What can I say about Dan Auerbach that isn’t already documented in the restraining order? After putting out one of the best albums of 2008 with Black Keys’ Danger Mouse-produced Attack and Release, Dan decided against taking a break and opted to put out a stellar solo album called Keep It Hid.
While Danger Mouse helped out on the Keys’ last album, Dan is a do-it-yourselfer by heart. He recorded two years of material that became Keep It Hid in his home studio in Akron, OH with mostly analog equipment. Although Auerbach played drums and percussion, sang harmonies, and even played glockenspiel, he also enlisted the help of some family and friends. His dad wrote “Whispered Words,” his uncle, James Quine (the guy that taught him to sing and play guitar), plays guitar and sings on “Trouble Weighs a Ton” while Jessica Lea Mayfield lends her vocals on “When The Night Comes.”
If you’re a fan of The Black Keys, you’ll be more than satisfied with Keep It Hid. Along with Dan’s signature guitar riffs and big vocals are frayed edges and impurities that give the album character. It carries softer, more fragile elements like on “Trouble Weighs a Ton,” “When The Night Comes” and the album’s closer “Goin’ Home.” These down-tempo tracks are a bit unexpected, but it’s a refreshing change of pace from Auerbach – especially the album’s opener “Trouble Weighs A Ton.” As you’ll hear in the video below, the tone of his voice and the melancholy lyrics take centerstage. I’m now wondering what a solo acoustic show might be like…
But you didn’t come here for the softer side of the Keys, did ya? “Heartbroken, In Disrepair,” “Mean Monsoon,” “The Prowl” and “My Last Mistake” bring the signature blues-rock sound you’d expect from a Black Keys side project. Keep It Hid is out today and it’s one of the best albums of 2009 so far.
Side note: The Black Keys deserved to be on stage at the Grammys. They’re just too damn good. Not as good as a Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus duet, but a close second.
Live Video: Dan Auerbach – Trouble Weighs a Ton
Here are Dan Auerbach’s solo tour dates:
Feb 28 – 9:30 Club – Washington DC, Washington DC
Mar 1 – Paradise Club – Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 2 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, New York
Mar 3 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, New York
Mar 5 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 6 – Metro – Chicago, Illinois
Mar 7 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 10 – The Showbox – Seattle, Washington
Mar 11 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, Oregon
Mar 13 – Bimbo’s – San Francisco, California
Mar 14 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, California
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
hey where can I get a copy?…I know probably their website, but anywhere retail wise maybe?…
SWEET. Thanks for the heads up. From the gems I’ve heard already, can’t wait to get this. What a great gathering of folks.
By the way, thanks for opening your review with a laugh out loud, and ending with a chortle!
Twain, I saw it on iTunes and I’m sure it’s on Amazon as well.
Vanessa, thanks for saying chortle.
i saw the boys in Ballymore last week.
Sadly, Dan’s beard clearly had been trimmed recently. i think it may have affected Pat’s drumming, but i could be imagining that.
Image of a beard posted. Cue oddbodkins. And cut.
Also just got word that Dan will be performing on Conan this Friday, backed by Hacienda.
This is a great disc. Shows us some new tricks. God help Oz and I if Dan Auerbach ever collaborates with Will Sheff. There will be a Dateline special on two very weird bloggers.
i’ve listened to this thing about three times straight in a row.
Wow.
Gets a bit better each time. Took me awhile to get to the last few tracks (because I was stuck on the first half of the album) but My Last Mistake, Street Walkin and Goin’ Home are great.
i feel like i’m cheating on pat c. by liking this. please tell me that’s ok.
WHOAAAA
just checked sxsw’s lineup, which is new as of 2/10, and saw THIS:
Dan Auerbach (Akron OH)
Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift’s duet at the Grammys ended up sounding better than i would have expected
thanks Oz.
Vanessa – I saw that too. He’s performing at Bimbo’s in San Fran before SXSW, so I think we’re carpooling to Austin. He doesn’t know it yet, but we are…one way or the other.
We’ll sing 99 bottles of beer on the wall all the way from CA to TX.
I bet during the car ride would be a great time for you to crack open your scrapbook composed only of clippings related to him… and you (superimposed or not) of course ; )
PAH ha ha
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