Too Cool Black Keys Run Their "Fever" With Dazzling Grace

Quirky is an adjective that, depending on who or what it's applied to, can be flattering. Take the Black Keys for example. Their style has a tongue so firmly embedded in cheekbone you start wondering which gifted surgeon is going to be called upon to detach it again. "Turn Blue", is the band's new album set for a May 13 release. First up from this hopefully swinging set is "Fever". Dan Auerbach plays everything including the kitchen sink in service to the band. Bass tones are sumptuous. I surely do pay compliments when I note that the bass's direction hints in no small measure at The White Stripes and their bad ass "Seven Nation Army" effort. Jack White and Dan obviously have been well schooled in the fine art of '60s go-go dancer worthy hip swaying. Jury's out on whether the keyboards that prance on top of the bass do the overall sound any favors but hedging my bets I'll contend you'll either think of them as precious novelty or irritating in the manner of that pesky fly swooping around your ears. Drummer Patrick Carney's content to let Dan assume the lion's share of the attention. Pat's merely the gatekeeper through which any enlightenment must pass or, at its most aggressive, barrel right through. I appreciate how "Fever" perches itself on one chord long enough to allow us to enjoy the ripple effect then flits down a peg where we again can sway in time with the lovably retro leanings, and so on..You might want to focus on the hipness quotient since the lyrics run the risk of making anybody comfortable who has either had a recent fever or knows of someone who has. Dan asks so much of his fever I'm surprised it hasn't ratcheted up the growl to where it's really going to bite him on the fanny. "Fever, where'd you run to?" For starters that's disturbing. Only someone running a fever would be motivated to ask where it ran off to. Fevers aren't known for being too wonderful to experience. The second verse teeters back towards believable sentiment. At this moment Dan's a slave to the fever. Medical practitioners you can rest easy. Aching goes with fever also. Eventually Dan hops from trying to pinpoint fever's location to asking if it can hear him. There's no discernible female lead in the mire but nobody's going to label you stupid if you interpret it that way. Compared to the MTV favorite "Tighten Up" "Fever" lets the action wash over it rather than assume a confrontational pose. "Tighten Up" derived its back alley glare from the way Patrick committed child abuse atop his drum set. "Fever", appropriately or not, contains drumming paralyzed by the bygone era vortex. Dan's vocals aren't exactly borderline unsettling, a questionable decision given the song title. Possibly it's a sexual heat he's bringing to the surface, a heat which elevates inspiration over perspiration. The Black Keys would hardly be confused with an "Aw, isn't it cute" pop making machine but stroking the scamps on the head for reminding people what spunk is about wouldn't be objectionable. "Fever" carries the day not by spiking temperature but by keeping the adrenaline steady as she goes. In the run up to "Turn Blue" the Black Keys strike notes sure to bring a knowing smile back to their established fan base as well as turn many heads belonging to what promises to be new faithful in the blues rock congregation.