Sometimes people just need a break from their day jobs. For singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach this meant taking a sabbatical from his blues/garage rock duo, the Black Keys, to record a solo album. I’m sure I cannot be the only person who finds it humorous that a member of a two person band would decide to record a solo album. The most recent Black Keys record, Attack & Release, was a collaboration with high-profile producer Danger Mouse (Beck, Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz). Maybe Auerbach was hesitant to try living up to expectations of a follow up. Maybe he wanted complete creative control after working with such a prominent producer. Motives aside, Auerbach released his solo debut, Keep it Hid, on Nonesuch Records back in February.

The album kicks off with “Trouble Weighs a Ton.” This all-acoustic, very folksy track is exactly what I was expecting from an Auerbach solo album. This is also one of my least favorite tracks on Keep it Hid. It seems strange to hear Auerbach singing tender lyrics backed by charming acoustics. Surprisingly (and thankfully) only three songs on Keep it Hid rely primarily on acoustic guitars. The rest of the album sounds like lost B-sides from some previous Black Keys recording session, although fleshed out with full instrumentation. This is great because Auerbach is definitely at his best when he’s getting his groove on.

The second track, “I Want Some More,” has a style that showcases the hybrid of garage rock and delta blues that Auerbach has obviously mastered. The vocals have a sort of reverby distortion effect layered over them, which adds an interesting but somewhat creepy effect. It almost sounds like the vocals were recorded underwater. This vocal distortion is used on many tracks throughout Keep it Hid, and solidifies Auerbach’s position on my list of most interesting singers.

The blues/rock vibe is very prevalent on Keep it Hid, but Auerbach does manage to explore some new territory. “Whispered Words” is tinged with some old school funk and classic rock. “Real Desire” features some beautiful organ playing, which sounds like it could have been lifted straight from some southern Mississippi church service. “My Last Mistake” is another track that wouldn't sound out of place on a classic rock mix.

The one-two punch of “Mean Monsoon” and “The Prowl” starts off the album’s second half. These are hands down my favorite tracks on Keep it Hid. Auerbach’s guitar work here is just brilliant. The rhythm guitar lines are infectious and funky, while the soloing lead guitar licks prove why Auerbach is so great at what he does. It’s also refreshing to hear him balanced out by a bass guitar for once.

To sum up, Keep it Hid sounds more like a new Black Keys album rather than a Dan Auerbach solo effort. Is this a bad thing? Of course not. Auerbach has simply found a niche and mastered it. In fact, more of these tracks will likely make it onto my next Black Keys mix than stuff from Attack & Release. To be honest that record was kind of a letdown for me. Here’s to hoping that the next Black Keys album sounds more like Keep it Hid than not. I've always felt that being able to captivate a live audience is the true test of a great musican. Dan Auerbach definitely passes that test. Here are some links to his live footage:

"Heartbroken, in Disrepair"
"Keep it Hid"

"My Last Mistake
"When I Left the Room"
"Streetwalkin'"