Keep It Hid

iTunes Review

Keep It Hid is the first solo album by the guitarist and singer of the Black Keys, and it’s nothing shy of amazing. Dirty, gritty, at times spooky, and unrelentingly funky, it’s less a departure from his work with Patrick Carney in the Black Keys, and more of a full-bodied extension of that band’s sound and feel. With a diverse yet cohesive set of songs, Auerbach delivers powerhouse rock-n-soul (“Mean Monsoon,” “The Prowl,” “My Last Mistake”), hook-filled heavy blues (“I Want Some More,” “When I Left the Room”), and moving, world-weary ballads (“Trouble Weighs a Ton,” “Whispered Words (Pretty Lies),” “When the Night Comes”). Along with guitar, Auerbach also plays drums, percussion, and keyboards here, but this is much more than just a one-man effort. He brought in a handful of friends and family to help fill out the sound, as well as to help write some of the tunes, and this added dimension helps reveal other sides of Auerbach’s songwriting talents. He's a deeply soulful and emotional singer who's able to tap into dark themes of isolation, betrayal, and regret, and somehow make it a cathartic experience. Fans of the Black Keys will flip for Keep It Hid, as should about anyone else within earshot.