Miley Monday – Black Keys

Chances are, you’ve heard of this band.  They’re a couple of white dudes from Ohio who make a lot of noise.  My first exposure to the Black Keys was several years ago when they opened up for Radiohead at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago.  Great show.  Have you seen Hung on HBO?  You’ll remember this:

Worth noting:

1. Dan Auerbach can wail.

2. He can sing.

3. This music sounds like it was made 20 years ago, in the best possible way.

Here’s another taste of their album work, called Brooklyn Bound.  (This is a medley of songs, I couldn’t find only the one I wanted)

At this point, if you haven’t heard anything new, you may be wondering why you should continue reading this post.  The majority of what I’m going to talk about here is their newest project, called BlakRoc.  There are things I like about this project and things I don’t.

Pro-

They got a lot of really good rappers to collaborate.

They did all the beats.

They shot video of all the studio sessions, which I’ll link.

They didn’t really change their sound.

They made me like rappers I generally hate.  (Jim Jones)

Con-

Damon Dash is involved.

Mos Def is involved.

And if at this point you are still waiting for us to put you on something you haven’t heard, go read something else.  It’s a big internet.  I’m going to skip the first two Blakroc sessions because they involve a lot of Dame Dash, and even more Mos Def, and at this point in my life I can’t be bothered to waste my time looking at or listening to these two douchebags.  They’re well shot though so go look them up if you want.  Episode 3 is all about Jim Jones, who collaborated with Mos Def on a song called Hoochie Coo (?).  He’s entertaining as hell, and even rants for a while about MJ #23 while he’s all high.

Episode 4 is a rare look at the RZA in the studio.  (Okay not that rare)  When he comes in and starts talking to Dan about the beat I thought maybe he was on drugs.  I mean it’s pretty much guaranteed that he’s on drugs, but to varying degrees.  He’s playing a little guitar, and it doesn’t really sound that hot, but you’re interested enough to see what happens next.  What happens next is they smoke a bunch of weed and put the beat together and it’s pretty fucking awesome.  When RZA raps I still get chills.  I’ll never question him again.  Check it out.

In episode 5, Jim Jones comes back and you get to hear Dan sing a little.  I wasn’t a Diplomats fan really,  and my least favorite member was JJ.  But this shit is fresh.

I’m going to skip #6.  Why?  It features NOE and at this point I’m tired of Dipset.  #7 features Q-Tip, and despite being the frontman for one of everyone’s favorite rap groups, he manages to come across like a complete douche.  How cool is he with his sunglasses and earbuds in?  OH MY GOD TWO TRACKS, Q TIP?  THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE CONFUSING FOR THESE CLASSICALLY TRAINED MUSICIANS.  Him and Mighty Mos are equally intolerable to me at this point.  I think his rap sucks bawlz, so it’s worth watching for that alone.  Plus you get to see the progression of Dan’s beard.

#8 is pretty great.  Features Billy Danze (M.O.P. Holy shit is he old), and the girl who answers Dame Dash’s cell phone.  #9 is Pharoahe Monch, and both are on the song with RZA.  Monch is funny as shit in the studio.  Danze does what he always does and it’s phenomenal.

And finally, #11 with Raekwon, a B&J favorite.  He sounds better here than he did on OB4CL2.  Sorry, Rae.

We hope you enjoyed.