Of all the topics out there, how in the world does one land on the best songs by the Black Keys?
Some things, as they say, just resonate.
Two guys—Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney.
A beat up city—Akron, Ohio, the former tire manufacturing powerhouse dubbed the Rubber Capital of the World.
A first gig in Cleveland, one that drew an estimated crowd of eight.
In 2003, two years after forming, the duo played the Bug Jar, a dive-like venue in my backyard that doubles as a sure sign that you haven’t made it.
Recognition eventually trickled in, but it took almost a decade for a true commercial breakthrough.
Now, over two decades and twelve albums later, humble folks in northeast Ohio point to the Black Keys as proof that there’s more than, well, northeast Ohio.
Stated another way, having spent over three years writing for myself in upstate New York, these are the stories that keep me going.
As such, here are the ten best songs by the Black Keys, with the disclaimer that the band’s garage-rock-indie-rock-blues-rock portfolio is stacked, and it’s hard to go wrong no matter where you dive in.
“Heavy Soul” (2002)
From the debut album, The Big Come Up, this tune made it clear the band could play, even if it would take a while for the rest of the world to catch on.
“Girl Is on My Mind” (2004)
If this song—from the third album, aptly titled Rubber Factory—sounds like it was recorded in an abandoned tire manufacturing plant, that’s because it was.
“I Got Mine” (2008)
Off the fifth album, Attack & Release, this track exhibits a slightly more polished sound, not surprising given that the album was the band’s first in a professional studio with an actual producer (Danger Mouse).
“Tighten Up” (2010)
The sixth album, Brothers, was recorded in Alabama’s iconic Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and served as the aforementioned breakthrough, earning a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. This song—the lead single—nabbed a Grammy as well.
“Lonely Boy” (2011)
By the next album, El Camino, the band had moved to Nashville, where it produced this hit, also a Grammy winner.
“Gold on the Ceiling” (2012)
The same LP—itself winner of the Grammy for Best Rock Album—was loaded. Case in point.
“Little Black Submarines” (2012)
See above.
“Weight of Love” (2015)
Album number eight, Turn Blue, had psychedelic undertones, evidenced by this Pink-Floydesque track.
“Wild Child” (2022)
The first single off the eleventh album, Dropout Boogie, was a return to the blues rock that defines the band (and has perhaps contributed to intermittent feuds with another purveyor of that sound, Jack White).
“Beautiful People (Stay High)” (2024)
And finally, from the most recent album, Ohio Players, here’s a reminder that the Black Keys still got it.
So thank you, Akron dudes, for inspiring indie artists everywhere.
