Rubber Factory - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
The third low-tech, high-impact recording from the Akron, Ohio, duo is once again a loud and lively confirmation that passion, not precision, is what the blues is all about. With Dan Auerbach's insistent, abrasive guitar tone and drummer Patrick Carney's violent percussion workouts, the Black Keys' sound thrashes about with industrial-strength garage-band energy, but it also connects directly to the core sensibilities of the original blues creators with its primal expressions of pain and pride. With Auerbach shouting out the vocals the duo rocks hard in its stripped-down, ragged glory mode on Hendrix-influenced shredders like "10 A.M. Automatic" and "The Desperate Man," the fuzzed-out "Till I Get My Way," and the surprisingly swinging "Just Couldn't Tie Me Down." But it also delivers the same emotional intensity in a less frantic form on the moody mini-masterpiece "The Lengths." And, for all the justifiable fascination with the out-of-control excitement of the duo's punkish instrumental approach, the group continues to excel at songcraft, a talent expressed both in its own material and in its ability to recognize and expand the disguised merits of lesser-known cover songs. It follows a previous Beatles rarity recording with a nod to the Kinks this time via a personalized cover of "Act Nice and Gentle," probably the last thing the Black Keys would ever be accused of being. --Michael Point

Customer Reviews: Read 61 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Their best album yet February 5, 2005
35 out of 36 found this review helpful

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...

4 out of 5 stars

Reminiscent of the 70s "No Frills" Rock.... Play it Loud! September 21, 2004
15 out of 17 found this review helpful

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!

5 out of 5 stars

Black Keys' Big bounce September 7, 2004
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

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.

5 out of 5 stars

Best album of 2004 October 8, 2004
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

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.

4 out of 5 stars

What's so wrong with derivative rock? September 20, 2004
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

This guitar and drum duo strikes again, and does to Foghat, Free, and Grand Funk Railroad what the White Stripes did to Led Zep. Is that too cryptic? Here's what I mean to say: this is big, warm, riff-oriented, 70's arena rock, dripping with reverb, and speaking with a slight delta blues inflection. It feels a little mainstream, and maybe not quite as urgent as their prior EPs, but c'mon, man, why does it always have to matter what other people think? Turn up the volume, then serve The Black Keys chilled with anything from The Dirtbombs to Chuck Berry. If you hate this album, buy it anyway. It'll be totally ironic.

Despite the fact these short, straightforward songs tickle my fancy, I'm tempted to give the album three stars because it feels a little too much like I'm riding through the 70's in a white van waiting for Van Halen to debut. However, this album has a way of growing on you. I'll give it four stars today, but I reserve the right to give it five tomorrow.

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