Dropout Boogie
The notion of The Black Keys as some kind of neo-primitive blues machine risen from the swamp to bring you what rock was supposed to be has always been a little overstated: Like The White Stripes, they’ve always been highly style-conscious, not to mention more occupied with simplicity in concept than in practice—they work at it. *Dropout Boogie* feels of a piece with 2019’s *“Let’s Rock”*: catchy, concise, stripped down but polished, with references to glam (“Wild Child”), psychedelia (“How Long”), and post-Stones blues (the Billy Gibbons co-write “Good Love”). With 20 years as a band behind them, they have their story and they’re sticking to it. And the more sophisticated they get, the easier they make it sound.
Even with the help of outside songwriters and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, the blues-rock duo can’t help reverting to the same old same old.
The Ohio blues-rockers pack a familiar swagger on their 11th studio album, which nods to the greats of rock'n'roll
There are great moments, and some inane ones too, on the US rockers’ 11th studio album
Primarily fashioned in Southern rock and soul jams, the Black Keys' 'Dropout Boogie' will make you do what the name suggests: boogie.
Dropout Boogie by The Black Keys Album Review by Robert Duguay. The bands full-length is out today via Nonesuch Records/Easy Eye Sound