Album: The Black Keys, El Camino (Nonesuch)

Simmy Richman
Sunday 04 December 2011 01:00 GMT
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When you open an album with the words "Well I'm so above you" and close it singing "Don't let it be over", you'd better make sure that everything in between measures up.

No problem there on this, the seventh studio album by the drums and guitar duo of Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach.

Initially treated as a sort of poor man's White Stripes, the Keys have grown into one of the most exciting rock bands of our time: now hitting new pop heights courtesy of producer Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton, while never smoothing over the garage-rock edge that is their calling card.

El Camino explodes with riffs that remind you of Bowie's "Jean Genie", the Eagles' "One of These Nights", Edwyn's "A Girl Like You" and all points glam, grunge and funky-blues-rock along the way. Too late for those album of the year polls?

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