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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

thickfreakness
by The Black Keys


9.7

based on 13 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 18 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

The Akron, Ohio guitar-drums blues duo (needless White Stripes comparison omitted) of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney recorded this sophomore effort in a single 14-hour session.

LABEL:	Fat Possum
RELEASE DATE:	08 April 2003
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

PopMatters

The best record to come out this year.

Delusions of Adequacy

The songs on Thickfreakness are all near masterpieces.

Q Magazine

A lesson in untouched simplicity, raw groove and my-woman-done-left-me throat wobbling. [Jun 2003, p.94]

Mojo

A rich, compelling album. [Jun 2003, p.93]

Billboard

Sounds like something carved out of the earth, a soulful howl of Hendrixian guitars and Zeppelin stomp.

All Music Guide

If you're looking for irony, you're out of luck; if you want to hear a rock band confront the blues with soul, muscle, and respect, then thickfreakness is right up your alley.

Pitchfork

Thickfreakness isn't quite their debut, but it's still a powerhouse, even exceeding its ancestor in total spectacle. Raw rock grandeur as so frequently conjured up on this album is hard to come by in any capacity; if that means having to overlook a few minor flaws, it's worth it.

Alternative Press

What you hear on Thickfreakness is no less faithful than what old black guys on porches on the Delta have churned out for the last hundred years. [June 2003, p.105]

Magnet

When they fall into slow, sullen standards like minimalist closer "I Cry Alone," it's magnificently evil. [#59, p.86]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

A steamy, boozy, looser take on the amped-up miserablism of the band's overly rigid 2002 debut The Big Come Up.

Rolling Stone

Woozy and sometimes warm.

Spin

The production is muddy, the sentiments vague. [June 2003, p.105]

Stylus Magazine

Thickfreakness is an unrelentingly dour record - perhaps this music was best left in the past.

The average user rating for this album is 9.7 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brandon P gave it a10:
This album brings the rock nonstop! Also, best live band ever.

Tim G gave it an8:
you had me at Thickfreakness

Julissa G gave it a10:
Cool ass album! Rock and Blues= Heaven!

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
WIthout a doubt, THE best BK album yet. Can't wait for Magic Potion.

karl h gave it a10:
the black keys rock the hardest of any of the bands goin. they sound like a indie led zep. every song on this album is a air guitar anthem, why the fuck aren't thease big yet ??

betty b gave it a10:
Can't get enough of this band. Great sound, real music.

mark r gave it a10:
go danny--i been waitin all my life for you guys

thickfreakness by The Black Keys

thickfreakness
by The Black Keys