Jack & Meg. Which makes you check the album credits twice and then seek a second opinion--produced by celebrated uber-producer, superstar DJ and one half of Gnarls Barkley, the ubiquitous and really quite modern Danger Mouse?! No, your eyes do not deceive you, but thankfully neither do your ears. He may have brought a discipline and expensive sheen to Attack & Release, the riffing is buffed up real good, but this is essentially the same band that continues to live less of a life and more a Jimi Hendrix Experience. If there is a change it's that for the first time their foot is teased off the accelerator, with "Lies", "Remember When (Side A)" and "Oceans & Streams" loosening their shoulders and playing a more chilled brand of dusty sunset southern blues, adding in keys and new layers of texture (is that really a flute on "Same Old Thing"?!). There's still plenty of chance, on the massive Zeppelin-esque "Strange Times" and "Remember When (Side B)" for instance, to leave a boot mark though. More release than attack this time around, but the key still fits. --James Berry

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-08-16 rating:
An Excellent Progression
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.

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review by: date: 2008-08-13 rating:
Worth your Cash
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"

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review by: www.klap4music.com date: 2008-08-10 rating:
The Black Keys - Attack and Release 8/10
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.

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review by: date: 2008-08-07 rating:
THE album of 2008
I've been a fan of the Black Keys for quite a while now, and I've gotta say: this new album is the best thing I've heard in a long time. The Black Keys for me have always held a certain tone and quality that always seems familiar in the back of my mind, and this is just the next step forward. Some of the lyrics get a little repetitious but its easy to look over that fact with the quality of music these two dudes make. Please give it a try- you'll thank yourself.


review by: date: 2008-07-09 rating:
Don't buy the vinyl version !!
I just did a mistake by buying the vinyl version of this great album. I collect vinyl, so I was very glade to have it. But it's a sonically shame !!! It's a mystery why the CD version sounds good and the vinyl SO BAD. Somebody has done something wrong on the way of producing the vinyl.

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