On April 5, American rock duo The Black Keys released Ohio Players, their twelfth studio album. The Black Keys, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, first came together in 2001 in Akron, Ohio. Their newest album has reignited the duo’s love of indie and soulful rock but fails in their journey to stray into new territory. The album serves as a bid for 2000s indie rock nostalgia as the singers lean heavily back into their old blues and soulful rock influences.

The Black Keys made a notable impression on the music scene back in 2011 with the release of their album El Camino. The album’s lead single, “Lonely Boy,” won three Grammy Awards. Most recently, the duo released two studio albums leading up to the release of Ohio Players, Delta Kream (2021), and Dropout Boogie (2022). All three albums lean into the same blues and R&B rock genre that The Black Keys have become known for.

Ohio Players flaunts 14 tracks ranging in both tone and talent. In the album’s 44 minutes and four seconds, The Black Keys become more experimental with the album’s music genres, incorporating rap, country, and alternative rock on various tracks. Unfortunately, while mixing music genres allows for a more unique sound, it often distracts from the album’s otherwise indie, R&B roots.

The Black Keys did not shy away from inviting collaborators to contribute to Ohio Players.

The album boasts three successful collaborations, the main being American singer-songwriter, Beck. Beck’s refreshing touch is noticeable throughout the album, adding an experimental 90s influence to an otherwise typical Black Keys album. Beck takes on the role of an unofficial third member of The Black Keys on Ohio Players and we are here for it.

“Beautiful People (Stay High),”  the album’s lead single and third track, dropped on Jan. 12 gaining the band attention leading up to Ohio Player’s April release. The song’s playful music video quickly gained 1.7 million views on YouTube. “Beautiful People (Stay High)” shares writing credits with Dan “The Automator” Nakamura and longtime collaborator Beck. 

Beck’s 90s grunge touch is noticeable throughout the song’s fuzzy and experimental R&B tone. With its upbeat lyrics and rhythmic vocals, the song’s chorus claims the spotlight right out of the gate, “All of those beautiful people (stay high), All of those beautiful people (say ‘yeah’)” The song’s immersive chorus ropes listeners in and establishes a profoundly happy tone for the rest of the album.

The fourth track, “On the Game,” proves to be a classic Black Keys song, with soulful vocals that build up to a bluesy and country-esque chorus. “On the Game” is comparable to The Black Keys’ wildly successful song “Lonely Boy,” with similar lyrics and vocals.

“On the Game” manages to feel heartwarmingly classic rather than experimental. “It’s how we know we’re all the same, the joy, the pain/Everybody’s on the game.” The song’s catchy lyrics and classic vocals are the perfect ode to blues and alternative rock that Ohio Players otherwise would have lacked.

“Paper Crowns,” the album’s 10th track, and sixth track, “Candy and Her Friends” feature rap. Yes, you read that right, rap. While the larger part of Ohio Players fully leans into rock and indie influences, “Paper Crowns” and “Candy and Her Friends” feature rap artists, Juicy J and Lil Noid. Both songs start strong with upbeat funk tones that feel only a little speculative, but when both songs peter off into rap, listeners can get a bit lost between the fast change in music genres.

The genres of blues and indie just don’t meld well with rap music, leaving the rap sounding out of place. Despite their talent, even The Black Keys couldn’t pull off the transition smoothly enough. For most of the album, the duo sticks to what they know, but with the incorporation of rap, the album gets a little too hectic and loses its sense of trajectory.

The Black Keys have managed to successfully venture back into their old classic sound of indie alternative rock. While they did ruefully experiment on Ohio Players when it came to collaborations and music genres overall, the album includes the well-loved sound of their previous beloved work. The Black Keys’ newest album, Ohio Players, earns three and a half out of five feathers.