The Black Keys - Attack & Release

The Black Keys' Attack & Release is where the Akron duo opened the garage door to new light, a 2008 album made with Danger Mouse.

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney had built their reputation on raw, fuzzed-out blues recorded in basements and makeshift studios. These sessions grew out of a planned project with Ike Turner, and when that fell through, the pair kept the songs and the producer. It was the first time they had handed the controls to an outsider, and it changed everything that came after.

Danger Mouse added space, shadow and unexpected color without sanding off the grit. "I Got Mine" is a stomping, riff-driven highlight that sounds huge, while "Strange Times" crunches with nervy urgency. "Psychotic Girl" drifts into eerie, haunted territory, and the closing "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be" brings in Jessica Lea Mayfield for a weary, beautiful duet.

Auerbach's guitar still snarls, and Carney's drumming still swings hard, but the arrangements now leave room for atmosphere and a little mystery, which suits these songs perfectly.

Looking back, this record laid the foundation for the blockbuster success of Brothers and El Camino. For fans who want to hear the exact moment the duo began to evolve, it remains a fascinating, rewarding listen.