If I were to write a review of The Black Key’s new album Turn Blue I would probably have to tell you which studio album they were on, how this album interacts with their past albums, and what new influences obviously lead to their blue turn. I would probably also have to mention 100 other bands or producers before ever talking about the Black Keys themselves, especially British Cartoon Character Danger Mouse who has something to do with this album. And it would be important to mention they are from Akron, because I guess… the Akron Music Scene? I know that would be the case because I made the mistake of reading reviews of Turn Blue before writing this post.

It is astounding. It astounds me because they never really get around to talking about the album itself, and they never give me the sense that they experienced the album. The goal from the beginning of their review is, simply, to tell you whether or not they think the album, from a critical standpoint, is good. Which apparently they can do without ever really talking about The Black Key’s music, and quite possibly listening to the whole thing. I obviously do not understand the business side because their reviews make no sense to me.

I bought this album at a record store in Memphis because I heard them sing on The Colbert Report. I don’t remember the song they sang because that was a long time ago, I just remember it was catchy and the album cover was cool, that was enough for me.

I appreciate this band first, because they include a copy of the CD with the record, and they gave me a poster. That is important because I don’t care to buy CD’s or simply download mp3s, they make it worth spending more money on the analog copy. Without the record there is nothing to touch. Many bands offer a free download, but these guys went the extra mile and gave me a CD.

Secondly, something strange happens when Fever comes on. My disco ball finds a way to entice me into turning it on and I start to dance. Not quite sure why this happens EVERY TIME!!! But it does and that is something I am just going to have to live with it, as will my wife and children. Right away that song grabs me and pulls me from my seat. At that point it doesn’t even matter what the song is about, I’m already in. The whole album goes back and forth from this psychedelic blues to pop, and by then end, I have lost like 45 minutes and I’m covered in sweat.

Of course it starts strong, Weight of Love introduces something delightfully forlorn, and the message continues as I slow dance through the album. The album helps me say goodbye, and who doesn’t need to say goodbye to something? Turn blue makes me confront a certain kind of baggage, baggage that I am ready to let go of.  I can’t stay angry long while listening to these guys. Their mellow mix of forlorn sadness and slow drive leaves me with the feeling that everything is going to be ok, even if the process takes a long time, even amidst the bullshit serenade.  And quite honestly, sometimes I need that. This album gives me the permission to turn blue without the expectation that I stay there forever.

And Finally, I think I was hypnotized by the artwork.

And as much as I would love to end this post with that idea I can’t. I have to say that of the reviews I read lack something very important when it comes to this album, a fresh ear. The reviewers spend so much time defining context that they miss something important, that this album creates its own context. Turn Blue made me a Black Keys fan. Not because there is anything wrong with their other albums, I just haven’t heard them.  Sure, this may be a their 50^th album, and often I agree that most things don’t exist in a vacuum, but for the first time in my life I might just have found something that did.

And it turned blue.