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.
Act Nice and Gentle
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where'd you get them, goodness knows?
Just show some civility
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
I don't need no luxuries,
As long as you are understanding
I'm not difficult to please
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
Well I'm the kind of guy who likes
To take you as I find you
So throw away those false eyelashes and
Act nice, act nice, baby
Come on baby, hold my hand
Come on baby, understand, you gotta
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
Come on baby, hold my hand
Come on baby, understand, you gotta
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
The Black Keys' song Act Nice and Gentle is a simple request for kindness and sincerity in a relationship. The lyrics express that material possessions and physical appearances are not important, rather it is the way one treats another that matters. The use of the line "Where'd you get them, goodness knows?" implies that the singer is not impressed with superficiality and that the genuineness of the subject is more meaningful than any fashion statement they may make.
The plea to "Act nice and gentle to me" is repeated often in the song symbolizing that the singer believes that these qualities are the most important traits in any connection. The lines "I'm not difficult to please" and "I'm the kind of guy who likes to take you as I find you" indicate that the singer feels that he himself has a lot to offer, but that authenticity is key when it comes to sustaining a successful relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't need no fancy clothes
I don't care about the clothes you wear.
Where'd you get them, goodness knows?
I'm not curious about where you got your clothes from.
Just show some civility
All I ask is that you be polite and well-mannered.
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
Please treat me with kindness and respect.
I don't need no luxuries,
I don't need anything extravagant or expensive.
As long as you are understanding
As long as you are patient and empathetic.
I'm not difficult to please
It doesn't take much to make me happy.
Well I'm the kind of guy who likes
I prefer to accept people for who they are.
To take you as I find you
I'm happy with you just the way you are.
So throw away those false eyelashes and
You don't need to wear makeup or put on a facade to impress me.
Act nice, act nice, baby
Just be kind and gentle with me, sweetheart.
Come on baby, hold my hand
Let's connect and support each other.
Come on baby, understand, you gotta
Please listen to me and be compassionate towards me.
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
Again, please be kind, considerate, and gentle towards me.
Act nice, act nice and gentle to me
Once more, please be respectful and empathetic to my feelings and needs.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
N.E. Nichtmaus
Why aren’t hundreds of thousands of people listening to this?? It’s a great tune that’s like a cultural balm .. and his damn blues sensibility in the guitar is awesome
Steve Stowell-Virtue
Because they are not promoting the modern ideals. Just making damn good music. All blues players die poor.
washburnbilly
I just found this gem myself! So laid back it reminds me of steelhead fishing once I drop anchor on the lower Manistee. All the stuff just fades away! And I can relax in what God built!
James Mendoza
Man I could drive a truck all day to this...
Denise Young
Best cover ever!!!
anonymous bigshot
I was today years old when I realized that this was a cover of a Kinks song
N.E. Nichtmaus
Whoa no way!!!! Mind blown
Kapil Joshey
Thanks! You're a legend for educating young folks!
Kapil Joshey
And yeah, mind totally blow. My mind went, "wait, what?!"
bistro autismo
You just got me so good