What’s in a name? Or a label? Classification of music reflects how society operates. Understanding is seemingly bequeathed by describing something in relation to something else or grouping apparently similar things together and giving this group a name.
A thoughtful musician might better describe a style of music by saying there’s either good music or bad music. For years, or at least their early years, The Black Keys were commonly described as a “blues” band or a “blues rock” band.
It’s been the role of reviewers and journalists to describe or pigeon-hole The Black Keys’ music for their readers. Considering The Black Keys a blues rock band or a rock and roll band is surely an irrelevant and lazy debate to have. Indeed, hadn’t everyone moved on by now? Who really cares? Well, apparently The Black Keys care.
Two recent events have recently peaked The Black Keys Fan Lounge’s interest.
Firstly, Dan Auerbach recently commented in an interview:
“When I listen to our records, I don’t hear blues music,” he says. “It’s ridiculous to say we play blues music.”
It’s been some time since such a clear expression of how Dan perceives The Black Keys sound has been noted. Irrespective of your views on the merits of music classification, a fan could be excused for wondering what they had indeed been listening to all these years.
Secondly, upon scrolling through The Black Keys Facebook page at the bottom of Wall section it is noted, as at 15 July 2010, that:
This might otherwise seem insignificant if it wasn’t the case that the new Genre is now “Rock and Roll”. Unfortunately it’s not possible to note the exact date of this change. However, The Black Keys Fan Lounge did upload a screen grab of The Black Keys Facebook page on 15 November 2009 for a post which clearly shows the band’s Genre as stating “Blues Rock”.
Clearly The Black Keys, or their Management, have:
- deemed it important enough to re-position the band’s classification on such an important fan platform as Facebook
- the incongruity of recent and past comments about not being a blues band was pointed out in relation to their Facebook Genre
- someone just made an error in the classification of the band’s Facebook page and didn’t get round to changing it for a few years.
- the band’s sound has now evolved so far, especially in relation to Brothers, that Rock and Roll is now certainly the best description
The Black Keys Facebook Genre – 15 July 2010:
The Black Keys Facebook Genre – as at 15 November 2009:
Related posts:
- Review: The Black Keys @ The Pyramid Rock Festival New Years Eve 2008
- The Black Keys Facebook
- The Black Keys and The Black Keys Fan Lounge on Google Plus
- The Black Keys News Twitter
- How To Be A Modern Fan Of The Black Keys
Want to discuss The Black Keys with other fans? Check out The Black Keys Fan Lounge Forum here
pure blues
Usually I agree with Dan but the ridiculous thing to do is to claim they DON’T play blues music. It’s not blues, but it’s got a blues element. And there is a science behind it, it’s not like it’s some random critic produced label (such as indie).
not pure blues*
there definitely is an element of blues within the black keys. i think it can be argued too that rock and roll has so many facets that their version of rock and roll heavily incorporates blues cords and riffs- considering the origin of rock and roll- it’s hard not to. to say that they play strictly blues is to forget about more than half of their music: think 10 am automatic. ruling out blues completely is ridiculous but clasifying it as completely blues is also ridiculous.
I agree with the last point on the post in the sense that their music has “evolved.” Albums like Chulahoma, Magic Potion, Thickfreakness, and The Big Come Up are saturated in blues. Rubber Factory shows a transition point to a higher energy, more rhythmic mixture of rock and blues. Although Magic Potion and Chulahoma were released after to Rubber Factory, they were conceptual albums that progressed the brother’s flow.
Then with the release of Attack and Release their flow grew further. This progressed to Blackroc, which is straight rhythm and blues.
The culmination of years and willingness to experiment comes together on Brothers to produce the Black Keys’ brand. The album ranges so widely in sound that the only thing you can be left saying after listening through it is, “Black Keys.”
The label applied is put their to guide consumers while in reality that label means nothing unless one lets it mean something. I don’t think Auerbach gives a damn either.
I dunno what all the fuss is about. They’re clearly alternative new-wave folk punkers.
I mean all rock is blues based. If you play guitar you know this, the first scale every one learns to solo with is pentatonic. The Keys are absolutely blues inspired. But as to their genre? they are something that is distinctly their own.
Considering The Black Keys a blues rock band or a rock and roll band is surely an irrelevant and lazy debate to have, why did you make a post about it?
@me not bothering to leave a name or a proper email is also pretty irrelevant and lazy. clearly we have something in common and no doubt will be friends. if you read the post you wouldn’t be asking the question.
My dad and I have been having a similar debate. He is a die-hard blues enthusiast, and he claims he does not hear “real blues” in the music of The Black Keys. I beg to differ. One just has to listen to “Howlin For You.” It would be ridiculous to deny the “real” blues influence.