Since
the Black Keys made their commercial breakthrough with 2010's
Brothers and 2011's
Camino, the duo have latched on to a signature sound, a likably dirty groove that's part blues, part soul, and part dancefloor-filling R&B, filtered through some vintage rock & roll raunch and with a mildly stoned vibe for seasoning. It's their sound, they own it, it's what their fans want, and they deliver it in hip-shaking form on 2024's
Ohio Players, a title that tips its hat both to their home state and one of the key bands of the '70s funk boom that's part of their inspiration. Of course, it's no fun having a party all by your lonesome, and
Dan Auerbach and
Patrick Carney have brought in a bunch of guests to help bring this home; while there's a small irony in these two guys wanting so much help to create sounds that seem second nature to them by now, the results show they know what they're doing.
Beck co-wrote the opening track, "This Is Nowhere," which does reflect a bit of his sense of anxiety that's somehow fun, and he sings and/or plays on seven songs overall.
Noel Gallagher adds some Britpop guitar shimmer to "On the Game,"
Dan the Automator helped build the hip-hop-infused backing track for "Beautiful People (Stay High),"
Juicy J drops some world-class braggadocio on "Paper Crown," and
Leon Michaels, formerly of
Sharon Jones'
Dap Kings and part of
Auerbach's side project
the Arcs, is a key utility player, bringing guitar, keyboards, and sax to the mix. Despite the abundance of high-priced help, the final product sounds like nothing other than
the Back Keys, and if the music doesn't always speak loudly of their deep roots in the blues, their potent cover of
William Bell's "I Want to Be Your Lover" is pure classic soul and one of the most effective tracks on the LP. "This Is Nowhere," "Only Love Matters," and "Every Time You Leave" all bear a moody undercurrent, as if the
Keys were throwing this whole bash to forget some bad times, and it isn't entirely working. Which is to say
Ohio Players isn't the most frantic celebration
the Black Keys have delivered, but more than enough of it will get your body moving that it qualifies as a success. ~ Mark Deming
