[rating=9.00]
Dan Auerbach never seems to tire of flexing his musical muscles, taking on countless projects outside of the Black Keys, both as a performer and a producer. In 2015, he released his excellent debut record with his band The Arcs, and now he’s back with his second solo record (a follow up to 2009’s Keep it Hid) Waiting on a Song. The man stays busy. Still, the quality of what he’s putting out into the universe hasn’t waned. Auerbach has always had a penchant for bluesy rock with the occasional twang and plenty of strong hooks. With Waiting on a Song, he is showing off his ability to stretch himself even further, this time, into the pop realm. But because this is Dan Auerbach, these aren’t just your average catchy songs. They’re exuberant, shimmery, retro pop tunes that sound like they should be blasting out of the speakers of a slick vintage car, windows down.
The opening track is the album’s title song, and it was co-written with John Prine. It’s a sweet, almost doo-wop style gem that seems to stroll along, easy and carefree. It’s flowy and soft, like young love. “Livin’ in Sin” is a hand-clapper that manages to be both quaint and sensual at the same time, as Auerbach sings about shacking up with a lover. “Show Me” is a favorite, with Auerbach singing in a sassy lilt as he presses a lady to prove herself to him. And “King of a One Horse Town” is like a hazy, tripped out western with its kaleidoscope of symphonic sounds and groovy guitar. “Shine On Me” has a beachy, surf rock vibe from the guitar melody to the warped, psychedelic harmonies. It’s old fashioned but effortlessly cool, like a classic thrift store find that fits just right. No doubt, Waiting On a Song will sound fabulous on vinyl, and will make for a hell of a live show.
Waiting On a Song marks Auerbach’s first release on his brand new label out of Nashville, Easy Eye Sound. With the promise of exciting collaborations on the horizon, it doesn’t appear that the Auerbach machine will be slowing down anytime soon. And Waiting On a Song is the perfectly delicious collection of songs to hold you over until whatever comes next.
