I was thinking the other day about the lack of good rock music in the current music scene. All the good “rock music” is closer to indie rock than anything. There is a noticable lack of the rock music that was so popular in the 70’s. The band The Black Keys fills this void spectacularly.

They originated in Akron, Ohio and consist of two members: vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. They are not just some White Stripes rip-off, though, and despite having only two members, they produce a  complete sound. All they do is play guitar, sing in a normal non-auto tuned voice, and play a drum set. No added synth beats, no screeching. It’s the combination of the two staples of any traditional band: a guitar and drums. What a concept.

They almost have a bluesy sound to them, a soulful quality that puts their music far above the like of commercial, designed-in-a-lab, pop-punk dreck like the recent Grammy-winner for the Best Rock Album of the Year, Green Day.

The song “Tighten Up” is an addicting listen that doubles as a great example of modern rock music with strong vocals and a heavy guitar sound. It does not sound manufactured like a lot of pop music today. It’s a love song about man who aches for the love of what he thinks is his “dream woman.” A joy to listen to, “Tighten Up” is a thoughtful song that simply rocks.