Album Review: Hanni El Khatib - Head In The Dirt

Los Angeles “vintage” blues rocker Hanni El Khatib doesn't waste time launching into the garage blasts on second LP, Head In The Dirt. Joining forces with the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, the 11 tracks on offer don't muck around, are up to the hilt in swagger and wanton energy, and sometimes warrant repeated listens. Single, Family has the requisite punch, verve, and chant-along chorus; the sinuous crawl of Can't Win 'Em All explodes in the final third, with a great deal of venom; Pay No Mind is a leather jacket-and-punk anthem that sticks in the brain like a burr.

However, there is something about Head In The Dirt, and indeed Khatib himself, that doesn't really convert, especially when he takes the foot off the pedal. He opens with the title track, and it sounds so much like Auerbach's day band covering Jack White that the copyright senses are tingling. The cutesy Penny is well constructed yet comes off as hokey for the most part; Nobody Move's reggae dub swing irks. It's not that this isn't also well constructed; it just isn't very original – at all. And there are many acts out there that do the same thing, only better.

Nevertheless, Head In the Dirt succeeds at least in part because the bones are here for an incendiary live performance, and Khatib has the persona down pat. Imagine this album then as a primer for his concert and it'll get you into the groove. But as a standalone record, it's pretty hit and mess.