Dan Auerbach
Keep It Hid
Play Keep It Hid
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AMG Review of Keep It Hid
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music GuideWhenever the lead singer/songwriter in a two-person group steps out with a solo album, the first question that comes to mind is whether the musician needed to go out on his own, whether he could possibly be constrained by his lone partner. In the case of Dan Auerbach, the guitarist and singer for the Black Keys, it's not so much that Pat Carney holds him back as that he's such a distinctive, powerful drummer that he colors and changes Auerbach's playing; it's what band chemistry is all about. Opening his own studio, Akron Analog, gave Auerbach an excuse to cut an album without Carney, and 2009's Keep It Hid is at once completely similar and totally different than the Black Keys. All the same musical touchstones remain -- primarily classic post-WWII blues, often filtered through '60s and early-'70s classic rock -- but without Carney the attack isn't savage, focusing on feel instead of force. To a certain extent, the Black Keys followed that aesthetic on the Danger Mouse-produced 2008 LP Attack & Release, but "Keep It Hid" lacks its studied, self-conscious atmospherics, along with Carney's wallop. Auerbach compensates by letting everything on "Keep It Hid" breathe -- there's space in his songs and his production, there are ragged edges, room echo, and natural distortion, all making it feel alluringly out of time. It follows that the album boasts more quiet acoustic moments than the Black Keys' records, but the difference is just as evident in songs that are closer to Auerbach's bluesy signature: "I Want Some More" has a thick, swampy rhythm that never quite gets menacing, "Heartbroken, In Disrepair" swirls, and the dramatic build of "When I Left the Room" has an almost psychedelic undertow, "Mean Monsoon" steps cleanly and precisely in contrast to the slow-crawling murk of "Keep It Hid," while the tremendous "My Last Mistake" is the poppiest song Auerbach has ever written. There's variety here, but Keep It Hid never draws attention to Auerbach's eclecticism, especially because it moves along at a rapid clip, never staying in one place too long. It all feels organic, right down to how it feels natural for Auerbach to step outside of the Black Keys to release this album: it really is something that he couldn't have made with Carney, and its existence winds up confirming the immense talents of both musicians.
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid Review
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If you've been paying attention to the music scene for the last ten years, you'd have to of at least read about The Black Keys. I grew up with the blues, is it was only natural that I found the Keys. They have been thrashing out an incredible new sound, oddly enough, using old equipment in their basement.After six albums and several very successful tours, Dan Auerbach, the Keys' singer and guit...
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Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid Review
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If you've been paying attention to the music scene for the last ten years, you'd have to of at least read about The Black Keys. I grew up with the blues, is it was only natural that I found the Keys. They have been thrashing out an incredible new sound, oddly enough, using old equipment in their basement.After six albums and several very successful tours, Dan Auerbach, the Keys' singer and guit...
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Black Keys Dan Auerbach Confirms US Tour
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While Patrick Carney, other member and drummer of blues-rock duo The Black Keys is busy making side projects (SG News HERE), frontman and main-vocalist Dan Auerbach has decided to tour the US all on his lonesome. His debut solo album Keep It Hid was released back earlier this year to respectable acclaim and after touring a few dates in the UK back in May, the man is now set to tour the States t...
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Dan Auerbach - Heartbroken, In Disrepair [New Video]
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Dan Auerbach, backed by our friends Hacienda, just released a new video for “Heartbroken, In Disrepair” off of his amazing solo album Keep It Hid. Reader, Oddbodkins, commented on our last post about the lack of beards. I think this video just got us back to quota.Thanks to Dodge at MOKB for the tip. We [...]
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Dan Auerbach - “Keep It Hid” - Borrow It
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One album removed from Attack and Release, the boundary-pushing Black Keys LP featuring Danger Mouse on production, Auerbach retreats to a fuzzed-out blues paying homage to his musical roots and the Keys earlier oeuvre. After stretching himself musically, Keep it Hid is a therapeutic soak in the tub. Reminds us of: M.Ward | Ralph Macchio as Eugene Martone | Icy Hot® Dan Auerbach: (Label / Mysp..
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#4 MCMB's Thursday CD Giveaway
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Each Thursday we will be 3-5 CD's to give out to our readers. This is just an awesome way that MCMB is giving back to it's readers. You'll need to be a subscriber to enter and follow us on Twitter or Facebook. If you are already a subscriber than you need to share the link so that others can jump in on the fun. Follow the instructions below to enter.This week's CD giveaway:Dan Auerbach - Keep i...
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 "Keep It Hid")
