Just a psychotic girl, and I want to get lost in your world.

I'd like to direct your attention at this juncture to a band that has recieved far, far too little attention lately. The Black Keys, a blues- and classic rock-inflected garage duo, have just released their latest album, "Attack and Release," which is their first album to date produced in an actual studio. Produced by Danger Mouse, this album is absolutely one of the best I have heard recently and one of the most original, least derivative works in the past decade or so, at least. Sure, you can hear both some White Stripes and some Radiohead in them... but, then again, that's just awesome. White Stripes plus Radiohead? Holy hell.

You may have heard the track "Strange Times" on the radio. It's been released as the lead single off of the album, and rightly so--its verse beat is amazingly infectious, and it opens with just the drums pounding out a crazy rhythm. Then it breaks it down into a half-time chorus, only to smack you in the face again with sheer badass when the beat comes back in. Very simple stuff, but purely great music.

My favorite track may be the bluesy, bluesy, heavy as hell "Lies." Dan Auerbach's voice just reeks of the blues, as he sings "I wanna die, without pain." This song, though it never goes over the top whatsoever, is packed to bursting with emotion--one of a very few songs I have heard recently capable of really affecting me in such a powerful way, in the elite company of the White Stripes' cover of "Jolene" and the Beatles' "Because."

Though I don't honestly have the time to rave about every track on this album, just take my word for it that there is not a bad second in the entire thing. This may be the most legitimate blues record since the days of Son House. Auerbach keeps his composure while simultaneously tearing us to pieces with the blues... not a common gift. Actually, don't take my word for it. Go and get the damn album. I can't recommend it enough. In the meantime dig on "Strange Times" courtesy of the Youtubes.

(Also, from an earlier album... "Your Touch" is a great song, and the video is ridiculous.)