The Black Keys Announces New Album Let’s Rock for June 2019 Release

The classic, American rock band The Black Keys have announced the release of their ninth studio album, Let’s Rock, the first full-length record they’ve released in five years. The duo’s new project will feature 12 original tracks and will be released on June 28th through Easy Eye Sound/Nonesuch Records.

The long-awaited record is a nostalgic return to straightforward rock music the Arkon, Ohio artists have delivered to their fans since the early days. Singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach mentioned in a press release, “When we’re together we are The Black Keys, that’s where that real magic is, and always has been since we were sixteen.” The lengthy break to focus on independent projects didn’t hinge on the band’s creativity once they got back into the studio, in fact, they got back into writing and producing their material with no warning as usual. “We fell right back into it, really, day one,” said drummer Patrick Carney to Rolling Stone. “We wrote two songs the first day. We’re just fucking around, and that’s what comes out.”

Auerbach and Carney also put out the second single for the upcoming record, entitled “Eagle Bird;” it follows the debut release of their first single “Lo/Hi” last month. The solid rock track features familiar sounds from the guitar riffs, to the catchy beats and epic guitar solo. Auerbach performs lyrics that any listener can relate to, singing, “Don’t nobody wanna be lonely / Everybody oughta be loved sometime.”

Let’s Rock was all written, tracked live, and produced by the duo in the Easy Eye Sound studio, created by Auerbach, in Nashville. Featuring background vocals from the talented Leisa Hans and Ashley Wilcoxson, Carney discusses the sound of the new record, stating “The record is like a homage to electric guitar. We took a simple approach and trimmed all the fat like we used to.”

The inspiration for the album title name, however, is one on the darker side of things. Auerbach told the Rolling Stone that during recording, the duo came across a Tennessee newspaper story about the state delivering their first electric-chair execution in about 11 years. When the guards went to ask the convicted murderer, Edmund Zagorski, about his last words, he replied with “Let’s rock!” This anecdote is the inspiration to the title and the album cover, it being an electric chair.

If fans want to catch The Black Keys live in concert, a list of their North American tour dates begins on September 23, click here to a previous MXDWN article that lists them out. Check out the full album tracklist below, and until then, fans will have to wait until the summer to get their hands on new material.

Let’s Rock Tracklist:

1. Shine A Little Light
2. Eagle Birds
3. Lo/Hi
4. Walk Across The Water
5. Tell Me Lies
6. Every Little Thing
7. Get Yourself Together
8. Sit Around and Miss You
9. Go
10. Breaking Down
11. Under The Gun
12. Fire Walk With Me

Photo taken by Raymond Flotat