Playing All The Right Keys

Win a R500 Voucher in our monthly 'Spin The Wheel' draw

Read our review (1 min) and answer the simple question at the end

Playing All The Right Keys

Yesteryear's 11 year old boy Jack has been learning piano for a few years now and seems to be getting the hang of it. We're lucky that his teacher lives just up the street and that he loves music just as much as we do.

The other day however, he came home from his weekly lesson a little puzzled.

"Dad, on all the songs I've been learning I only get to play the white keys. So what are the black keys for?"

Yesteryear couldn't resist.

"Well son, the Black Keys are for nothing but solid bluesy rock that makes you tap your feet and nod your head, even if you can't dance too well". Boom, Boom!

And that was a corny cue to drop the needle on Dropout Boogie, the latest album from Ohio duo Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, aka The Black Keys :-)

After 20 years of heavily trading on the blues, the Black Keys make a welcome return to their roots on their 11th studio album, but with enough subtle variations to keep it interesting.

Opening track 'Wild Child' acts like a security blanket reassuring you that there aren't too many radical changes in store. It's a classic rocker with a killer jukebox riff.

From there the Keys tinker with retro-soul on 'It Ain't Over', Delta shuffle on 'For The Love Of Money' and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons lends his signature dirty guitar to standout track 'Good Love'.

'Burn The Damn Thing Down' sounds like a JJ Cale track with the amp turned up to 11. 'Happiness' is a slow-burn blues that fairly smokes.

Whilst they are not going out on a limb here, fans will not be disappointed and for newbies, Dropout Boogie is not a bad place to start.

But be sure to work your way back to the first decade of their career - Rubber Factory and El Camino spring to mind. And then give their wonderful blues covers album from 2021 a try. Delta Kream pays tribute to their traditional influences in fine style.

For your chance to win a R500 voucher on Yesteryear, tell us what your favourite Black Keys album is?