The Arcs – Yours, Dreamily

Dan Auerbach recruits close friends for new project...

With The Arcs' debut, Dan Auerbach has stepped back from The Black Keys, and their funky, '70s-inspired latest album 'Turn Blue', into the rockier world he inhabited circa-2011 with 'El Camino' – a short, hard, fast, rock album.

'Yours, Dreamily' opens with 'Once We Begin', a fairground-themed intro evoking childhood memories of carousels but with a haunting undertone. The album launches straight from the spooky lullaby intro into 'Outta My Mind', a rocky tale of heartache and struggle – stemming from Auerbach's recent, painful divorce.

Lead single 'Stay In My Corner', inspired by the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, is one of the stand-out points of the album, with crooning, bluesy lead vocals from Auerbach, backed by the all-female mariachi band Mariachi Flor de Toloache.

'Put A Flower In Your Pocket' is back to Auerbach's regular blues sound, complete with sorrowful lyrics á la Brothers, and 'Pistol Made of Bones' has some brilliant guitar riffs, but the whole album somewhat lacks the same energy, punch and pure magic that The Black Keys have.

6/10

Words: Megan White

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