Dan Auerbach
Waiting On A Song
(Easy Eye Sound)

The Black Keys front man, Dan Auerbach is back with his second solo release in eight years, Waiting On A Song. It’s billed as his love letter to Nashville where he now resides, and the album certainly plays that way. With more resources and plenty of high profile help from John Prine, Duane Eddy, Bobby Wood, and others, Auerbach hits a home run with this album. It’s a departure from the grit so prevalent on Black Keys albums, making it fresh, fun, and a pleasant surprise for fans of the band. It’s reminiscent of everything that was good about AM radio in the 1960s and 70s with a pop sensibility that has a wide appeal. Highlights are plentiful, including the title track, “Stand By My Girl,” “Malibu Man,” “Livin’ In Sin,” “Shine On Me,” and “Never In My Wildest Dreams.”

The overall vibe of the album is one of happiness and satisfaction. With the string of success his band has experienced for several years now, as well as his wildly popular first solo album, Keep It Hid, it is evident that he is poised to continue producing quality in his new city. A minor complaint about the album would be that it’s too short, coming in at just under 33 minutes. No matter, Waiting On A Song is an excellent release that is sure to recruit many more fans for Auerbach.