3.5 STARS
Akron, Ohio, must be a really miserable place, or else Dan Auerbach would have never learned to play the blues with such conviction and sincerity. Although The Black Keys' frontman doesn't stray far from his safety zone in the world of blues rock, he finally scraps the minimalism and explores the potential of a full arrangement on the first LP under his own name, Keep It Hid.
If Dan Auerbach was ever a boy scout, he probably wore buttons instead of badges. He flaunts his influences on his sleeve and his noticeable fondness of roots-rock, blues and soul is unapologetic, almost to the point of being overbearing.
It's as though Auerbach thinks he's the first person to discover legendary blues guitarist - and clear influence - Junior Kimbrough. We get it, you like the old stuff.
In fact, to say Dan Auerbach likes "old stuff" is an understatement; if anything he loves it. "Most of the equipment is analog. I've got tape machines that I use, and my console is custom-made, 1950s tube style," he says in a Q and A-style bio on Nonesuch's Web site.
This shouldn't be a concern for audiophiles, as the sound quality is great despite the primitive equipment. Nonetheless, this is a testament to the level of commitment Auerbach has for his music's authenticity.
While Keep It Hid's attention to detail might come off as overzealous, it's clear that Auerbach is a meticulous singer-songwriter striving to achieve the traditional rock 'n' roll aesthetic; he's like the ghost of Jeff Buckley swimming in ZZ Top songs, but with confidence and without drowning.
Though Keep It Hid is held together with expert musical craftsmanship, some of the material comes off as being too safe.
Rather than sticking to the psychedelic experimentation which works so well on "I Want Some More" or the haunting atmosphere of "Whispered Words," Auerbach digresses into "The Prowl" and "When I Left the Room," which sound like material that could have been Black Keys B-sides. That's not to say it's bad, but he's clearly capable of so much more.
For the most part, the artist's guitar work mirrors the ubiquitous distorted growl of electric blues rock, but somber acoustics appear every so often to give the album a good balance of both aggressive and reflective songwriting. However, it's Auerbach's diverse singing that really shines throughout Keep It Hid.
Whether it's the tired despair of the album opener, "Trouble Weighs a Ton," or rich, wailed hooks on "Mean Monsoon," Auerbach's vocal talents are as diverse as his ambitions.
The artist rides this talent like a megalomaniac, using a Nine Inch Nails-esque approach to making the album. He plays most of the instruments himself and only uses a handful of friends to fill in on certain songs.
On "Street Walkin'," Auerbach brings on his uncle, James Quine, to lay down an electric guitar track which sounds strikingly like Led Zeppelin's roaring "Four Sticks" (from 1971's IV). Other guests include Ohio natives, and relative unknowns, Jessica Lea Mayfield and Bob Caesar.
Even though Auerbach's inspirations are obvious, he still manages to find effective ways to add a personal touch to his music. Most tracks fit somewhere between four to five minutes in length, a little over the traditional blues three minute formula.
On top of that, Auerbach's sense of experimentation allows him to cover more ground than some other blues guitarists, especially Robert Johnson, a notable influence of Auerbach.
This is most evident in the simple, acoustic closer "Goin' Home." Though it mimics Johnson's modest chord progressions, Auerbach draws it out, giving listeners something to reflect on before saying goodbye.
It's hard to imagine where Auerbach even found the time to write this album, considering that The Black Keys are in a perpetual state of touring and writing. But Auerbach is a self-proclaimed workaholic, and it truly pays off.
The album may not be a masterpiece but its flushed-out sound is solid and will find plenty of listeners, particularly old fans of The Black Keys who have grown tired of the band's strict drums-and-guitar arrangements.
Now that you've read about it, listen to it. Visit loyolaphoenix.com for a stream of "Street Walkin'."
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