The Black Keys: Attack & Release

Label: Nonesuch

After seven years and four albums of basement-recorded trashcan blues rock, Akron Ohio’s favorite sons The Black Keys return with Attack & Release. The big deal being made about the new record is the seemingly unlikely pairing of the Black Keys’ rough and tumble swamp soul with production from hip-hop guru and Adult Swim enthusiast Danger Mouse. This type of mash-up teaming could come off as a publicity stunt with little substance behind it, but no, the result is the Keys’ best sounding and most perfectly formed work to date. Rather than sacrificing any of the soul power of previous recordings for slicky polished work, Danger Mouse actually pushes duo deeper into the red in new ways. The crackling apart drums of “Strange Times,” the banjo testimonial of “Psychotic Girl” and inventive vocal production all are all evidence of a band growing and mutating without losing sight of the firey rock and roll that made them great to begin with.