A Black Key?

From jambase.com

Here’s an event to plan my next trip to DC around:

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=15843

Strange times indeed.

After the release of Magic Potion, their fifth album and first on a non-indie label, The Black Keys made it very clear that they were not going to be pigeon-holed as simply a blues duo. Their first three efforts were deeply rooted in the blues, but they wanted to branch out a bit. Magic Potion proved to be just that…them branching out a little bit. The bluesy riffs were still there, but there was an obvious movement towards unchartered waters. The question was whether they would continue down that path and leave the Mississippi Delta behind completely, or would they get homesick and run home to Mama?

Two things have dropped the hint that they have no intentions whatsoever in slowing down this metamorphosis. One, they announced that their new album would be produced by Danger Mouse, not exactly a bastion of hill country blues. Second and most importantly, they’ve released the first track from the new album, Attack & Release. I’d say it’s clear they’re still very much intent on exploring new things. After the jump, a little taste…

Download of the day.

Okay, so maybe Season 5 isn’t exactly living up to the hype. Which is particularly upsetting, since it took all these years to get everyone to pay attention. People finally come over and all they find in place of the show we love is a shell of its former self. I mean, not to be too harsh…but in the grand scheme of things, it sucks.

However, there’s one thing that has always remained consistently top-notch. The music. Just now, browsing around on iTunes, I find this diamond in the rough. …And All The Pieces Matter: Five Years of Music From The Wire. As we all know, the flagship tune of any given season is the rendition of “Way Down In the Hole,” performed by a different artist each time. Interestingly, the version from this season, as sung by Steve Earle (who has a bit part in the series), isn’t here. Eh, didn’t really care for it that much anyway. But there’s not just the opening credit songs, there’s the four songs that David Simon chose to play in the last episode of each season, which are all solid. My favorite is “Fast Train” by Solomon Burke, which Elbows and I were playing a little bit a couple weeks ago. I was particularly happy to see “Step By Step” by Jesse Winchester, which was previously unavailable anywhere online. In between are other tracks and even some key dialogue.

After the jump, a great excerpt from the included digital booklet.

The Black Keys

Well, the Black Keys are finally coming back to town after too long of an absence.  They will be at the 9:30 Club on May 15th and 16th (Thursday and Friday).  The tour is in suport of their Danger Mouse-produced fifth album, Attack & Release, which is also their first recorded in a proper studio.  Pre-sale (with reduced fees) for the show starts 1/11 at 10 AM.  Click here to hear them play at the 9:30 Club on their last visit to Washington in November 2006.