A sprawling, psychedelic departure defined by lush analog synths, extended guitar solos, and a heavy, melancholic soul that trades garage grit for space-rock depth.
It's like The Black Keys went to the desert with Pink Floyd and a broken heart.
A heavy, psychedelic introspection that feels like a slow-motion fever dream of heartbreak.
Released in 2014, Turn Blue represents the most significant sonic pivot in The Black Keys' discography. Following the massive commercial success of El Camino, the band opted for a more challenging, psychedelic-leaning approach rather than repeating the 'singles-heavy' formula. Recorded across Hollywood, Michigan, and Nashville, the album was heavily shaped by the production of Danger Mouse, who encouraged the band to embrace longer song structures and more diverse instrumentation, including prominent synthesizers and Mellotron. The lyrical core of the album is notably dark, reflecting Dan Auerbach's personal life at the time, which contrasts with the upbeat, retro-rock of their previous era. Critics highlighted the opening track, 'Weight of Love,' as a bold statement of intent, drawing comparisons to Pink Floyd. While it divided some fans who missed the raw garage-rock energy, the album was praised by publications like Rolling Stone and Uncut for its ambition and 'sneaky' soulfulness. It stands as a mid-career masterpiece of mood and texture.
Put this on for
Headlights cutting through desert heat after midnightThat heavy silence after a long-term relationship finally endsStaring at the ceiling while the turntable spins the same side twiceWatching city lights blur through a rain-streaked taxi windowSolitary evening walk when the air feels thicker than usualSlow-burning realization that things won't go back to how they wereBack porch smoke while the neighborhood sleeps around you
Moments worth waiting for
The nearly seven-minute opening track Weight of Love which begins with acoustic strumming before erupting into a soaring, multi-part guitar odyssey.
The transition in Bullet in the Brain where the steady groove suddenly dissolves into a swirling, psychedelic bridge.
The way the bassline in the title track anchors a ghostly, high-register vocal performance that feels like it's floating in a void.
Sounds like
2014s production with a 2010s soul
Sits beside
Lonerism - Tame Impala, Modern Guilt - Beck, The Desired Effect - Brandon Flowers, Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
Lyrical territory
love_lost, self_examination, grief
03Deviation
Turn Blue · vs · The Black Keys
Artist
This Album
Medium Energy
Energy · ↓ −14% less than usual
On this album, medium energy sits about 14% less prominent than across the rest of the artist's catalogue.
