IN REVIEW: Dan Auerbach - "Waiting on a Song"

A lot has happened for Dan Auerbach since the release of his last solo record in 2009; his main gig, The Black Keys, went from scrappy underground garage rockers to world-dominating force of nature, he got into a bit of a nasty beef with Jack White, and he dabbled in a number of side projects (most notably the hip hop project Blakroc and a psych/R&B flavored record with The Arcs, which originated as an Auerbach solo record). So, in a sense, it doesn't feel like it's been over eight years since Keep It Hid, and yet here we are.

What makes Waiting On a Song such a notable addition to Auerbach's resumé is its consistency; while much of his recent discography comes off somewhat scattershot in its approach, Waiting On a Song is firmly footed in '70s AM radio nostalgia. Sure, Auerbach has basically built a career on retro, but this record seems focused on a particular feeling. It's a sunny, soulful record full of catchy tunes, a top-down summer day driving soundtrack that not only never strays into the darkness that recent efforts have, it barely knows what darkness is. Even the dusk-colored ode to loneliness King of a One Horse Town finds Auerbach slipping in a stray "woo!"; so as to say, even its bleakest moment smacks of bliss.

As joyful blasts of classic pop like Shine On Me or the title track convey, Auerbach is happier and more laid back on this record than he has sounded in years. Perhaps a look at the guest list can shed some light on this; heavy hitters of yesteryear like John Prine, Duane Eddy and Mark Knopfler make appearances here, and one can't help but get the feeling Auerbach is living out a dream by working with his heroes. Add up all of the legends Auerbach plays homage to with his music and you've got a solo album that sounds like it was made by an all-star supergroup.

It's also a very concise record that's virtually free of filler; with 10 quick tunes and 32 minutes total run time, it's the shortest record he's made to date. This, combined with the consistency of the tunes, makes for a nice and easy listen with high replay value. It's not perfect, and at the end of the day it's probably not the best record he's been involved with (I'm still very partial to Rubber Factory, The Black Keys' third album), but it very well could be his most enjoyable.

June 2, 2017 • Easy Eye Sound
Highlights Waiting On a Song • King of a One Horse Town • Stand By My Girl