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. AdamS.
    Nov 6, 2006
    8
    I thought I'd review each song. 1: Just Got to Be. One of TBK's bets songs ever. Great Lyrics. Awsome guitar. 10/10 2: You Tocuh. Pretty good. It's kinda different than lots of the good BK stuff, but it's solid. 9/10 3:You're the One. This is my least favorite song on the cd. It just doesn't fit with the rest of it. And I don't like what they did to I thought I'd review each song. 1: Just Got to Be. One of TBK's bets songs ever. Great Lyrics. Awsome guitar. 10/10 2: You Tocuh. Pretty good. It's kinda different than lots of the good BK stuff, but it's solid. 9/10 3:You're the One. This is my least favorite song on the cd. It just doesn't fit with the rest of it. And I don't like what they did to Dan's voice. 5/10 4:Just a Little Heat. This is another example of how something simple can rock. Simple drums, guitar, and vocals. 9/10 5:Give Your Heart Away. Ever since I heard this on their Live DVD, It was my favorite song of theirs. Ever. Period. 10/10 6: This where the CD starts going downhill. This is a great song... for the first half of it. But it falls into the trap of being to long( only for TBK, becasue its not that long actually). The 2 minute long outro is too much. 7/10 7: The Flame. Any other band, this would get a better rating, but it;s just WAY too long for TBK. I dont really know why I don't like it. Maybe cuz it's to different. 6/10 8:Modern Times. This is just showing how TBK are trying to go more " mainstream". It's just a BK style rock song, nothing special. 6/10 9:Goodbye Babylon. The last truly good song on the CD. While this is as long as 2 or 3 of the TBK's songs from The Big Come Up, it's good, quality BK blues rock. 9/10 10:Black Door. Pretty good. On par with most of the cd. But, the middle part is kinda slow. 8/10 11:Elevator. This is how a BK cd is supposed to end. Alot like " I Cry Alone" at the end of ThickFreakness, except a little more rock-ish. 8/10 Over all, I give it an 8. Must check it out, but you MUST buy ThickFreakness.… Expand
  2. BenJ
    Sep 26, 2006
    8
    This is a considerably more subdued album than the Keys' previous releases, and also perhaps lacking in an attempt at any obvious 'commercial' hit - but it's still vintage Black Keys material, which means it's gritty, mournful and incredibly cool.
  3. Petr
    Nov 7, 2006
    8
    a future classics, blues for the 21st century, plenty of ideas, amazing licks and it feels like being SO SINCERE compared to other stuff I have heard form indie scene recently. Every LP is the same - these guys r just diggin' the blues and they'r diggin' it right!
  4. AndrewA
    Oct 30, 2006
    7
    good album, similar to their previous work, but still not boring.
  5. CharlesR
    Sep 16, 2006
    10
    Listened to absentmindedly the album runs together. Lisened to carefully each song reveals a carefully constructed (though subtle) inventiveness that pushes the Black Keys' limits. Heavy, dark, painful, with highlights of tenderness and shocking emotional weakness, Magic Potion is the best effort from one of the best rock bands in recent history.
  6. Ed
    Sep 18, 2006
    7
    good, but a bit samey, i thought rubber factory was better, it had more variety.
  7. ChrisD.
    Oct 21, 2006
    7
    Dan comes up with some incredible riffs! While this is not my favorite album of their's there are some jams that are easily becoming favorites. In my opinion they sound like what Zeppelin might have sounded like had they formed in the 50's with a John Lee Hooker influenced front man. By the way Tylerr M, you might want to do a little research about the bands name because Dan comes up with some incredible riffs! While this is not my favorite album of their's there are some jams that are easily becoming favorites. In my opinion they sound like what Zeppelin might have sounded like had they formed in the 50's with a John Lee Hooker influenced front man. By the way Tylerr M, you might want to do a little research about the bands name because it's NOT a reference to the myth you speak of, but a phrase that is used by a schizophrenic artist from their hometown who refers to things that are "not right" or people he doesn't like as black keys. Get your story straight before posting, because YOU obviously do not know what you're "throwing your support behind"!!… Expand
  8. [Anonymous]
    Sep 14, 2006
    8
    Solid album.
  9. [Anonymous]
    Sep 19, 2006
    9
    Solid album.
  10. TimG
    Jan 12, 2007
    8
    Very good. Not amazing, but there aren't enough bands out there laying it down like this.
  11. Duncan
    Jan 31, 2007
    9
    Excellent album - took a few listens to get into admittedly, but so do many great albums. I really don't get the average reviews from Q, NME and Mojo. I suppose the Keys aren't "cool" at the moment so the hip critics are standing on the fence, obviously with the option of backtracking in the future.
  12. KenW
    Dec 18, 2006
    9
    Astounding! Then after seeing them live in Detroit made it all that much better. A kind of new sound from the older albums but no less enjoyable.
  13. rapscallion1980
    Jan 4, 2012
    9
    I don't understand all the low reviews for this album, Magic Potion is a great album, and is a turning point for the BK's as far as their sound. Yea it's not their best album, but it's far better than El Camino and Attack and Release.
  14. imthenoob
    Dec 25, 2021
    7
    While the awful mixing and lack of bass are obvious, Magic Potion has a kind of charm to it that makes it worth listening to it. It's the kind of album that I could listen to from start to finish without issue but I'd still love to see a proper remix and remaster of it.

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]
See all critic reviews »