The Black Keys, ‘Little Black Submarines’ – Song Review
Review by Anne Erickson
The Black Keys show off their blues roots in new single, ‘Little Black Submarines’
The Black Keys are known for their rollicking, upbeat blues-rock, but the duo of vocalist and guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney show off their mellower side with “Little Black Submarines,” their latest single off 2011’s “El Camino.”
Listening to “Little Black Submarines,” one could wonder whether they’re really listening to an alternative rock hit or a blues standard. From the onset, the song shows the Keys’ blues roots, with Auerbach singing a lingering, downtrodden passage: “Little black submarines / Operator please / Put me back on the line / Told my girl I’d be back / Operator please / This is wrecking my mind.”
Just when you think the song couldn’t possibly be a new rock track, the duo launch into a rowdy, freewheeling jam of sound– one that’s much more familiar to Black Keys fans. Auerbach confidently croons, “Treasure maps, falling trees / Operator please / Call me back when it’s time / Stolen friends and disease / Operator please / Put me back on the line!” It’s here where the guitars and drums really shine, meshing together in a swaggering cloud of gritty rock momentum.
Like much of the material on “El Camino,” “Little Black Submarines” is a prism of blues-rock and garage punk that’s extremely addictive. Listen to the track via the Keys’ official YouTube channel.
Ink Rating: 4 out of 5 Guitar Gauges
Watch the Official Music Video for the Black Keys’ ‘Little Black Submarines’:
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