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.
10
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get all choked up inside
It's not only from the shame
It's like 10 different lovers died
Except you're still just a mile away
But there's nothing left to say
Don't leave us down and out again
I felt a little strain in the pouring rain
It washed away most everything
If I found another love
They must be forever true
'Cause if someone breaks this heart
Your old man right here is through
Heaven just seems so far away
When there's nothing left to say
Don't leave us down and out again
'Cause we might break instead of bend
I felt a little strain in the pouring rain
It washed away most everything
Don't leave us down and out again
'Cause we might break instead of bend
I felt a little strain in the pouring rain
It washed away most everything
Don't leave us down and out again
The little girl can't comprehend
She had another dream that her mama's gone
She's alright, but you're all wrong
The song 10 Lovers by The Black Keys is a poignant reflection on lost love and the pain it causes. The singer expresses deep sadness upon hearing his former lover's name and admits that the breakup has left him feeling as though multiple relationships have ended at once. The lyrics suggest that while physical distance between the two might not be great, the emotional gap is insurmountable. The singer is at a loss for words and lament that there is nothing left to say.
The chorus urges the subject of the song not to leave the singer feeling down and out again, emphasizing the fragility of his emotional state. The singer has already been washed clean once by a metaphorical rain, but a second time could be devastating. He asserts that he needs his next love to be forever true, and if it's not, he may not be able to go through the heartbreak again.
The final verse adds another dimension to the pain of the situation:
"Don't leave us down and out again
The little girl can't comprehend
She had another dream that her mama's gone
She's alright, but you're all wrong"
The singer is not only suffering himself but is acutely aware that the separation is affecting others as well. A young child, possibly his daughter, is having nightmares about her mother leaving. It's clear that the singer believes there is still a chance to save the relationship, but he needs the other person to be committed fully, or the pain will be unbearable.
Line by Line Meaning
When I hear them use your name
Whenever someone mentions your name, it emotionally overwhelms me
I get all choked up inside
I feel intense pain and sadness internally
It's not only from the shame
The sadness I feel is not just due to the shame or guilt of past mistakes
It's like 10 different lovers died
The feeling is like the death of ten beloved people
Except you're still just a mile away
Even though you're geographically close, it feels like you're emotionally distant
But there's nothing left to say
There are no further words or actions that can improve the situation
Don't leave us down and out again
Please don't make us feel helpless and hopeless again
'Cause we might break instead of bend
We may not be able to handle more difficulty and may crumble instead of remaining strong
I felt a little strain in the pouring rain
I experienced a small amount of stress or pressure during a difficult time
It washed away most everything
This stress and difficulty has caused significant damage or loss
If I found another love
If I were to enter into another romantic relationship
They must be forever true
That person needs to be committed and loyal for eternity
'Cause if someone breaks this heart
If someone causes me heartbreak and pain
Your old man right here is through
I will not be able to handle another emotional blow
Heaven just seems so far away
The possibility of happiness or contentment feels remote
When there's nothing left to say
When all words have been spoken and no solutions are found
The little girl can't comprehend
A young girl does not have the ability to fully understand
She had another dream that her mama's gone
The girl had a nightmare where her mother was no longer present in her life
She's alright, but you're all wrong
The child is okay, but the adults surrounding her are making mistakes and causing issues
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRIAN JOSEPH BURTON, DANIEL AUERBACH, PATRICK CARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind