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Critic Reviews
100
On his bluesy badass solo outing Keep It Hid, Auerbach takes a breather from the house-wrecking stomps favoured by the Black Keys to show what he can do with either just an acoustic guitar or a full band ready to do his bidding.
10y
90
Dan Auerbach was responsible for helping make one of the better albums of 2008, and Keep It Hid is already a contender in 2009. Should we go ahead and call him the current King of the Hill? Based on all available evidence, he’s that guy, and the competition for his crown is not particularly close at this time.
13y
90
It’s doubtful any Keys fan will mistake this for betrayal as Auerbach moves flawlessly through all of his favorite frames of reference
5y
85
Fans of Auerbach’s previous material may miss Patrick Carney’s percussion, but Keep It Hid is something else entirely, an opportunity for Auerbach to flex all his musical muscles without confining Carney’s own strength.
11y
83
Keep It Hid, his first collection of solo recordings, never strays too far from the plaque-covered crackle of his day-job riffs; when it does, the well-worn results flirt with rootsy perfection
11y
80
It all feels organic, right down to how it feels natural for Auerbach to step outside of the Black Keys to release this album: it really is something that he couldn't have made with Carney, and its existence winds up confirming the immense talents of both musicians.
15y
80
By the time he gets to the whiskey-soaked lament 'Whispered Words' you'll be wishing you had a back porch.
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2y
80
One may not need re-invent the wheel but there’s certainly something to be said for building a damn good one.
8y
80
If you go into this album expecting a hard rocking, bluesy Black Keys style effort, expect to be disappointed (as I was the first couple of listens.) If you give the album the respect it deserves, be prepared to be thrilled, and excited about this extra nugget of Auerbach’s immense talent and song styling abilities.
11y
80
In the right hands, nostalgia can become a delicate, authentic rediscovery rather than the clunky retread that so many settle for.
8y
80
Auerbach has a less screeching, more deeply pained tone, sometimes flitting around the extreme, like an ageing artist singing out his final days in tiny clubs, full of vitriol and cynicism for chances missed.
5y
80
From the lurking threat of 'Street Walkin'' to the pretty sadness of closer 'Goin' Home,' this is outsider's music. Therein lie its real strength.
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2y
80
It is an album in the original sense of the word, offering a coherent display of Auerbach’s influences.
10y
70
Keep It Hid is a solid first solo effort for the Black Keys vocalist/guitarist, but could use a healthier dose of surprise.
12y
70
The musician incorporates a variety of distinct influences, from smooth Memphis soul to heavily distorted psychedelia.
10y
70
A highly accomplished solo debut from Auerbach.
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2y
70
While there is no denying that Keep It Hid is the product of one half of modern rock’s most invigorating duos, Auerbach is able to mix in enough of his own spice to make the album a worthwhile affair
13y
70
Black Keys singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach opens his first solo outing with an acoustic country blues that sounds utterly authentic but signifies mainly as a museum-quality reproduction. Fortunately, the rest of Keep It Hid hews more closely to the Keys’ scuzz-encrusted, blunt-instrument assault.
11y
62
The more Auerbach changes things, the more they stay the same.
15y
60
Keep It Hid lacks the brutish force of the Keys' stuff, but it makes up for it with variety.
9y
60
Keep It Hid is a solid piece of work ... and songs like Whispered Words and the title track show him to be more than a bearded bloke playing a mean guitar.
3y
I can't know what was the motive behind Dan Auerbach's debut, but I can tell that he has no intention of pulling his musical string away from the comfort zone he erected with the Black Keys.
Keep It Hid is simple and dirty. It does nothing wrong while not stepping out of the comfort zone set by Dan's part of the Black Keys
Going through my Cd collection because I have too many I do not listen to album 5:
I gotta listen to the black keys this was really good.
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Track List
| 1 | Trouble Weighs a Ton 2:19 | |
| 2 | I Want Some More 3:49 | |
| 3 | Heartbroken, in Disrepair 3:21 | |
| 4 | Because I Should 0:53 | |
| 5 | Whispered Words (Pretty Lies) 4:06 | |
| 6 | Real Desire 4:26 | |
| 7 | When the Night Comes 4:11 | |
| 8 | Mean Monsoon 3:47 | |
| 9 | The Prowl 3:18 | |
| 10 | Keep It Hid 3:41 | |
| 11 | My Last Mistake 3:14 | 78 |
| 12 | When I Left the Room 4:02 | |
| 13 | Street Walkin' 3:52 | |
| 14 | Goin' Home 4:57 |
Total Length: 49 minutes
