Album Review: The Black Keys – "Let's Rock"

Just like Weezer deciding to go Back To The Shack, The Black Keys have loudly decided it's time to ditch the pop scene and go back to their roots. Advertised as "an homage to the electric guitar", their latest album, "Let's Rock", feels like a weird wax museum of well-worn ideas rather than a passionate love letter to the blues they worship.

Much like their last few albums, "Let's Rock" has that contradictory lo-fi sound that can only be created through million-dollar equipment – punchy and frayed, but without any of the warmth or pulp that you would've found on their early albums. The songs themselves are fine, but aside from a cool solo here or there and a few soulful moments of female backing vocals, nothing really stands out after repeated listening.

The most frustrating thing about "Let's Rock" is there really just isn't that much to say about it. This review could've been boiled down to a, "Yeah, it's alright, not really though." In a world where even their old nemesis Jack White is moving into exciting and experimental territory, another bluesy garage-rock throwback album is really the last thing that deserves your attention.