This Is Nowhere - The Black Keys (review)
- by Peter Källman
- in Reviews
The Black Keys recently dropped a fresh track titled “This Is Nowhere,” and let me tell you, when it comes to tunes outside the realm of Pop, these guys nail it. Their tracks aren't just catchy for the sake of it; they strike a perfect balance, avoiding any hint of annoyance or overproduction. Instead, they're the kind of tunes that make you nod along, filled with just the right selection of sounds.
In the accompanying video and lyrics, there's this theme of longing for a getaway, a retreat to 'nowhere' where one can escape the hassles symbolized by "alligator tears and discount beers." Picture a family out in the vastness of the Arizona desert – that's the visual backdrop. But as for what it all means, that's open to interpretation. That's the beauty of music; it spawns endless narratives in the minds of listeners. And nobody's going to dictate how you should interpret it, well, except maybe Dan Auerbach or Patrick Carney. It's natural to be curious about what the song meant to the artist when they penned it, but oftentimes, they prefer to keep it ambiguous. Why? Because they want their creation to evolve, to take on its own life in the minds of listeners.
A little quick trivia. The name “The Black Keys” comes, as most people would probably guess, a piano. It does go a little deeper than that. The bandmates' acquaintance Alfred McMoore would use this term when speaking to the band. Alfred was also an artistic soul and he would leave cryptic messages on the bands’ voicemail, referring to people as “Black Keys”. Although, exactly in which context he would use the word, is unclear. Different sources say different things.
“This Is Nowhere” is the opening track for The black Keys’ upcoming thirteenth album, “Ohio Players”. Also the name of another impeccable group of musicians, but let us focus on Black Keys. The album is set to be released on April 5. With a great deal of joy, we are expecting collaborations on the album such as Greg Noid, Noel Gallagher and Juicy J. As if they were not busy enough, The Black Keys are also premiering a documentary titled “This is a Film About the Black Keys” TOMORROW! That is, March 11. They are also going on tour, doing incredibly well and probably gaining more and more traction each day. Ah, enough good news.
Even though The Black Keys always use distorted guitars, heavy drums and rocky vocal phrases, their music never feels extremely blown up or noisy. That can be both good and bad, depending on what you’re looking for. I think they are doing what they are doing well. The music that they are doing makes for very easy listening. On the other hand, if you are looking for something that really drives you forward and forces you to pay attention, this might not be it. Where are some good spots to play this music? Well I mean, obviously a road trip first of all. Secondly and something we don’t speak about enough, the office. I know it just instantly murks up the air with a boring mood, but office music is very real and useful. I seriously think it is perfectly balanced to demand just enough of your attention, give you a little bit of energy and still pass by sort of unnoticed, so you don’t lose focus completely. This means it works for studying as well. Or maybe you can find your own best place to put the track. Either way, it is amazing how much sound can change your state of being. Go on and listen to this sound!
