The Black Keys' "El Camino" "By Some Distance the Most Powerful, Compelling Rock Album of the Year," Raves The Independent

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The Black Keys' new album, El Camino, is out in just one week, and the record has already begun to receive rave reviews. The Independent gives the album a perfect five stars, calling it a "tremendous, hook-laden, all-killer-no-filler collection, by some distance the most powerful, compelling rock album of the year." MOJO also gives the album a perfect five stars, making it an "instant MOJO classic," and names it album of the month. "Magnificent," exclaims Q in its five-star review. "This is unvarnished rock, primal and exhilarating."

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The Black Keys' new album, El Camino, is just one week away from its Nonesuch release, on December 6, and the record has already begun to receive rave reviews. In the UK, the Independent gives the album a perfect five stars. Following the success of their last album, Brothers, comes their latest, a "tremendous, hook-laden, all-killer-no-filler collection," raves the Independent's Andy Gill, "by some distance the most powerful, compelling rock album of the year."

Gill weighs in on the songs that make up that album, from its opener, "Lonely Boy," which is included as an instant download with pre-orders of the album in the Nonesuch Store, the Black Keys store, and on iTunes.

"There's an urgency and drive about these tracks that's simply exhilarating, right from the weirdly engaging de-tuned guitar figure that heralds the irresistible 'Lonely Boy,'" writes Gill. "If you can stop yourself putting 'Lonely Boy' on repeat, the glories pile up ever higher, with a pronounced 1970s flavour permeating many tracks."

Read the complete five-star review at independent.co.uk.

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MOJO magazine gives the album a perfect five stars as well, making it an "instant MOJO classic," and names it the album of the month. "Utterly enjoyable," El Camino is an album that "induces a grin of pleasure over and over again," writes reviewer Victoria Segal. "El Camino is beautifully put together ... touching upon great modern pop music but never losing its grimy old-school identity." Read the five-star review in the January issue of MOJO, where you'll also find a Q&A with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.

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El Camino also receives a perfect five stars from Q magazine. "Magnificent," exclaims Q reviewer Tom Doyle. "This is unvarnished rock, primal and exhilarating, songs groaning with their abundance of great hooks, suggesting El Camino may well prove to be the pair’s definitive record." The magazine has also named the album track "Sister" No. 1 on the Q50 Essential Tracks list. To read more, pick up a copy of the January issue of Q, on newsstands now.

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Back in the States, SPIN magazine rates El Camino an eight out of ten. "I enjoy this album very much," writes reviewer David Marchese. "The overall effect is something akin to ZZ Top with glitter in their beards. Which is to say: great." Read that review in the latest issue of SPIN and online at spin.com.

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To pre-order El Camino, head to the Nonesuch Store now.

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The Black Keys: "El Camino" [cover]
  • Monday, November 28, 2011
    The Black Keys' "El Camino" "By Some Distance the Most Powerful, Compelling Rock Album of the Year," Raves The Independent

    The Black Keys' new album, El Camino, is just one week away from its Nonesuch release, on December 6, and the record has already begun to receive rave reviews. In the UK, the Independent gives the album a perfect five stars. Following the success of their last album, Brothers, comes their latest, a "tremendous, hook-laden, all-killer-no-filler collection," raves the Independent's Andy Gill, "by some distance the most powerful, compelling rock album of the year."

    Gill weighs in on the songs that make up that album, from its opener, "Lonely Boy," which is included as an instant download with pre-orders of the album in the Nonesuch Store, the Black Keys store, and on iTunes.

    "There's an urgency and drive about these tracks that's simply exhilarating, right from the weirdly engaging de-tuned guitar figure that heralds the irresistible 'Lonely Boy,'" writes Gill. "If you can stop yourself putting 'Lonely Boy' on repeat, the glories pile up ever higher, with a pronounced 1970s flavour permeating many tracks."

    Read the complete five-star review at independent.co.uk.

    ---

    MOJO magazine gives the album a perfect five stars as well, making it an "instant MOJO classic," and names it the album of the month. "Utterly enjoyable," El Camino is an album that "induces a grin of pleasure over and over again," writes reviewer Victoria Segal. "El Camino is beautifully put together ... touching upon great modern pop music but never losing its grimy old-school identity." Read the five-star review in the January issue of MOJO, where you'll also find a Q&A with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.

    ---

    El Camino also receives a perfect five stars from Q magazine. "Magnificent," exclaims Q reviewer Tom Doyle. "This is unvarnished rock, primal and exhilarating, songs groaning with their abundance of great hooks, suggesting El Camino may well prove to be the pair’s definitive record." The magazine has also named the album track "Sister" No. 1 on the Q50 Essential Tracks list. To read more, pick up a copy of the January issue of Q, on newsstands now.

    ----

    Back in the States, SPIN magazine rates El Camino an eight out of ten. "I enjoy this album very much," writes reviewer David Marchese. "The overall effect is something akin to ZZ Top with glitter in their beards. Which is to say: great." Read that review in the latest issue of SPIN and online at spin.com.

    ---

    To pre-order El Camino, head to the Nonesuch Store now.

    Journal Articles:Artist NewsReviews

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