The Black Keys

Following their contribution to Sunday Nights, last year’s widely varied tribute to Junior Kimbrough, the Akron, Ohio power duo pay the full debt they owe to the late Mississippi bluesman on this six-song EP. As evidenced by the often clumsy attempts on Sunday Nights to harness Kimbrough’s unique, spooky vibe, his music is not easy to cover. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney were among the few who got it right, which makes Chulahoma a joy for both fans of the Black Keys and Kimbrough. As those familiar with the original versions of songs like "Keep Your Hands Off Her” and "Meet Me In The City” know, they are little more than a trademark groove, but the telepathic connection between Auerbach and Carney has been locked into it since they started, allowing Auerbach’s guitar to weave the slinky melodic lines almost as effortlessly as Kimbrough was able to do. This, in turn, evokes the hypnotic aspects of Kimbrough’s performances, which in a live setting could last up to an hour. That’s why the only disappointment about Chulahoma is its brief length. They could have easily tackled a few more songs, although this disc still offers plenty to reinforce the notion that the Black Keys are one of the few truly interesting electric blues bands around today.