The Black Keys, a band that rose to fame with their album “Brothers,” shows a departure from their indie blues-rock origins with their new album “Turn Blue.” In this, the band’s eighth album, they take a left turn into themes of regret and sadness as lead singer Auerbach laments a lost relationship. As soulful and expressive as this music is, it may come as a letdown for Keys fans who are expecting more of the millennium-era rock they heard in “El Camino.”
Though “Turn Blue” displays less pounding drums and big hooks, the two-man band sounds like a mini-orchestra with their newfound mastery of the music. Less fury and more finesse seems to be a theme in “Turn Blue.”
The tracks “Waiting on Words” and “Fever” both exemplify some of The Black Keys’ former garage-punk style, but many other songs explore forays into different styles. “Weight of Love,” the opening track, sets the tone for the rest of the album with its waves of guitar solos punctuated by the bell of the drum.
The strange mixture of styles makes for an interesting and soulful album, although overall it isn’t calibrated to please fans. It may take some digesting for diehard Black Keys fans, but “Turn Blue” proves to be somber in a way that isn’t altogether unpleasing.
