Customer Reviews

Rubber Factory

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After an explosive debut album and a mellower sophomore effort, Akron duo The Black Keys roar back with "Rubber Factory", a passionate, catchy, masterpiece that proves these guys are for real.

In their third album in as many years, the Keys press ahead with their revival of the long-sputtering genre of blues rock. Having rejected a major record label and signed instead with blues authority Fat Possum, the Keys stay true to their fuzzed-out demo-tape sound, recording the album in an abandoned tire factory, with drummer Patrick Carney producing the songs on his trusty 4-track (or did they graduate to 8-track by now?). Topping both their previous efforts, "Rubber Factory" does not have a single bad song. It is actually difficult to pick the best ones because they are ALL so good.

Unlike "The Big Come Up" and "Thickfreakness", though, "Rubber Factory" starts off in low gear with the mellow "When the Lights Go Out". Things get pumped up right after that with what is undoubtedly the catchiest song they've done yet -- "10 a.m. Automatic". This song is so fun and addictive it takes a conscious exertion of will not to just play it over and over.

The nice mellow ride of "Just Couldn't Tie Me Down" recalls a bit of the juke joint feel so prevalent on "Thickfreakness". The next three tracks -- "All Hands Against His Own", "The Desperate Man" and "Girl Is On My Mind" -- form a trio of catchy, classic-rock style tunes. Things mellow out a bit for a sugary ballad, "The Lengths", but get kicked right back up with "Grown So Ugly", a jammin' and hard-hitting rock number. "Stack Shot Billy" is a wonderful electric-slide resurrection of the outlaw song, and shows that these guys know their source material. "Aeroplane Blues" and "Keep Me" are other straight-out sonic assaults that will put a crooked smile on the face of anyone with an ounce of blues running in their veins.

The album closes with a real bang -- the energetic "Till I Get My Way". The crunch of Auerbach's guitar and Carney's head-bobbing tattoo meld into some of the best jamming they've yet displayed.

"Rubber Factory" is a nearly flawless piece of work that should have no problem standing the test of time. I hope these guys are having as much fun making this music as I am listening to it. I already can't wait until the next one...

What if Queens of the Stone Age ditched the bombast? What if White Stripes ever discovered that long missing testosterone hormone? Neither would have made a better record the Black Keys' Rubber Factory, hands down the rock album of the year. Yup it's two of them and they're a black to Jack's White and both bands love the blues, but there the similarites end. Not content with impressive pastiche like the Stripes, or cheekiness like the Blues Explosion, the Keys head past the blues for blistering riff-rock. Like the new garage rockers, the sound is vital and sharp. Unlike the garage rockers, it has buckets of soul, sin and sex. It helps that singer Dan Auerbach has the best voice in rock. It also helps that drummer Patrick Carney has been studying his Wu-tang records instead Led Zeppelin's. Even more remarkable, the Black Keys may have made the first garage rock record relevant to their own generation. In the past, sloppy production blunted their attack, but here the crispness sharpens their sound and fury. This is what rock and roll's beating heart sounds like.

The Akron-based duo Black Keys (not to be confused with that other white color-named duo from Detroit) serve up their latest serving of 70s influenced rock-and-blues garage sound, and this time better than ever. This album just explodes with energy!

"Rubber Factory" (13 tracks, 41 min.) starts off with a blazing "When the Lights Go Out", and doesn't let up from there. "The Desparate Man" sounds like The Jimi Hendrix Experience revived right here in your veru own living room, as does "Girl Is On My Mind", really outstanding. "The Lenghts" is the unexpected track, a ballad of some sort (gulp?), but it works somehow. "Stack Shot Billy" and "Aeroplane Blues" are heavy blues-influenced tracks. The album closer "Till I Get My Way" sums up the album perfectly, an all-out rocker with strong guitar-feedback, wow.

The Black Keys are coming to Cincinnati shortly, and that's a show I'm not gonna miss. I can't wait to see these guys bring the songs from "Rubber Factory" in a live setting. Obviously this album isn't gonna be big on the charts, but no matter, this is a great album. And please, play it loud!

Okay, I previously wrote an review for this record. I am writing a second time because I am really aggrivated by a lot of the 1 star reviews. Why? Because almost all of these idiots writing such nonsense are critical of the fact that these guys are white.

WHO THE HELL CARES? Aren't they American? Isn't blues an American music? Are you so fixated on their complexion that you cannot stop and notice that these guys take their songcraft seriously? Do you think they are no different Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Sheperd? These boys are paying tribute to music they love, what is wrong with that? I really doubt any of you have bothered to listen to Rubber Factory. You would see that these songs are honest and memorable. Many of them aren't 100% blues either, take The Lengths for example.

To the guy below me, the only one who needs to get a life is you, you narrowminded idiot. You mentioned Zeppelin, shouldn't you be hating them as they are caucasians who loved delta blues? You sound like a complete moron.

Upon my first listen to tracks like "All Against.." and "10 am..." I was completely stunned and could not believe this music was released in 2004 instead of 1968.After hearing "De Stijl" by the Stripes I thought I had heard modern blues rock at the best it could get.But after hearing this album,I've had a change in heart.This is just incredible rock and roll music which offers so many different tempos which all work.Even the slide guitar on the slow number "Lengths" will just tug at your insides.The solo in the middle of "Desparate Man" eerily reflects something Hendrix would do,and the fact that it sounds amazing and not like a rip off,is just a trip.The hands off production really works on here and just shows that less is more.Like many have already said,the fuzzy tone just cooks wonders on all the tracks.The guy,his name escapes me,has an incredible voice which was made for this kind of rock.It doesn't take any getting used to,as supposed to the singer in Kings Of Leon.If you really dig the music of Cream,Hendrix,and Skynyrd then this is definitely worth checking out.I am so glad I discovered this band,music this genuine,pure,raw,and rockin' is too rare to come by these days.


...and could everybody please stop trashing the opening track,its a kick arse tune and ofneof the best on the album!

If you've never heard of The Black Keys, and you like rock n roll, count you're lucky stars: you've now discovered the best band of the current millenium. Please disregard any comparison to any other band (especially if they have "White" or "Stripes" in the name -- The Keys are different in that they have a great drummer, they are not pretty-boy pansies, they rock, and they have testosterone, as other reviews have said.)

These guys simply rock, with that touch of blues and Hendrix other bands aspire to, but the are so much more genuine. Their debut, The Big Comeup, was great; Thickfreakness (Time Magazine's #3 album of 2003, not bad for a band no one has heard of) was a phenomonal follow up; now Rubber Factory is THE best rock album of 2004. A natural evolution from their prior offerrings, Rubber Factory is a bit more polished, and an amazingly solid album all the way through, yet still raw and primal. Call them blues, call them rock, call them retro, call them whatever you want. Whatever you call them, call them damned good.

Alright, stop. Just listen to me for a second, that's all it takes. This album (and the band) are just awesome. Though nothing further needs to be said, I'll elabourate for you.

Fuzzy guitar, pounding drums and simple-yet-meaningful lyrics sung by a man who knows how to do it, this album has nothing wrong with it. It has everything a rock fan could ask for, with a very blues accent to it. You'll catch some 60's-70's Hendrix type parts now and then, and they fit in just perfectly with the style these geniuses play.

If I had to use another word (besides blistering, since I already used that!) to describe this, I'd say 'Raw'. It's just not screwed around with at all, these guys are just playing what feels good. And it happens to sound pretty damn good, too.

This year's White Stripes, only without the self-indulgence and the goofy backstory. I don't know how to describe this incredible album except to say that it sounds manly-deep voices, deep drums, a certain weight to the bluesy music. By the second song, lead single "10 A.M. Automatic," I'm hooked every time, floating through the rest of the album in awe, as if I'm wrapped tight in its manly arms. (Huh. Maybe that's why I love it so.) Rubber Factory sounds so much like a greatest hits album-every song is THAT good-that it's hard to believe these 13 songs represent a single effort. These guys are for real.

There is something great about rock and roll. To discover this greatness, you have to feel it. And timing is essential, for example- waking up on a Saturday morning and putting on that great song that sounds even better when it's that first riff-o-the-morning. People who love the dirty, bluesy, riff crazy rock can relate to this- and if one has that void to fill, try taking a smack to the head with the Black Keys. While reminiscent of mid-career Hendrix along with fried chicken, Rubber Factory will leave that chicken smell in your nose for a while, and that is what it seems the Black Keys aimed to do. "10 AM Automatic" is a perfect example of this, but it won't stop there, as the guitar hops around like a bouncy ball- sometimes bouncing too high. In other words: if you like back to basics rock and roll but need it entirely fresh, new, exciting, and maybe just a dash of the feeling that many had when they plopped Hendrix on their turntables for the first time, then you might want to consider The Black Keys. So much for tangents.

On their third and best album, the Black Keys consistently prove that they can do classic blues rock better than classic blues rock did. No matter what your musical taste, it is hard to deny the raw vocals and perfectly distorted guitar of Dan Auerback and the powerful beats of drummer Pat Carney. This album goes from more raw blues on tracks like "Grown So Ugly", to catchy, radio friendly songs such as "Act Nice and Gentle", it even explores the realm of somber rock ballads on the track titled "The Lengths." The band pulls off all of these styles extremely well putting their own spin on every track.
This album lives up to and surpasses its two predecessors. There is not one bad track. If you listen and find you appreciate the raw garage band sound of the Black Keys, do whatever you can to see them live. You will be blown away by how the Black Keys can perform such a loud, energetic show as a two-piece band. As Dan Auerback moves to the rise and fall of every sound his guitar makes, Pat Carney can barely keep from knocking his high hat symbol over. We can only hope that the Black Keys keep releasing albums that rock as hard as this one.