The Black Keys

Brothers

First released2010

Brothers, the third studio album by The Black Keys, was recorded in 2010 at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama with producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton), marking a significant collaboration that brought a more polished and layered sound compared to their previous lo-fi recordings. The album was engineered by Tchami and featured live instrumentation alongside drum machines and synthesizers, representing a deliberate move toward experimentation and sonic expansion. Recording took place over several weeks in the legendary studio, which had historical significance as the location where Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and other soul music legends had recorded. Danger Mouse's production approach emphasized texture and depth while maintaining the duo's blues-rock foundation, incorporating elements of soul and psychedelia. The album's success was both critical and commercial, earning a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2012 and becoming their breakthrough release that significantly expanded their audience.