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.
Breaking Down
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got caught in the trap of somethin'
Bag of bones, sat alone in the deep end
Pull me up, you don't know what I've been through
It was so cruel
When your heart's been aching
When you can't escape it
Took a trip on the skip in the ocean
Sunk my ship, like a brick, I was sulking
Comin' round on the tide of your lovin'
Spun me round, ran aground, next to nothing
Ain't it something?
When your heart's been aching
When you can't escape it
Don't you feel like breaking down?
When the earth is shaking
And your soul's been taken
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Breaking down
When your heart's been aching
When you can't escape it
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Breaking down
The Black Keys' song "Breaking Down" deals with a feeling of being stuck and unable to escape the pain of a heartache. The first verse introduces the singer stumbling through the night, feeling trapped in their emotions. They sit alone, feeling like a bag of bones in the deep end of their despair. The chorus speaks directly to this feeling, asking the listener if they've ever felt like breaking down when their heart is aching and they're unable to escape their own emotions.
The second verse has a nautical theme, with the singer taking a trip on the skip in the ocean and sinking their ship like a brick. They find themselves sulking and feeling like they have nothing left. However, the tide of love turns everything around, and they find themselves spinning around and being grounded by that love. The chorus repeats, emphasizing that feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to escape one's emotions.
The song is a relatable anthem to anyone who has ever felt like they were going to break down because of their emotions. It captures that feeling of being caught in a cycle of pain and misery and unable to find a way out. Despite the heavy subject matter, the song has a catchy and upbeat feel that makes it easy to sing along to.
Line by Line Meaning
I went out on the town and I stumbled
I left the safety of my home and made a mistake
I got caught in the trap of somethin'
I was caught up in something I couldn't control
Bag of bones, sat alone in the deep end
I felt alone and vulnerable
Pull me up, you don't know what I've been through
Please help me, you can't begin to understand my pain
It was so cruel
The experience was extremely harsh
Took a trip on the skip in the ocean
I went on an adventure in the sea
Sunk my ship, like a brick, I was sulking
I made a mistake that led me to feel downhearted
Comin' round on the tide of your lovin'
With the help of your love, I'm starting to feel better
Spun me round, ran aground, next to nothing
I was disoriented and left with very little
Ain't it something?
Isn't it amazing what love can do?
When the earth is shaking
During times of chaos and instability
And your soul's been taken
When you've lost something truly important to you
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Don't you feel like you can't handle it anymore?
When your heart's been aching
When you're feeling emotional pain
When you can't escape it
When you're stuck in the situation causing the pain
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Don't you feel like giving up?
Breaking down
Having a breakdown or losing control
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daniel Quine Auerbach, Patrick James Carney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RichardRitenour0522
Breaking Down
I went out on the town and I stumbled
I got caught in the trap of somethin'
Bag of bones, sat alone in the deep end
Pull me up, you don't know what I've been through
It was so cruel
When your heart's been aching
When you can't escape it
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Took a trip on the skip in the ocean
Sunk my ship, like a brick, I was sulking
Comin' round on the tide of your lovin'
Spun me round, ran aground, next to nothing
Ain't it something?
When your heart's been aching
When you can't escape it
Don't you feel like breaking down?
When the earth is shaking
And your soul's been taken
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Breaking down
When your heart's been aching
When you can't escape it
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Breaking down
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Auerbach Daniel Quine / Carney Patrick James
Breaking Down lyrics © Mcmoore Mclesst Publishing
@chameleonsoul2498
I went out on the town and I stumbled
I got caught in the trap of somethin'
Bag of bones, sat alone in the deep end
Pull me up, you don't know what I've been through
It was so cruel
When your hearts' been aching
When you can't be sleeping
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Took a trip on the skip in the ocean
Sunk my ship, like a brick, I was sulking
Calling round on the tide
Spun me round, ran the ground, next to nothing
Ain't it something?
When your hearts' been aching
When you can't be sleeping
Don't you feel like breaking down?
When the earth is shaking
And your souls' been taken
Don't you feel like breaking down?
Breaking down
When your hearts' been aching
When you can't be sleeping
Don't you feel like breaking down?
@jackel477
I honestly think this is my favorite song from this album. It sounds super like a really original style while still being that black keys cool
@j.e6637
I disagree the lyrics sound like Paul McCartney wrote them
@jamalabdelbaset6635
Was about to say the same thing, then read your comment. Totally with you! This is awesome!
@cloudylovell7537
This was the first song they wrote for this album too.
@bidhrohi12
Same. Easily one of my most favorite songs of theirs ever. Loved their Turn Blue album, and this kinda feels consistent with that one's mood too.
@angelamolinamartinez9173
Gracias por regresar, son una bendición de banda. 💖
@kitterkat007
I love the new album. Thanks for bringing Rock back.
@aaronflorian8150
stop eating animals this and the Raconteurs are all we have left. Count your blessings, sons
@kitterkat007
@stop eating animals Maybe you need to eat some meat before you go bald.
@highadmiralbittenfield9689
I really missed the Black Keys! Love hearing them once again! One album every five years is fine with me if it means they’re all this good.