(Nonesuch)

www.nonesuch.com

From the get-go, there's a lot to assimilate. It's not like they got a bassist or anything, but the Black Keys entering a studio to record their fifth long player is a big change. And on top of that, they got Danger Mouse to man the controls. Fear not, purists; while they may have left the basement, but they are still in the garage. Just a bigger one, with more toys—and Marc Ribot.

But largely, everything's rosy and familiar. "All You Ever Wanted" builds an organ-buzzing rocker out of a boozy 12-bar warble, right into "I Got Mine," a primal Zeppelin/Free churner that finds Dan Auerbach doing his best Paul Rodgers yet. From the ashes of "Strange Times," a radio-friendly shuffle with mood building strings, comes "Lies," a banjo-plucking sweet talker with a tight backbeat. The end result is the Keys' most expansive record. Crank it up.

Standout tracks: "Strange Times," "Things Ain't Like They Used To Be" ZACHARY BLOOM