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Dropout Boogie Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 28 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest full-length release for rock duo The Black Keys features a guest appearance from ZZ Top's Billy F Gibbons.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. 90
    Rock'n'roll in 2022 doesn't get any better than this. [Jun 2022, p.82]
  2. 80
    Fame, fortune and influence haven’t dulled their initial impulses, something made clear on the hypnotic unvarnished vibe created throughout the superb Dropout Boogie.
  3. May 16, 2022
    80
    As the record swiftly spins through these production and melodic hooks, it gives the impression of a jukebox filled with a bunch of excavated gems, and that's not a bad comfort zone for the Black Keys at all.
  4. May 6, 2022
    70
    The svelte, 34-minute Dropout Boogie — which comes out the day before the 20th anniversary of their first album — keeps things similarly crunchy.
  5. May 11, 2022
    70
    Twenty years on from their debut, ‘The Big Come Up’, it’s a statement of how far they’ve come, as well as an indicator of where they might be heading next.
  6. Mojo
    May 6, 2022
    60
    The melodies and fire return in Baby I'm Coming Home, but held up against their past triumphs, Dropout Boogie often sounds half-cooked. [Jun 2022, p.84]
  7. May 16, 2022
    60
    Its first side certainly has its moments. ... Unfortunately, there is just as much pedestrian material that stubbornly fails to lodge in the memory.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Negative: 3 out of 7
  1. May 14, 2022
    8
    Classic Black Keys. This album has the same formula as most of their works, but is it a bad thing? Their formula is really good and this albumClassic Black Keys. This album has the same formula as most of their works, but is it a bad thing? Their formula is really good and this album showcases that these two can still write albums full of blues rock bangers. I still think a change of direction would be nice for the duo, as i feel that if they keep this formula for more like, 2-3 albums the music will start to sound uninspired, but this album is great ,a standard on black keys discography, in my opinion. Expand
  2. May 27, 2023
    8
    There's a couple of duds but the album pulls off the formula about 75% of the time

    Notable tracks: 'Baby I'm coming home' and 'It ain't over'
  3. May 13, 2022
    7
    Though the jerky-tough guitar lines, smoky vocals and note-perfect drumming on "Dropout Boogie" still undoubtedly thrill on a moment-to-momentThough the jerky-tough guitar lines, smoky vocals and note-perfect drumming on "Dropout Boogie" still undoubtedly thrill on a moment-to-moment basis, the cracks in the Keys' established`formula are more noticeable here than ever before, with the duo's once-invigorating retro stylings feeling increasingly stale and uninspired with repetition and a fair few tracks sounding like carbon copies of earlier, better tunes.

    Choice Cuts: "Wild Child," "Good Love [feat. Billy Gibbons]," "Happiness"
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  4. Jul 4, 2022
    5
    Wild Child! needed to listen more times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  5. Jun 25, 2022
    3
    The Black Keys weakest album to date by far. Almost every track sounds leaden and uninspired. It's predecessor Let's Rock was far superior.
  6. Aug 5, 2022
    3
    I thought I'd give the album a chance to 'grow' on me after repeated listenings but as others have commented, it just sounds dull andI thought I'd give the album a chance to 'grow' on me after repeated listenings but as others have commented, it just sounds dull and pedestrian when compared to their other albums. Here's hoping they can get back on track with the next one. Expand
  7. Aug 1, 2022
    2
    Not sure how much they paid the critics for the good reviews. I love the black keys, but this was their first album that was truly a dud forNot sure how much they paid the critics for the good reviews. I love the black keys, but this was their first album that was truly a dud for me. It just doesn’t work. Expand