Chulahoma - Dark Publications

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•	Rubber Factory
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•	The Big Come Up
•	Attack and Release

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
For their latest, Akron, Ohio duo The Black Keys have brought forth an EP of six songs by Junior Kimbrough. This is no mere dalliance; the late elder Mississippi blues musician was a powerful influence on guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. Their three previous albums, full of dusty grooves and simple but impassioned dynamics, would have found strong rapport with Kimbrough, who unfortunately died before they could ever meet. However, his widow, Mildred gives her passionate endorsement for these performances in the form of a short phone message that appears at the end of the disc. Among the highpoints is "Meet Me in the City," which positively shimmers as the plaintive vocal soars over a virato-ed guitar. The Black Keys, besides paying their heartfelt respects, also demonstrate the breadth and durability of Kimbrough's music. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

The Black Keys Are Getting Better With Age May 2, 2006
24 out of 24 found this review helpful

This is a great EP and more than worth the money it costs. You need to keep in mind though that this is not your typical Black Keys album. It actually sounds more like their first album The Big Come Up than their last album Rubber Factory. This album has the rawness of their first album and is not as polished as Rubber Factory. To me this is a good thing though. I love rough and raw music. This is also why it is so cool that they are doing Junior Kimbrough songs. Kimbrough is probably one of the rawest blue artists ever and the Black Keys really capture his sound and even take it a step further by using their distorted guitar and raw backbone drumming. If you don't know Junior Kimbrough he is really worth checking out but you need to be aware that some of his songs "wander" a bit, meaning that they aren't clean, concise, and under three minutes. The same is true for the songs on this album. Overall though I think this is one of the best efforts the Black Keys have offered yet.

5 out of 5 stars

An outstanding piece of work May 12, 2006
20 out of 22 found this review helpful

This is a brilliant release. I have been itching for a new Black Keys release since getting a hold of The Rubber Factory and this EP is every bit as satisfying(if not more so) than a full LP of new original Keys material.

What is perhaps most impressive about this collection of songs is that it will undoubtedly bring great blues music to the attention of people that may not have ever heard it otherwise. The Doors were the first band to bring the brilliant song writing of Willie Dixon to my attention and the Keys have done the exact same with the music of Junior Kimbrough.

The production is exactly what it should be- clean, clear and direct. The songs themselves are outstanding. One thing that really strikes me about this EP is just how sincere this recording comes across. These young guys sound every bit as genuine and real as The Rolling Stones did way back when while covering the legendary Blues and R&B standards that inspired them.

I hate to take shortcuts by name dropping bands like The Doors and The Rolling Stones, but if my comparisons get your attention, then my mission is accomplished.

The pop hooks of songs like 10A.M. Automatic may not be here, but everything that is good in music most certainly is.

Buy this.

5 out of 5 stars

Just Another Fantastic BK Album June 25, 2006
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Everything these guys have put out is gold. If your favorite White Stripes song is Ball and Biscuit you'll love the Black Keys. I recommend starting with the Big Come Up and working your way through the albums to this one.

If they don't play a small venue in or around NYC soon I will cry. For a band that sounds like this to open for Radiohead in MSG for $70 a pop is a joke.

4 out of 5 stars

Love It: The reviews are right on the money November 29, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

A nod to the insight of two other reviewers:

A) Ball and Biscuit is indeed far and away my favorite White Stripes song and I understand why the other reviewer makes that point in relation to the Black Keys.

B) In linking this intense-blues-groover to the Rolling Stones in their heyday, I would specifically point to I Just Want To See His Face, the fragmentary gospel-blues-from-the-jungle groove near the end of Exile On Main Street.

I have just started exploring the Black Keys lately on the recommendation of a friend and up to now, have very much liked but not fallen in love with this band. However, Chulahoma stopped me dead in my tracks and just knocked me out. This is such intense, grooving blues, elastic without being jammy, can't say enough about it. The vocals are mixed evenly with guitar and drums giving the effect of an album of near-insturmentals. This is a good thing.

If you are coming at this record from a rock and roll fan perspective, it will naturally lead you to the deep-blues of Junior Kimbrough. Thank you Black Keys and Thank you Junior Kimbrough.

3 out of 5 stars

Good band...decent recording. October 1, 2006
1 out of 17 found this review helpful

OK, well I don't normally write Amazon reviews but this one needs it. OK, first off I am a Black Keys fan, although I only own their debut The Big Come Up. I really enjoy that album. This one seemed to me to be a similar endeavor to their aforementioned album. Needless to say I thought it would be a nice little addition to my music collection...

Well, I pop it in to discover that the first 3 songs I can barely make out Dan's lyrics. The last 3 songs are a little better in that regard but it put a damper on the whole album.

Another thing which is more of a pet peeve of mine is "blues" music that isn't 12 bar blues, much like this albums songs. The songs presented here just seem like a never-ending riff, and there doesn't seem to be any structure to them. Maybe that's the way Junior did it, I'm not familiar with his work. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend this album, however I would recommend The Big Come Up if you don't already have it and are wondering what The Black Keys are all about.

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