Turn Blue
| The Black Keys
Turn Blue
Turn Blue is the eighth studio album by American rock duo the Black Keys. It was co-produced by Danger Mouse and the band, and was released on Nonesuch Records on May 12, 2014. The record was the group's fourth collaboration with Danger Mouse, following their previous studio album, El Camino (2011), which was their biggest commercial and critical success to that point. For Turn Blue, Danger Mouse reprised his role from El Camino as an equal songwriting partner alongside guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney.-Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
Show All-
Rolling Stone
Return to basics: a heavy blues. In every other way, that turmoil is a giant step into the best, most consistently gripping album the Keys have ever made.
-
Pitchfork
You can't fault them for trying to get deep, but this is one band for which shallowness is a virtue.
-
The Guardian
Their supremely confident eighth album suggests a band at the peak of their powers now occupying their own orbit.
-
Consequence of Sound
The airwaves are about to get more adventurous thanks to a band that finally decided to go big.
-
Spin
At least they no longer sound like they’re producing records in a Black Keys factory.
-
Billboard
there's something to be said for stylistic diversity, and The Black Keys say it well.
-
NME
They’re the ones that direct your emotions, the ones we have the most visceral and inexplicable reactions to.
-
The Current
For all their experimentation and bluesy wanderings, the Black Keys deliver with a clutch of ultra-catchy songs.
-
Paste Magazine
A darker, less linear album—a logical curveball following that Grammy-winning LP’s eager-to-please charm.
-
Spill Magazine
It’s these contrasting styles of blues, psychedelic and garage rock that help make Turn Blue such a memorable album.
-
Chicago Tribune
Contains their most atmospheric and somber music yet. More finesse, less fury.
-
Uncut
Turn Blue turns out to be their sneakiest, subtlest and most seductive. It might be the first Black Keys record for lovers, in fact
-
All Music
impresses because it does what all great bands should do: it captures a band stretching while always sounding like themselves.
-
Telegraph
Genuinely thrilling.
-
Express UK
turns heartbreak into something truly beautiful…
-
Time
They still sounded like themselves even when their choruses became exponentially more robust. The Black Keys Go Big.
-
Slant Magazine
There’s still a two-man garage band in there, but Auerbach and Patrick Carney are currently catering to earbuds rather than stadiums.
-
Journal Star
Dense, laid-back mix of songs.
-
AV Club
aspires to talk about the complex nature of relationships, yet has nothing meaningful to say.
-
LA Times
Low-key but also low energy.
-
Sputnik Music
was indeed a Bullet to the brain.
-
Uproxx
Meant to be heard in its entirety with your full attention as the music pans from left to right and flows from your ears into your brain.
-
Beaumonde Guitars
I can only imagine they wrote this dad-rock anthem for the sole purpose of being asked to perform it at next year’s Super Bowl.
-
XS Noise
A heavy dose of introspection on this release. Lyrically the band has gone from “Hey Babe you look fine”, to “babe you done me wrong.”
-
Hollywood Report
The garage band progenitors get into some new, fuzz-toned psychedelia on their new album, with mostly positive results.
-
Glide Magazine
At this point one of America’s biggest rock bands are able to do it all.
-
Live for Live
is some high quality music, and is certainly not to be overlooked.
-
EW
No matter how far out their space explorations take them, they’ve always got one foot in the gutter.
-
Infectious Magazine
Once again released an impressive record with Turn Blue, catering to old fans and attracting some new.
-
Void Live
They’re still getting more diverse and releasing material that’s fresh and exciting.
-
Music OMH
And strong tracks keep on coming.
-
KEXP
is something greater altogether – the expansive, stunning work of a band finding comfort in sound.
-
Static and Feedback
A thick beat slowly building into a song that is in no hurry to be anywhere soon.
-
SF Gate
Reveling in lush strings, warm synths and slinky soul melodies.
-
Brent Music Reviews
Possessing a much darker, often pessimistic vibe.
-
All Things Loud
Is a sonic rollercoaster, and by far one of the standout records.
-
Pretty Much Amazing
is the sound of the band baring their soul and testing the parameters.
-
U pf S Media
There is no denying the talent these artists display by this boast of musical range.
-
Craig Reviews Music
What initially seems like an odd move becomes an interesting and more mature venture from the Ohio natives.
-
Independent
Catchy, hook-laden melodies harnessed to tank-tread riffs that made its predecessor so irresistible.
-
The National
Hopefully, now that they’ve got their “musician’s album” out of the way, the duo can ditch the bells and whistles and get back to basics.
-
WPGU
They’re a band that can take a time-out with an album like Turn Blue and still have a remarkable following that can appreciate the album’s versatility it for what it is.
-
Hackney Gazette
Arena-sized duo pour psych and prog into the mix for a trippier eighth album.
-
The Aggie
bring a much needed freshness to their sound.
-
Sound Blab
have yet another winner here, despite their best efforts not to.
-
Spectrum Culture
The core of its success is the amalgamation of the Akron duo’s musical influences into one rarified rock style.
-
Kentucky
Cue up summer, everyone. The party album of the season has arrived.
-
Off The Tracks
There’s just no kick here. There’s no snarl. There’s nothing beyond some fake cool-nonchalance.
-
American Songwriter
is the most masterful representation to date of the duo’s successful transformation from lost-in-the-milieu garage rockers to game-changing, widely appealing songwriters.
-
Highway 81 Revisited
the Black Keys choose to travel down the road not taken and come away with an album that proves they aren’t just a one-trick pony.
-
Common Sense Media
There's definitely more psychedelia and less blues and rock 'n' roll.
-
Chord UK
This is as much fun as anything I’ve heard this year and there ain’t no doubt about it.
-
Cryptic Rock
Should definitely be a contender in the Grammy nominations next year as it will leave a lasting impression on fans.
-
Nonesuch
A giant step into the best, most consistently gripping album the Keys have ever made.
-
Under the Radar
A step in the right direction. It tries hard enough to break away from their mold.
-
USCD Gaurdian
Provides a full-album experience; the songs are cohesive, creating a mood that lasts throughout.
-
DU Clarion
It comes off as a cool, accessible psych-rock album that could easily be played in Starbucks shops across the country.
-
Drowned in Sound
If you’ve liked where the band have gone since Dangermouse came on board, you’ll find plenty to appreciate here
-
Irish Times
are still firing on all cylinders, though going for a cruise rather than a crash.
-
The Cambridge
A hugely listenable album, written and recorded by incredibly talented musicians.
-
Impact 89
Another great album that is well worth a listen to any fan of good modern rock
-
Sonic Abuse
It’s a satisfying piece of work that, whilst not every single track is a stone-clad classic,
-
Arts Fuse
has its charms, even if it takes a few listens before they become apparent.
-
GW Radio Music
All-in-all, Turn Blue isn’t a bad record.
-
Triblive
Lacks some of the heftier licks the band is most known for, the group's show was nothing short of a knockout performance that will keep fans coming
-
RVA Magazine
took the band’s individuality and amped it up a notch with scores of stand-out solos, riffs and edgy vocals.
-
Fortitude Magazine
A hugely enjoyable, dynamic and accomplished record. It twists in a design of hard-hitting,
-
Tone Publications
Doesn’t really present any answers but lets the Black Keys thrive as sonic explorers rather than deep thinkers.
-
Flavorwire
Dan Auerbach knows how to write a riff that sticks in your head, Carney is an uninhibited drummer.
-
Zumic
the album is pretty dark - especially lyrically.
-
Kill the Music
Needless to say this album is very impressive. It provides energetic rock rhythm pieces as well as relaxed songs.
-
Louder than War
Might take a few listens but persistence will be heavily rewarded.
-
Mandatory
On its way to being the most inventive, experimental and rewarding.
-
Wisdom And Folly
The album does contain some catchy pop-rock tunes.
-
Ham&High UK
A slow-burning ying to El Camino’s yang.
-
Musik Express
The iron production of Danger Mouse and the charm of the band make for an okay rock record.
-
Clash
is pure searing sexiness, hotter than a Nashville afternoon.
-
Vulture
Just sounds so spooky. From a Vincent Price–esque pipe organ to what can only be described as "an alien dragonfly on the attack,"
-
Bristol in Stereo
It is a leaner, braver offering than The Black Keys more recent releases, and it’s to the records benefit.
-
Nouse
Curiosity and ability – two weird things to coincide- and it may have just pulled off making a cornucopia of variety and entertainment.
-
AXS
Overall it’s pretty good.
-
WIUX
The instrumentation is always spot on in their studio albums, and this is no different. The production is also impeccable.
-
On Tour Monthly
Chalked full of excellent songwriting. Fans of the band will not be disappointed.
-
Blues Rock Review
A solid album, proving that taking risks will often work. Turn Blue is an album for not only fans of The Black Keys, but fans of all things that rock.
-
The National
The Black Keys are back and a little different. But that’s certainly not a bad thing.
-
Eric Mack Attacks
It’s an album I’ll be listening to again and again for some time.
-
Transistor
The duo’s golden run is still continuing and at this rate.
-
Payton Paw Print
Although we can surely expect great songs out of the Keys in the future, Turn Blue was a bit of a disappointment.
-
Laut
the gentlemen from Akron sounded different with each new album. So you can stay excited about where the journey is going.
-
News OK
The answer is “Turn Blue,” where risk meets reward.
-
Newsday
Black Keys have managed to expand their palette and artistic vision without losing their focus. Everything here is tight and hard-hitting.
-
WSYC FM
Keys have successfully added to their already impressive catalog with another solid record.
-
KJHK
Overall, the album is not perfect, but represents something that most Black Keys haters points out: change.
-
Music Blogged
Unfortunately the magic that makes many Black Keys songs stick in the back of your head like glue is being unstuck by the weight of the production on this album.5/10
-
Society of Sound
The Black Keys are back!
-
Financial Times
Turn Blue isn’t so much heavy and dark as drowsy and predictable.
-
303 Magazine
Warning: Side effects include drooling, immediate attraction to smooth drums and electric guitar riffs.
-
Spectrum Pulse
is a deeper reflection of its songwriters, then I'm glad they've mostly been fit to stick with upbeat, remorselessly shallow crunch in their rock.
-
The Niche Cache
Not a bad one, just a very disappointing one given what they’re capable of serving up.
-
Velocities in Music
This album really doesn’t flow well because it’s not designed to be an album; it’s designed to be a sampling of the Black Key’s work with Danger Mouse.
-
Music Corners
Every song brings it's own characteristics with a different twist in each track.
-
NBHAP
the American rock band THE BLACK KEYS actually calls for the imperative.
-
Viodlive
Something we should all appreciate, and something they should hang their hats on as they continue to toy with different sounds and influences.
-
All Music
impresses because it does what all great bands should do: it captures a band stretching while always sounding like themselves.
-
MPR News
they stretch out — pulling their music like funhouse taffy into new and interesting shapes.
-
Clarion Call News
best album to date. It’s an album that can be played at parties, barbecues and dare I say, nightclubs. It looks like blues acts for this century just got a harder act to follow.
-
Pop Matters
have successfully added to their already impressive album with another solid record.
-
Good Men Project
Duo’s new album is a solid ’70s flashback.
-
The Upcoming UK
Time truly is a magical thing, and from their last endeavour the duo have created an album that will stand the test of time.
-
The National Student
Fine piece of blues-rock grooviness and a must have for any self-respecting Black Keys fan.
-
The Hindu
is an album that you’ll have to let to grow on you, every listen piquing an interest in a song you might have ignored earlier.
-
Amoeba Music
Offering a unique take on blue-eyes soul-boogie that many contemporary rock fans are still having trouble finding.
-
Exclaim
It all sounds great, but the songs don't sink in, don't push past the surface.
-
The Waster
They had such a different sound, and I really miss it. Needless to say, I wasn’t a big fan of this album.
-
The Musical Hype
there is nothing triumphant to be found here – everything is damaged, dark, and destroyed.
-
Earmilk
They have hit the sweet spot of balance with their latest musical offering.
Rate This Album and Leave Your Comments