The Black Keys Fan Lounge Forum

epic jam. probably deserves its own thread, no?

I wish the lyrics were "Oh Glory be, the voices calling me..." instead of "Oh can it be". I think "Glory" adds significantly to the epic-ness.

Thoughts or opinions on LBS?

OK, don't go nuts on me for this but here is my opinion:

The song in itself is great. I love it. However, since it has been compared way too much to the Zep masterpiece, The song lets me down a little in two places.

The first is the build up; it does a great job at first but then (when it gets electrified) it comes out too abruptly for me. Almost as if they made two versions of the same song, almost...(kind of like remember when A and B).

The second is the solo. Dan's great at guitar (far better than me) but in the end, when you're in the same key/chord progression/vibe as Zep AND you're doing a song that is heavily influenced by one of theirs then....well, it just sounds like a mediocre version of it.

In the end I really love the song for what it is and not what it sounds like. Truth be told, I'll probably listen to this much more than I listen to Stairway because it's short and it rocks. Stairway is a masterpiece that you can't cut off. I won't listen to it unless I have the time. Same with Since I've been loving you...

Rufus I totally agree - it doesn't quite live up to the hype. But it's still very good. Not anywhere near Stairway to Heaven though. Which, by the way, I love and respect to death but if I never heard Stairway again in my whole life, it would be alright. It's been played to death.

As far as the buildup... I really like how the very last part of the acoustic side slows down, like, "a bro- ken heart- is bliiiiiinnd..." - nice touch. Just a subtle thing but it goes a long way.

Also, to whomever said that this sounds more like Tom Petty than Zeppelin... I disagree. I think you've just noticed the "Mary Jane's Last Dance" chord progression. Other than the fact that it's kind of the same chord progression, it sounds nothing like Tom Petty.

@Rufus, they did two versions of LBS one acustic and one electric, later on they decided to mix the two together. The electric part was actually the first take they ever did of that song. Here's what Pat has to say about it: "Little Black Submarines began as a demo that Brian and Dan made,but we completely changed the song around. We cut it four or five different ways, then we cut a really stripped-down version with acoustic guitar. We had a louder version, too, but it wasn’t completely working, so we decided to combine the two by going into the studio and punching in a new ending. That whole ending is the first take we played, just figuring out what we’re doing and riffing on that idea. That’s why that part of the album feels the loosest. It’s how Dan and I play. It’s live in the studio, just guitar and drums, with the instruments bleeding into reach other.” For me it does sound like Mary Janes Last Dance but with more guitar parts, still an awesome song.

It's definitely the best on the album, in my opinion. I can see no wrong in its resemblance to "Stairway to Heaven", anyway, the whole album sounds like 60-70s rock to me. And I never thought of "Last Dance of Mary Jane" before someone here mentioned it. Now I have to admit that I do. And the solo reminds me a little of it.

I was just expressing my opinion, Mirby. You are welcome to start another topic about the song you like most. That would be interesting, too.

Smoke and a pancake?

I haven't decided which I think is the "best" on the album yet but songs I think are better than LBS (even though I do like LBS a lot)...

Sister
Run Right Back
Gold on the Ceiling
Nova Baby