Chulahoma

iTunes Review

Released between Rubber Factory and Magic Potion, the Chulahoma EP covers six songs written by Junior Kimbrough, the late Mississippi bluesman whom The Black Keys cite as a primary influence (they were on the Fat Possum label together for a time). As the Keys covered Kimbrough songs on each of their first two releases, this homage makes natural sense—yet the Keys still put their own twist on things. Rather than faithfully recreate Kimbrough’s versions, the duo taps into the feel and trace-like groove of the originals while injecting the sophisticated hard-rock crunch of Dan Auerbach’s guitar and Patrick Carney’s thundering drumming. Further setting the songs apart is the hazy production. Psychedelic touches (such as the swirling organ on “Have Mercy on Me,” the moody vibe of “Meet Me in the City,” and the creeping drone of “Junior’s Instrumentals”) do the songs justice while sounding definitively like The Black Keys. Even Auerbach’s soulful vocals tap into the lusty wail at the heart of Kimbrough’s music. Overall, it’s a worthy tribute from a band with the chops and sincerity to pull it off.