They released their first album, The Big Come Up, in 2002, followed by Thickfreakness in 2003, and Rubber Factory in 2004. October 2005 saw the release of the DVD Live, recorded live at The Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia March 18, 2005. In 2006 they released Magic Potion, as well as the lesser-known Chulahoma and a single version of Your Touch.
One of their trademarks is their preference for simple, lo-fi recording techniques. They refuse to use big-name studios, and do most recording, producing, and mixing themselves. Most of Thickfreakness was recorded in about 14 hours in Carney's basement, using only an early 80's Tascam 388 8-track recorder. Often, their recordings still have background noises (such as an owl hooting).
The Black Keys have achieved increasing critical acclaim and recognition since their debut album, which itself received praise from Rolling Stone magazine. Time magazine named them one of the "10 Best Acts of 2003" (behind OutKast and The White Stripes). They have supported a number of bands: they toured with Sleater-Kinney in 2003, had a short stint opening for Beck, have recently opened for Radiohead on the American leg of their brief 2006 tour, and performed at Lollapalooza in 2005 and 2007. In addition to this, they were also well-liked by influential British radio DJ John Peel and appeared on both Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman. Famous followers of the band include Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammet. Matt Helders, drummer for the Arctic Monkeys, can be seen in a Black Keys T-Shirt in an interview on MTV's RAW.
Their song "When the Lights Go Out" was featured in the 2007 film Black Snake Moan, and also on the soundtrack for that movie. The Black Keys were included in the soundtrack of the 2003 movie School of Rock with their song, "Set You Free". "Lies" was featured in the conclusion of the February 4, 2009 episode of Lie to Me. One of their songs, "Girl Is on My Mind", was used in a 2006 Sony Ericsson advertisement, starring the tennis players Ana Ivanović and Daniela Hantuchová, gaining the band more commercial recognition. It was also used in a 2006 Victoria's Secret commercial featuring Heidi Klum and could be heard in the movies Rest Stop and Cashback. Their song "10 am Automatic" was used in the video game MLB '06: The Show, The O.C., The Go-Getter, and was also used in a 2007 American Express commercial starring Shaun White. "Your Touch" was featured in a 2007 Lee's jeans commercial, and can be heard both in an episode of NBC's Friday Night Lights and in an episode of "Eastbound and Down". Their cover "Grown So Ugly" can be heard in the background of the going away party in the 2007 film Cloverfield. "Strange Times" is used in Grand Theft Auto IV on the in-game radio station Radio Broker. "Strange Times" can also be heard during a preview for ABC's The Mole, and the trailer for season three of the Showtime series Dexter, as well as a promo for Gossip Girl. Their song "Just Got To Be" is used on the soundtrack for the video game NHL 08, and "Hard Row" is featured in the premiere episode of the FX show Sons of Anarchy. Sons of Anarchy has gone on to use "Keep Me" in both Episodes 6 and 7, as well as "Busted" in episode 7. The song "Lies" is featured in the advertising campaign for the third season of HBO's Big Love. "The Breaks" can be heard in Guy Ritchie' film RocknRolla. "Your Touch" can also be heard in the HBO series "Entourage" in the episode "Manic Monday", during the opening scenes. The song "Psychotic Girl" is featured the episode "Messin' with the Kid" in season 6 of One Tree Hill. "I'll Be Your Man" is the opening theme song for the HBO show Hungand was also featured in an episode of the FX Network show Rescue Me. "Your Touch" can also be heard in the film Zombieland and in an episode of "Eastbound and Down" on HBO. The song "I Got Mine" has been used in HBO's sports reality series 24/7 Pacquiao-Hatton" [13] as well as background music for the 2009 American League Championship Series. The song "Next Girl" is featured in the in game radio of Saints Row the Third.
Their fourth record that Danger Mouse produced Attack & Release was out April 1st 2008. The duo's fifth album is the first one recorded in a proper studio.
The Band's fifth album, "Brothers" was released in spring 2010 and has seen increasing amounts of exposure to the "Dancing T-Rex" video for the song "Tighten Up" that went viral...until the band asked it to be removed because they felt it made light of their music. A proper video was released later in 2010, featuring Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney at a playground and was pushed on the band's official YouTube channel, as well as through the iTunes and Zune marketplaces. The track "Tighten Up" was also used as the background music for a Subaru Legacy commercial and on the FIFA 2011 Soundtrack.
The Black Keys' seventh studio album, "El Camino," was released on the 6th of December 2011. Co-produced by Danger Mouse, the album was released to critical acclaim, receiving positive reviews from The Rolling Stones, NME and more. Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly commented on "El Camino", saying that "El Camino trades the soulful stylings of Brothers for harder-driving, faster-riffing rock & roll". At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, El Camino won the award for Best Rock Album, while "Lonely Boy" received multiple honors, taking 'Best Rock Performance' and 'Best Rock Song'. The album has sold 1.4 million copies in the United States to date.
The Black Keys' eighth studio album, Turn Blue, was released on May 12, 2014 to generally favorable reviews.
Fever
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fever, where'd you run to?
Actin' right is so routine
Fever, let me live a dream
Fever I'm a slave to
No one misbehave too
Fever that misunderstood
Wouldn't leave you if I could
Fever
Fever 'cause I'm breakin'
Fever got me achin'
Fever, why won't you explain?
Break it down again
Fever got me guilty
Just go ahead and kill me
Fever, why won't you explain?
Break it down again
Fever, can you hear me?
Fever, can you hear me?
You shook me like I never been
Now show me how to live again
It used to be a blessin'
But fever's got me stressin'
Realize I am to blame
But fever let me play the game
Fever
Fever 'cause I'm breakin'
Fever got me achin'
Fever, why won't you explain?
Break it down again
Fever got me guilty
Just go ahead and kill me
Fever, why won't you explain?
Break it down again
Now if the cold, pale, light in your eyes
Reaches those horizon lines
You know not to leave her
Now if the cold, pale, light in your eyes
Reaches those horizon lines
You know not to leave her
Fever
The lyrics of "Fever" by The Black Keys explores the singer's relationship with the concept of fever. In the first verse, the singer is asking fever where it has gone to as it usually brings a sense of thrill and excitement to their life. The singer acknowledges that usually, they act right, but fever brings a level of unpredictability and allows them to live a dream that is different from their routine life. The singer goes further to say that they are a slave to their fever, and no one else should misbehave. They admit that fever is misunderstood, but they wouldn't leave it if they could.
In the second verse, the singer talks about the impact fever has on them, resulting in a lot of physical pain and aching. They ask fever to explain why it is taking such a toll on them and then repeat the same line. The singer goes further to admit their culpability in their situation and asks fever to let them play the game. In the chorus, the singer repeats that fever is breaking them and causing them to ache, but they want an explanation for it.
The bridge talks about a cold, pale light that reaches the horizon line, a metaphor for the most youthful part of life waning. The singer insists that one should not leave a lover dealing with these horizons as one might regret it. In conclusion, the song's message appears to highlight the addictive nature of fever and the singer's willingness to deal with its highs and lows.
Line by Line Meaning
Fever, where'd you run to?
Asking where the feeling of excitement and passion has disappeared to
Actin' right is so routine
Being well-behaved and predictable is dull and monotonous
Fever, let me live a dream
Wishing for a chance to experience something exciting and thrilling
Fever I'm a slave to
Feeling controlled and consumed by the feeling of feverish desire
No one misbehave too
Feeling like acting out of line could ruin everything
Fever that misunderstood
Feeling like others don't understand the intensity of the feverish feeling
Wouldn't leave you if I could
Despite the negatives, not being able to let go of the feverish feeling
Fever 'cause I'm breakin'
Feeling like the intensity of the feeling is causing mental or emotional breakdown
Fever got me achin'
Feeling a physical or emotional pain or discomfort due to the feverish desire
Fever, why won't you explain?
Questioning why the feeling is so powerful and overwhelming
Break it down again
Asking for further clarification or understanding
Fever got me guilty
Feeling ashamed or regretful for the effects of the feverish feeling
Just go ahead and kill me
Being so consumed by the feverish feeling that it feels like it could be deadly
Fever, can you hear me?
Asking the feeling of feverish desire if it is listening or will respond
You shook me like I never been
Feeling shaken and affected by the intensity of the feverish desire
Now show me how to live again
Asking the feeling of feverish desire to guide and help live life in a more fulfilling way
It used to be a blessin'
Previously seeing the feverish feeling as a positive and life-affirming thing
But fever's got me stressin'
Feeling anxious, worried or overwhelmed by the intensity of the feverish feeling
Realize I am to blame
Recognizing that one's own actions or thoughts led to the feverish feeling
But fever let me play the game
Despite taking responsibility, still wanting to indulge in the feverish feeling
Now if the cold, pale, light in your eyes
Describing someone with a detached, distant and disinterested expression
Reaches those horizon lines
Suggesting that they are looking towards a future or potential end to a relationship
You know not to leave her
Implying that leaving the disinterested person could lead to the feverish feeling disappearing
Fever
Repeating the song's title and emphasizing the intensity of the feverish feeling
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Joseph Burton, Daniel Quine Auerbach, Patrick James Carney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind