Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Listen! Listen...etc.!!! : Just Deux It.-Pt. 3

Just Deux It.-This week's examination of musical pairings that may have slipped beneath your radar.




The Black Keys: The Big Come Up


It must have been kind of difficult for the guys in The Black Keys when The White Stripes became popular. On paper, one could run down the checklist and call them a rip-off. Look at the stats: Two people in the band, check. Midwesterners, check. Garage-y blues influenced sound, check. Name which uses the complete lack of color and its inverse, check. One could see how frustrating this situation might have been for Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, and perhaps enough to make them hang up the fuzz pedal and turn out the lights in the garage, but instead they continue to put out some of the best Amps-to-Eleven, balls to the wall, juke joint shaking blues you've most likely never heard.

Hailing from the small town of Akron, Ohio, this pair plays it raw and raucous, emulating the shack shaking Southern bluesmen whom they seem to idolize. Men like T-Model Ford and R. L. Burnside, whose Fat Possum record label has exported to the rest of the world the slinky electric style that has been setting dancefloors aflame all over the great state of Mississippi for decades. The most notable attribute that Auerbach seems to have nailed after studying his more "authentic" counterparts, is his deep gravelly bark. He is able to command, cajole and seduce, and to go from weary growl to exuberant howl in a matter of breaths. The grit in his vocal style is well met by the extra-crunchy fuzz and wah effects he chokes from his guitar that chug, quake and sometimes stomp across each of the songs. For his part Carney is an excellent match. The beats are loose, without being inconsistent or buck wild, which some bands with stripped down sounds try to excuse away as being "authentic". The pair seem to fare best with songs that have a more defined structure, such as the near perfect "The Breaks", which balances the wounded animal wail of Auerbach's guitar during the verse with the head snapping throwdown between he and Carney during the chorus. While they sometimes bring a definite bit of rock to the proceedings, their take on the blues definitely bows more deeply to the old school.

After listening to The Big Come Up, it's damn clear these guys are no White Stripes. They don't have a dynamic twist on blues sounds like them, they certainly don't look like them, and it's almost a sure thing they'll never be as popular as them.

But they're cool with that.

And so am I.

Key Tracks: Busted, Countdown, The Breaks, Heavy Soul

137 comments:

urnotme said...

Sweet! I actually know and like this band. I think one day I was searching Amazon for bands like the White Stripes and they were one of the bands recomended. I have about 8 tracks from 3 different albums. I like them.
Great review!

urnotme said...

I'm off to work. Everyone have a beautiful day!

oh and someone needs to take care of that power...

out

Anonymous said...

urnotme: Hopefully your taste in music is better than your taste in movies. I'll hafta check them out. (How's that for not lurking btch?!)

Kern said...

Anonymous: Were you on around 7 PM Central time last night?

Anonymous said...

Yep, that was me. And the only reason I'm anonymous right now is because I can't think of a good username like urnotme or I'm so damn fine.

Kern said...

Do you know those guys or did you just stumble across the board perchance?

Anonymous said...

Oh, I know 'em alright. I know urnotme is a smart ass and damifino is obviously stuck on himself considering all of the self portraits he always posts on here. lol

Kern said...

Do I know you, perhaps?

Anonymous said...

No. I work with urnotme.

Kern said...

Ah. Where's that if you don't mind my asking?

Anonymous said...

Wells Fargo

krysta jo said...

I need new friends.

Good morning

Kern said...

Hi KJ. What's wrong? Am I a new enough friend?

krysta jo said...

You are...I thoroughly enjoy my self-portrait taking, gutter slumming, music reviewing friends of the damfino blog. However, some of my real, in person friends need some help. They appear to forget that I work between the hours of 8-5 (or later) and demand that I help them with things they are uncapable of doing.

Aghhh sorry .... done expounding at the moment.

What's up Alex? Are you excited about Friday and your big trip to IOWA???

Kern said...

KJ-I am sooooo excited I can barely contain myself! I talked to my friend Emily today, and there might be two more persons from our theatre days who might be coming on Friday! That could bring the potential total up to 18!

They like me, they really like me.

That or people like congregating with alcoholic beverages, I'm not sure exactly.

But I'm going to go with the desire for my suave company.

krysta jo said...

I definitely believe it is your company. For sure!!!

Kern said...

Thanks. Where's the Jed this morning?

Damfino said...

HELLO WORLD!

I see some anonymous person has been dissing my self-portrait images.

Well - they are right. I am totally in love with myself... just ask Kern - he knows. (And frankly, KJ is well in tune with my love of myself... she loathes me)

I have never heard of the band but the write up makes it sound awesome!! Stevens will have to submit a disc.

Found Hunky Dory at the Library last night... life is good (on mars).

Kern said...

Ah. That was one of the ones I was going to burn for you. Still need it burned or,no? I have about twenty discs for burning stuff. Perhaps you and Urnotme can work out a plan to burn copies so I don't have to duplicate?

Damfino said...

Boo-ya. I will burn it here.

Dan and I can make copies - no duplicates needed.

Got some Lou Reed yesterday - Ecstasy? OK.

And some Ramones.. wish I had a greatest hits.

Kern said...

Lou Reed's Transformer is amazing. I think I have it, or at least the bulk of it.

Anonymous said...

Damfino: Dissing? Boo yah? What is that? (Posers!)

Damfino said...

We hipsters call it lingo.

Poser is such an ugly term... but if you must.

Kern, seems that Matt will be picking you up... hang out a while and meet you at my house.

Kern said...

So he's got the itenerary then? That's cool. I need to purchase some comics anyhow. What's the score with dinner? Urnotme was saying he and Holly might like to come to dinner with us.

Anonymous said...

Well, if you were hip you would realize dissing has been replaced with clowning and boo ya is now Aw yeah. I can't blame you though, it's probably because of your age.

Kern said...

Yes, Jed. Please do try more to sound like a mall dwelling 15 year old girl. See, then you would be hip.

Damfino said...

Aging hipster - I have a really neat t-shirt that has that printed on it.


He left before he took it - it will be organized.

Dinner - not sure.

Kern said...

Yeah, I'm sure we'll figure it out. Where did Miss KJ go?

krysta jo said...

Back...I was smoozing up some important people. Don't worry - they all loved me and the world will continue on.

Kern said...

Sweet. I'm so ready to get on that plane right now...

krysta jo said...

I bet you are. I am in desperate need of a vacation so I am slightly jealous of you. I am hoping to find some free time in New Orleans.

Kern said...

What else are you doing down there? It's not a vacation?

Damfino said...

hey Krysta - r u gunna see kern on Friday?

krysta jo said...

Hey Jed - depends on when I get out of work on Friday and how I am feeling towards leaving on Saturday. It's at your place right? Time?

I have to work while I am in NO. I get in late on Sat night and have to work on Sunday/Monday and leave out around noon on Tuesday.

Kern said...

God, what a bummer. I do hope you can meet us for a little bit. If not, I'll leave your Neko Case CD's with Jed.

krysta jo said...

I'll try to swing down there...I really will. It is at Jed's right??? And is there a go-time?

Kern said...

I think it's 9ish. I hope that isn't too late...

krysta jo said...

I don't fly out until 2 the next afternoon, so I may swing by around then and hang out for a few hours.

Damfino said...

Hold on kitty kat - you leave next day? You MUST come get ripped.

We need some boots and cutoffs (leave the wife beater at home!)

krysta jo said...

I might could pull out the boots and cutoffs if I know that I won't be the only trashily dressed person there.

I won't be getting ripped - I'll need to hit up Ames at the end of the night but I will come partake in the festivities for a while.

Kern said...

Yes! Jed, I hope your abode is relatively sizable. Do you know if Deit Heimley is coming or not?

Heard from Em McSorley today. There might be two other theatre persons showing up. And I'm trying to track down a mystery Sierra employee...

Damfino said...

my place is a big dump.

ask KJ.

I need to call Bob tonight...get him in gear.

Hopefully everyone is bringing stuff... I am poor!

Damfino said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Damfino said...

OMG - I just posted twice

krysta jo said...

JED - that is it. You are going to get banned from your own blog if you aren't careful about double-posting.

His place is not a big dump. He just thinks it is, but that is Jed-paranoia coming through. However, don't hold the hand rail while climbing the stairs. It could get scary.

Damfino said...

KRYSTA JO!!!!!!!!

DO NOT RUIN OUR HOUSEWARMING MOMENT!!!!!!

HOW DARE YOU LET THAT LITTLE NUGGET OUT!!

(at least she left out the satanistic midgets) SHUTUP INNER VOICE!

krysta jo said...

JED --- STOP YELLING AT ME.

EVIL...evil evil...I cannot keep a secret. You should know that by now.

krysta jo said...

Besides...I didn't tell him that it was the handrail that goes up to the bathroom and the bedrooms and not the one that goes to the fireplace/tv room.

OOPS...DID I JUST SAY THAT?

Kern said...

Sweet. I'll have to keep that in mind. But I think I'll have a difficult time remembering it while I'm doing my Foster Brooks impression. Hic!

krysta jo said...

At least I warned you!! :)

urnotme said...

Hey Ya'll.

Anon- that is quite the attitude you are displaying. Or maybe I'm reading it wrong as I did yesterdat with the queen. Either way it's some funny shit. Isn't it always grand when Jed get's ripped on? Damn I'm Fine. Perfect.

But I do have to say It's a little weak of Kern to call you mall dwelling 15 year old girl.

That's okay though sometimes I feel you act that way too. Awh yeah. How's that clown'n Beoch?

Kern said...

Urnotme: Friend of yours? If so, my apologies. I wasn't sure if it was lighthearted fun or something else.

urnotme said...

Oh seriously man it's all good. All in fun. But yeah she is a friend of mine- Jed knows her, too.
She is the lurker. I think that should be her handle or username from here on out.
I have like 10 minutes left.
Where's the funny?

urnotme said...

After 301 days-

HOCKEY IS BACK!!!!

wait...hockey was gone?

so what.

It should have stayed gone.

Anonymous said...

If Jed doesn't realize how much of a smart ass I am by now then his bad. And yes, most of what come out of my mouth (or keyboard) is sarcasm.

urnotme said...

So, I show up and everybody jumps the eff off their computer? What kind of crap is that?

I guess I'll just continue to comment to myself.

I'm pretty self sufficient if you ask me.

urnotme said...

Come out of your mouth?

That's a new one.

You do realize that Alex Kern is a different person from Damfino, right?

wait a second! Maybe they are one in the same. That would explain a lot.

krysta jo said...

URNOTME - that does explain a lot. Thanks!!!

In regards to hockey...
so true...so true.

urnotme said...

Krysta Jo- You are very welcome. I feel so much better now that the truth is out there.

Where has Eddie Lampert been?

krysta jo said...

I think we scared him away with Jed's talk of his you know what.

My co-worker just walked by my office and whispered to me that she is going to the restroom. I do not believe I needed to know that. But now you all know too.

urnotme said...

I think she told you because I needed to know ya know.

I'm out.

Back to the Fargo I go.

urnotme said...

I almost forgot: Fight the power.

Kern said...

Ah, my apologies to Anonymous.

Urnotme: You might not want to say that about hockey in front of Matt Johnson on Friday...

krysta jo said...

Hockey..smockey....who needs it? I sure don't - it's played on ice and ice is cold and being cold sucks just like winter in Iowa sucks. Therefore, hockey sucks.

Kern said...

Right. And let me squash the rumor that Damfino and I are the same person. Next week sometime when pictures of our amoral activities are on the blog, it will be easy to see that Jed and I are not the same guy.

urnotme said...

Hockey is weak no matter who I am talking to.

krysta jo said...

Thanks for clearing that up Alex.

AMEN urnotme

Kern said...

I am personally ambivalent towards hockey, and basically any sport that doesn't involve a motor.

krysta jo said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE baseball and football and NASCAR.

Kern said...

Hmm...yeah, NASCAR is one of the only forms of racing I don't like.

Kern said...

I'm more of an IRL and Champ Car man, myself. Not so big on F1, especially after the nonsense those wankers pulled at Indy a few weeks back.

Open Wheel Racing rules!

Kern said...

Looking forward to it, Deit.

krysta jo said...

I'm here too thanks to the devil man.

Kern said...

Hmm...the Janitor has you locked in your office or something?

krysta jo said...

no ... got a last minute project at 4 p.m. tonight that has to be done tonight/tomorrow because I'm leaving.

urnotme said...

KJ you should have joined the FFL I started then!

Only motor sports? I've never heard of such a thing. Boxing? Soccer? No football!?

We don't hate you deit. At least not that much. Just joking!

krysta jo said...

Can I still join???

urnotme said...

sure kj!
send me your email address
stevensdh@msn.com

krysta jo said...

Done....thanks!

urnotme said...

cool

out

Kern said...

Well, I may have been hasty. I enjoy a good boxing match, soccer is sometimes cool to watch, as is rugby and cricket. I had fun watching March Madness this year, I suppose. So, I guess I just like sports that aren't very orthodox.

urnotme said...

Holy crap. That sounds hilarious, yet harrowing! I wish I could have been there-lol. Sounds like a beer is well deserved.

Work sucks.

The end.

Kern said...

That was a great story, Urnotme! [Clap, clap]

Say, I was going to run a list of music by you to see what to bring. Jed said that you guys can just burn copies of what I bring so I don't have to make dupes of everything.

urnotme said...

Hey Kern what's up?

That would be awesome. What did you have in mind?

Oh and the Queen wants to see a review of Britney Spears. Seriously. I guess she went to one of her concerts. I think O-town or someother crap "band" .. strike that.. crap group opened for her.

Ugh. I feel dirty.

Kern said...

Are you puttin' me on, my man?

Kern said...

Well here's the list I have:

The Arcade Fire
The Kinks
Black Mountain
Death From Above 1979
Desparecidos(Bright Eyes other more punk band)
Dungen
Evens
Fiery Furnaces
Go Team
Neko Case
The Wrens
Television

Kern said...

Oh, and I told Jed I would burn some of my foreign soundtracks.

urnotme said...

Puttin' you on? Not at all. I'm dead serious dude. I think it would be kind of cool, too. If you could listen to some of her albums and review would be absolutely riveting! No joke at all.

How about Ryan Adams. I can't get 4 of the songs from Heartbreaker.

Other than that it seems like a pretty good list. The black keys would be nice. I only have 8-9 songs of theirs.

Foreing Soundtracks?

urnotme said...

Hey Queen,
Are you drunk?

I'm just now telling the kern about ur masterplan with britney.

urnotme said...

WHAT!?

You were not.

I think it's a good idea.

Where'd you go tonight?

urnotme said...

sarah you're killing me!



I have to admit something.

I too went to New Kids on the Block. I went with my mom, dad and cousin. Ugh. I can't rightfully make fun of you w/o first admitting that. My concert was at the Iowa State Trash Festival Known as the Fair.

urnotme said...

No I do not love him. Weak. Seriously.

Cool Cool

where the hell did kern go?

urnotme said...

Yup. And let me tell ya after that I was a chic magnet.

I mean it.

urnotme said...

Oh and Tiffany opened. She was so hot. I wonder what ever happened to her?

urnotme said...

nothing really

i was just talking to jones about doing the ffl and he sent me some political humor stuff making fun of republicans.

Tim and I are on the complete opposite ends of viewpoints or wheterver the hell i'm trying to say

urnotme said...

Dude I cant believe you just said that.

I think you should explain.

urnotme said...

uh no letterman why?

how fun what?

Kern said...

yes i'm back

Kern said...

Sorry, got distracted for a moment. Shiny objects, and such. Yes, Urnotme, I can bring the remaining Ryan tracks. By the way, I also have his new one which I can burn for you guys. It's called Cold Roses.

Kern said...

Are you guys still there?

urnotme said...

Holy crap.
You return right when my man charms are brought out into public light.

Kern said...

I'm currently at home, which reminds me, I need to work on the review for tomorrow. I'm not sure which band to do though...

Kern said...

Man charms? Is that a nice way of talking about yr junk?

urnotme said...

Sweet sounds good Kern!

What kind of shiny things are you referring to?

Yeah I'm working 9-9 tomrw..7-4 on fri and 7-10 on sat...11 hours of OT and now it's got to be all FE dialer

Kern said...

Dino...yeah, I vaguely remember that name. I can't for the life of me remember what he sang though...

Kern said...

I was just joking about the shiny things. So you work for Wells Fargo? I have a high school friend that works for them now.

urnotme said...

Ugh no kern you filthy bastard (by the way that's the name of my ffl team) the man charms are little 1-2 inch plastic body builders that were from the queen...

Who's Dino?

urnotme said...

lol queen--nice way to put that...

kern you should review britney for tomorrow

Ya know body before pregnancy or during..pro's and cons of each

I know you were joking dude

Kern said...

HA HA HA...man, sorry. I just went with what it sounded like.

urnotme said...

Ok the truth?

I'm going with britney's body before the pregnancy.

Your turns

Kern said...

Right. I think I know what I am going to review. It's an older disc, but one of my favorites. Lots of listening pleasure over the last few years.

By the way, Jed is not sure what the score with dinner is yet. And Matt Johnson's picking me up at the airport.

Kern said...

To be honest, Britney disgusts me either way, pregnant or not. Blah. Give me Lauren Graham from the Gilmore Girls anyday. Now that's a woman!

urnotme said...

Cool Cool

but I still think britney hasn't been explored enough

Sounds like a plan. Have you been to Matt's shop?

urnotme said...

Oh kern come on! Yeah Graham is fine as fuck but seriously.

Hey how did u use italics?


Yawn??? So sorry to bore

Dude find me the move and I'm on it! I'll check with video wharehouse

Kern said...

Yes, I went last year. It's pretty sweet. I liked it a lot. I think we're going to go by there so I can buy the last three weeks worth of comics.

Kern said...

Urnotme: It's the magic of HTML tags! See above where they have the i in those brackets? Well, do the i in brackets like that before the word you want to be italic, then after the word, put /i in the brackets. Ta da!

Kern said...

QueenB: That was an awesome synopsis!

Kern said...

Yep, the very same girl.

urnotme said...

Awhhh comics.. do you read a lot of them?

I read the ones in the sunday paper(lol), but that's about it... never got into real comics.. we just always played sports and stuff I guess...

I read one at Matt's shop a year or so ago that was really cool, but never did follow up on it

urnotme said...

awhhh!

did it work?

I SO have to see that movie!

Fuck me santa girl?

this sounds good and familiar, but i've never played santa so is that from bad santa?

Kern said...

Yeah, Matt got me into them when we worked at the theatre together years ago. It was the summer after I graduated high school. I had to quit for a few years for financial concerns, but sometime in 2003 or so I picked it back up.

Then I got my older sister into them. Ha ha!

Kern said...

It is from Bad Santa. I've not seen the whole thing, but Jed played that part for me.

Kern said...

QueenB, what are you up to Friday night?

urnotme said...

I can't get bold to work

urnotme said...

got it
what's the a do?

urnotme said...

Hey are you coming in early then on friday SB?

I won't ever stop doing this now

Kern said...

The a is an anchor tag. In theory when used with like the href and/or target tags, you make links to other pages that way.

QueenB:What are you doing after 9?

Kern said...

Urnotme has a new toy...heh heh.

urnotme said...

I AM OUT OF BEER!

hey you guys remember this? http://www.impawards.com/1987/disorderlies.html

Sorry I don't know how to post a link or have forgotten :(

urnotme said...

Ok looks like I'm the last man standing and better than bruce willis so I'm out

hey I was the first one to comment too!

urnotme said...

Yeah I'm not really sure what that meant kern

Oh and we work at Wells Fargo Financial Collection Center

it's a little different than the bank... who was ur buddy?

You should come hang sarah on friday

urnotme said...

Not with a noose

Kern said...

Yes. Well QueenB, if you are up for it, feel free to join the rest of the crazy ass Damfinobloggers at the party Friday night. It starts at nine and goes till whenever.

It's going to be "off the chain" as the kids say these days.

Kern said...

His name is Tim Panages. I don't think he actually works in a bank, I think it's a desk job kind of thing.

Kern said...

Right, that might be a while...

urnotme said...

shot in the dark, but didn't hit- I don't know him.

Well I'm beginning to get loopy so I should probably take my lithium and crash.

Have a good night ya'll ...






Fight the power.

urnotme said...

Britney
Britney
Britney

See ya kern.