Tracker Pixel for Entry

Auerbach’s soulful side project comes out on top

Music | September 10th, 2015

The Marxist school of sociological thought posits our world as one of unceasing conflict, an undercurrent of discord raging through every instance of human interaction. It’s just as a handy a theory for making sense of large-scale movements like Black Lives Matter as it is for explaining the lesser tensions in life, like why company execs enjoy corner offices and lowlier workers cramp up in drab cubicles. While viewing the world through this lens of struggle can be draining and downright depressing in its proletarian pessimism, it’s not a bad way to take in “Yours, Dreamily,” the violent debut album from the Arcs.

The pet project of Dan Auerbach, known best as the front-stage half of blues-rock duo the Black Keys, the Arcs’ introductory statement is rife with turmoil, as guitars slash like switchblades and dubby drums pummel one-two blows with a pugilist’s muscly grace. Lyrically a response to Auerbach’s hellish divorce – which made minor headlines two years ago when he and his now-ex-wife allegedly battled over custody of a lock of Bob Dylan’s hair – “Yours, Dreamily” is full of tumultuous metaphors ranging from the domestic loneliness of spoiled milk to the bloody endurance test of a boxing match.

Auerbach’s penchant for indulging muses outside of the pentatonic sludge of the Black Keys has already made for an impressive body of work beyond the confines of his main gig. He cut an underrated, if lopsided, album under his own name in 2009, and reunited that same year with Keys drummer Patrick Carney and a bevy of big-name rappers for the fuzzy rap-rock hybrid “Blakroc.” Over the last five years, he’s taken to pushing faders for artists as diverse as Dr. John, Nikki Lane and Lana Del Rey, honing production skills gloriously displayed on “Dreamily.”

More often than not, side projects are met with a shoulder shrug of faint satisfaction from fans, content enough to have something to chew on in the meantime. However, after catching their biggest break with their unassailable “Brothers” LP, the Black Keys alienated much of their indie fanbase with the purposely poppy “El Camino,” and further soured the bad taste left in many mouths by last year’s roaringly dull “Turn Blue.” Newly invigorated with a crack band of Daptone session players and the brilliant producer/multi-instrumentalist Richard Swift, as well as the eight-piece, all-female mariachi band pulling double duty as backup singers, Auerbach comes out swinging in the wake of the Keys’ slump.

Immediately clear upon listening to “Dreamily” is a level of density lacking in Auerbach’s previous records. He’s taken a big leap from writing run-of-the-mill “she done me wrong” blues stompers, and considering that the band pared the album down from a catalogue of 70-odd possible cuts, the fourteen on the record are there deservedly. All of the tracks are heavily arranged, often coming through as miniature suites, manic with inventive melodies and Auerbach’s craftiest lyricism yet. “Dreamily” is an album that truly rewards active listening; the group’s second-nature musicality gives the music a façade of looseness that cloaks the brilliant, seamless arrangements.

The overarching garage-soul vibe, replete with era-reminiscent reverb and thoughtful pacing makes this an album for the album lover, though many of the songs are knockouts on their own. Namely, the slinky soul of “Stay in My Corner” takes its inspiration from the ballyhooed Mayweather-Pacquiao match and shapes it into a charming vow of “got your back” love as Auerbach’s endearing falsetto promises not to throw in the towel on his sweetheart. A toy piano plinks over a dodgy drumbeat, finally erupting in a victorious slide guitar solo. Auerbach’s aforementioned hip-hop leanings get a shout-out as well, with tight hip-hop beats undercutting “Rosie (Ooh La La),” before ballooning into its going-down-swinging chorus.

“Yours, Dreamily” may be the finest of Auerbach’s works in his decade and a half of recording, and I can only hope that the Arcs last another round.

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comArea children ages 10 and over are invited to join the Fargo-Moorhead Science Museum to explore how rivers work at two Fargo Public Library locations this summer. Stream Table Workshops will…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

Friday, July 25, doors at 8:30 p.m.Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 N. Broadway, Fargo"This is what you need to know about Daikaiju,” said Kelly Weidman. “They're loud. They're all instrumental (duh). And they're the band to see…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com On July fourth, Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest took place at Coney Island. The winners, Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, reigned victorious. Chestnut earned his 17th title by…

By Ed Raymond fargogadfly@gmail.comThere might be room for Trump on Mount Rushmore after allDuring King Donald’s first term he told Kristi Noem, then a congresswoman and now his secretary of homeland security, his dream was to be…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Simone Wairickgion@gmail.com The Red River Market returned to downtown Fargo on Saturday, July 12. The event will take place every Saturday except July 19. (That date will be moved to Sunday, July 20, due to the…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comAri Aster’s political satire “Eddington” premiered in competition for the Palme d’Or at Cannes in May, where Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident” received the prize. A…

Press ReleaseTouchmark at Harwood Groves will host a special artist reception featuring renowned glass artist Jon Offutt on Tuesday, July 29, at 2:00 p.m. in the community’s auditorium. The event celebrates Offutt’s temporary…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comPhoto by Yvonne Denault There is something intimate and personal about plays. Even in our age of multimillion dollar Hollywood productions and droves of streaming services, watching actors…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…