Master Of All Trades

Dan Auerbach

Keep It Hid

Nonesuch

Action Rating: 8/10

The debut solo album from Dan Auerbach, one half of the Black Keys (vocalist, guitarist). As you may have guessed, Dan carries most of the Black Keys’ sound over to this record. The absence of Black Keys’ drummer Pat Carney, who provides a ferocious rhythm, is apparent. Dan plays all the instruments with the exception to a couple of guests, such as his uncle James Quine, who provides vocal harmonies and rhythm guitar on a couple of tracks. Dan’s influences are very obvious on this record.

The album has a very vintage sound; it feels like an album from the 60s. It was recorded with an analog recorder. Keep It Hid was made for vinyl. The CD is even divided into Side A and Side B. The album flows as a record should, and incorporates a variety of genres. Songs range from the blues, gospel, soul, and rock and roll.

If you heard the song “Whispered Words” on the radio you might mistake it for an early 60’s rock song.

The song, “I Want Some More” is one of the standouts. Dan sings, “I’m just a kid in your walking candy store/Oh oh oh I want some more.” Complete with a fuzzed-out guitar riff, it is very reminiscent of the Black Keys.

“The Prowl” is a funky rock song that would make ZZ Top proud. It is another standout with it's super catchy riff.

Starting out with a drum machine beat, the title track, “Keep It Hid” is excellent.Dan Auerbach can play the blues as good as anyone, and that is exactly what he does here. He takes his best blues guitar skills, and with distorted vocals sings, “They’re coming for me girl and I ain’t got time/If they ask you darlin’ oh about what I did/baby you gotta keep it hid.” Eventually making it clear what he did, it’s a classic blues song.

“My Last Mistake” is straight up classic rock, very reminiscent of the Eagles. The chorus melody sticks in your head.

“Street Walkin” sounds like a Black Keys B-side; it is a good song but not great and stretches on a little longer than may have been necessary.

Dan’s songwriting truly shines in the acoustic songs. “Trouble Weighs a Ton” opens the album and it is rather cool because it does not have a time signature; it just rides upon Dan’s vocals. “When the Night Comes” is a beautiful song that ends the first half of the album. The second half ends with “Goin’ Home;” it is the most beautiful song Dan has ever written, making it seem that hope is on the way. With “Goin’ Home,” Dan Auerbach has arrived at song writing perfection.

On his first solo album, Dan Auerbach does not really leave his comfort zone, but rather embraces everything he is good at (including a variety of instruments). Nothing feels forced, and the album is “warm,” like you are right there when he is playing. Overall, Keep It Hid is a solid album. The album does not offer anything new; it has all been done before, but it has not been done this well in a long time!

Standout tracks: Trouble Weighs A Ton, I Want Some More, Heartbroken In Disrepair, The Prowl, Keep It Hid, My Last Mistake, Goin Home