Quickie album review: The Black Keys, “El Camino”

The album probably shoulda been called “Tighten Up,” considering that’s what Danger Mouse helped the Keys do for the songwriting of this record.  Funny thing “Tighten Up,” too: If that was the band’s attempt at a pop song (within a retro-soul record), El Camino, and especially lead single “Lonely Boy,” is their attempt at a pop record. And, of course, since it’s Danger Mouse and it’s on a major label, the hooks aren’t happenstance like…

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New Black Keys: “Lonely Boy”

The blues-rock duo are back (that was a quick turnaround from Brothers, wasn’t it?) with a new single from the upcoming El Camino, which is out December 6.  The album was co-produced by Danger Mouse so expect it to be great. The single is called “Lonely Boy” and features a ridiculous video.  I won’t spoil it.  Just watch it below.  As for the song, well, it continues the band’s attempt to escape the limitations of…

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The Rome Project: Album, or Something More?

                   Paste Magazine’s “Producer of the Decade” is at it again; but, what exactly is he up to this time?          Danger Mouse, the stage name for versatile producer Brian Burton, has aided in bringing us many of our last decade’s favorite albums, from Gnarles Barkley’s St. Elsewhere and The Odd Couple to the Black Keys’ Attack & Release and Brothers.  He has also collaborated with countless other musicians in his producing career…           So, what is it about Rome…

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Beck: ‘Modern Guilt’

Artist name: Beck Album name: Modern Guilt Label: Interscope/XL Recordings Genre: Alternative Rock Release date: July 8, 2008 ZMErating: 9/10 Website: www.beck.com Oh, my! It’s just incredible how Beck Hansen has changed, evolving (or regressing when he’s going old school loco) in sound, as each record gets out. And here he is, at his 10th studio album, Modern Guilt, an album detailing an experience, an album that tackles a lot of Beck’s inner, unresolved issues…

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New Beck Stream: ‘Chemtrails’

Things are more and more shaping up like Beck is gonna release his upcoming Danger Mouse produced album, “Modern Guilt,” in a Raconteresque, out of the blue manner, as the singer/songwriter recently unveiled his first single off the album (or is it the second?), the haunting, psychedelic-like “Chemtrails.” Our colleagues from Rolling Stone, after a short preview, said the album channels British rock of the 1960s and upon our first listen of Chemtrails we could…

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Beck’s new album set for the summer + tour

A while back, Beck said he’s planning a new release for this year, but he refused to give further details, other then he’ll be collaborating with a famous producer. According to a recent press release the alleged famous producer, is non other the Danger Mouse and Beck’s, still untitled upcoming album, will get out much sooner then most of us thought, namely in the summer, maybe even in June. The record will be 10 track…

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