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.
Turn Blue
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I still carry the weight like I've always done before
It gets so heavy at times but what more can I do
I got to stay on track just like pops told me to
I really don't think you know
There could be hell below, below
I really do hope you know
When the music is done and all the lights are low
I will remember the times when love would really glow
I could dream ahead before my world turned blue
And the light inside would only shine for you
I really don't think you know
There could be hell below, below
I really do hope you know
There could be hell below, below
I really don't think you know
There could be hell below, below
The Black Keys' song "Turn Blue" is a song about the fear of losing control and the weight of responsibility. In the first verse, the singer mentions how in the dead of the night he tends to lose control, but he carries the weight of his responsibility like he has always done. He acknowledges that it can get really heavy at times, but he has to stay on track just like his father taught him. This shows that the singer is under a lot of pressure and responsibility which has always been a part of his life.
The second verse of the song is about the memories of love and how in the past, the singer would dream ahead, but now everything seems blue. The lyrics "I could dream ahead before my world turned blue, and the light inside would only shine for you" portrays how he was hopeful before, but now everything seems to have lost its light. The chorus of the song speaks of the fear of something terrible happening, and how the world could come crashing down at any time. The lyrics "I really don't think you know, there could be hell below, below, I really do hope you know, there could be hell below, below" suggests that the singer is trying to warn someone of the dangers that could be ahead.
Overall, the song is about holding onto hope even when times are tough and being aware of the possible dangers that can come in life. The lyrics show the struggle of maintaining a positive outlook when life is difficult, and the fear and insecurity that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
In the dead of the night I start to lose control
As the night goes on, I feel like I'm losing my grip on reality.
But I still carry the weight like I've always done before
Despite feeling overwhelmed, I continue to bear the heavy burden like I have in the past.
It gets so heavy at times but what more can I do
Sometimes the weight becomes too much to bear, but I feel hopeless to change the situation.
I got to stay on track just like pops told me to
It's important for me to stay focused and disciplined, just like my father advised me.
I really don't think you know
I doubt that you understand the seriousness of the situation.
There could be hell below, below
Things could get much worse and the consequences could be severe.
When the music is done and all the lights are low
After the party is over and the excitement dies down,
I will remember the times when love would really glow
I will cherish the memories of when love was vibrant and strong.
I could dream ahead before my world turned blue
I was able to imagine a bright future before my life took a turn for the worse.
And the light inside would only shine for you
My love for you was the only thing that kept me going during difficult times.
I really do hope you know
I sincerely wish that you understand the gravity of the situation.
There could be hell below, below
The potential consequences of our actions could be disastrous.
I really don't think you know
I continue to doubt that you comprehend the severity of our circumstances.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRIAN JOSEPH BURTON, DANIEL AUERBACH, PATRICK CARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Darryl Bennett
This song is mesmerizing, hypnotic. I'll listen to this over, and over, and over and it pulls me in. The subtleties, the melody, the guitar, all of it. And the lyrics, speak volumes.
coverkillernation
This song is an absolute pleasure. A bit of a modern psychedelic-lite mixed with blues-driven rock. Its a song that finds a way to feel both laid back and intimate at the same time. Would love to hear this played in a candlelit room with embers of incense surrounding.
Sam Khoshnood
Mark is the man
ALRULZ1965
This song is awesome...if I still imbibed in the weed....this song would be playing on a loop as I ripped bongloads! LOL
DcStudios
coverkillernation I somehow reckon thats gnna be unlikely bro (but i know what u mean)
superduperkoolman123
i agree strongly, good sir.
Rafik Volkov
If everyone could write a comment as well as you, the world would be a better place.
Obed Gloria
This single is great, i'm really digging the soulful lyrics, the soft tempo, and the melancholy bass in the background. For all those who think it's boring, clearly you never felt love or heartbreak.
Sara Vanessa Ramírez Herrera
Que el estilo de The Black Keys jamás cambie, por favor. <3
Rotten Pop
Esta canción se vuelve mejor mientras más la escuchas.
Me pregunto cómo será el resto del disco, parece que están tomando una dirección bastante diferente a lo que han hecho anteriormente. Si quieren a los viejos Black Keys escuchen sus antiguos trabajos, pero creo que nada los detendrá para seguir buscando nuevos estilos y no gastar la fórmula con cada disco, lo cual me parece genial por ellos.