Magic Potion
by The Black Keys
  • Record Label: Nonesuch
  • Release Date: Sep 12, 2006
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 84 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 84
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 84
  3. Negative: 4 out of 84

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  1. Andy
    Sep 30, 2006
    5
    A total disappointment. Lacking nearly all the raw edges and awesome tracks of their previous efforts...
  2. PezD
    Sep 14, 2006
    6
    Certain songs would be great on a mix tape, but listening to the whole album at one time gets to be a chore.
  3. ns151
    Jul 14, 2011
    5
    This one of their weaker efforts. A few good tracks aside (like "Your Touch"), this sounds like some band trying to imitate The Black Keys. The production is too clean and subdued- much the fuzzy grittiness is gone, as well as almost all guitar overdubbing, making their two instrument effort very bland; the soundspace is rarely ever filled out as well as on Rubber Factory or ThickfreaknessThis one of their weaker efforts. A few good tracks aside (like "Your Touch"), this sounds like some band trying to imitate The Black Keys. The production is too clean and subdued- much the fuzzy grittiness is gone, as well as almost all guitar overdubbing, making their two instrument effort very bland; the soundspace is rarely ever filled out as well as on Rubber Factory or Thickfreakness (two great albums). The songs themselves are extremely repetitive, featuring nothing much other than simple single-note-at-a-time guitar riffs, many of which are in the same key making the repetition even more noticeable. It's difficult to distinguish one track from another listening straight through. The Black Keys had taken their two man, two instrument sound as far as they could with this release and its predecessors. Fortunately, they figured out how to build upon this let-down with their 2010 stellar record Brothers (an album I'd give a 9/10 without hesitation).… Expand
  4. j30
    Nov 29, 2011
    5
    Magic Potion feels flat, nothing stands out that is neither musically groundbreaking or just fun to listen to.
  5. EddieHokie
    Jul 5, 2013
    6
    Magic Potion feels like a step back. It reminds me of their first album, The Big Come up. It is good but its standard fare blues that easily fades in the background. There just isn't enough going on to knock your socks off like the production and melodies on Rubber Factory. It isnt weird enough to notice like Chulahoma EP. And it isn't brash enough to notice like ThickFreakness.

    Theres    Magic Potion feels like a step back. It reminds me of their first album, The Big Come up. It is good but its standard fare blues that easily fades in the background. There just isn't enough going on to knock your socks off like the production and melodies on Rubber Factory. It isnt weird enough to notice like Chulahoma EP. And it isn't brash enough to notice like ThickFreakness.

    Theres a couple stand out tracks: Your Touch and The Flame. The rest is pretty take it or leave it.

    Here's to hoping they add to their sound and take some chances next time around.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Paste Magazine
    80
    This is the band's best yet. [Sep 2006, p.73]
  2. Urb
    80
    They take their place among the scruffiest, ugliest and most crowd-pleasing bad guys the West has ever spat out. [Sep 2006, p.131]
  3. Rolling Stone
    70
    The sound may be retro, but pure blues rock of this caliber is really timeless. [21 Sep 2006, p.84]
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