Turn Blue
by The Black Keys
  • Record Label: Nonesuch
  • Release Date: May 13, 2014
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 204 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 160 out of 204
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 204
  3. Negative: 10 out of 204
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  1. rhp2014
    May 21, 2014
    1
    No this album doesn't deserve a score of 1. But gosh darn it, I just hated it that much. It's more along a 3, but regardless I feel physical pain when put through this torture fest. There's maybe one alright track here. The rest, forget about it.

    Another bland album but yet another bland band. Hey guys, dad rock isn't cool. And adding your generic indie flare certainly doesn't    No this album doesn't deserve a score of 1. But gosh darn it, I just hated it that much. It's more along a 3, but regardless I feel physical pain when put through this torture fest. There's maybe one alright track here. The rest, forget about it.

    Another bland album but yet another bland band. Hey guys, dad rock isn't cool. And adding your generic indie flare certainly doesn't help either. You guys said Nickelback was awful? How ironic.    … Expand
  2. AndrewAKessler
    May 28, 2014
    3
    Turn Blue is the culmination of The Black Keys and Danger Mouse's journey towards pop stardom. Over-production and Auerbach's overuse of falsetto on uninspired lyrics make this album boring and forgettable. The grittiness of their earlier albums has been replaced by annoying keyboards and beats tailored to festival-goers clapping in unison rather than sitting at home contemplating lifeTurn Blue is the culmination of The Black Keys and Danger Mouse's journey towards pop stardom. Over-production and Auerbach's overuse of falsetto on uninspired lyrics make this album boring and forgettable. The grittiness of their earlier albums has been replaced by annoying keyboards and beats tailored to festival-goers clapping in unison rather than sitting at home contemplating life while sipping a whiskey.

    I really wanted to like this album. Weight of Love is a solid song and is without a doubt the best on the album. It's unfortunate the rest of the album falls flat. My personal opinion is Brian Burton has ruined their sound, but we'll never know until The Black Keys move on without him.    … Expand
  3. lindsaylove
    Jul 26, 2019
    3
    By far and away, this is the worst Black Keys album ever written- with perhaps one or two redeemable songs.

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Discussed Album of 2014
58
#58 Most Shared Album of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 39
  3. Negative: 1 out of 39
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 18, 2014
    80
    For diehard fans and the inevitable new army of converts, however, this blue period is one to marvel at. [Jul 2014, p.94]
  2. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Jun 26, 2014
    45
    This record is guaranteed to indiscriminately piss off both kinds of Black Keys fans: the diehard purists yearning for the blues rock halcyon days and the recent devotees primed for another round of hooky singles.
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  3. Austin Chronicle
    Jun 19, 2014
    67
    Turn Blue pivots on such low-stakes grooves, the same ones sold so effectively to the mainstream. You could do a lot worse, but that of course is both a blessing and curse.
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