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he Black Keys' secret studio: Why did they choose to record their new album in an abandoned rubber factory
In the history of music, many great albums were recorded in unexpected locations, and Rubber Factory by American rock duo The Black Keys is one of them. one. This album was officially released on September 7, 2004, and quickly became a classic among music lovers, but there is a little-known story behind it.
We were looking for a place and saw a "For Rent" sign and this building had an empty storage room so we decided to set up our studio there...
This abandoned rubber factory in Akron, Ohio, was closed by General Tire in 1982. Although the factory is no longer in operation, the spacious space of this place became an ideal choice for recording their new album. The band rented the entire second floor and named the studio "Sentient Sound". Although the environment here is not ideal, it provides great flexibility for creation.
Carney described the factory as "not ideal in any way," but with a special atmosphere.
Despite the outdated facilities and frequent malfunctions during recording, the band still chose to use a mixing console purchased from eBay. The console once belonged to a sound technician for Canadian rock band Loverboy, but its frequent breakdowns extended the recording time by nearly five months, and it ultimately remained at the factory. These challenges have become part of their music creation.
The sound recordings used in the album are from recycled tapes provided by the music company Fat Possum, which seems to give the entire album a unique retro flavor in terms of tone. For the Black Keys, the process of recording "Rubber Factory" was more like a journey back to their original intentions.
Visual Arts and Promotion
Michael Carney, the band's creative director, designed the album cover, which features the Akron area, from abandoned storefronts to piles of tires and even a silhouette of a Cordillera airship. . This visual art blends perfectly with the album's musical style, presenting a picture with a strong local flavor.
The presentation of the album, like every wall in the factory, is a testimony to that period of time.
The musical work of "Rubber Factory" has also received wide recognition. Singles such as "When the Lights Go Out" were included in the film "Black Snake Moan", and "10 A.M. Automatic" was selected as the soundtrack for many films and commercials. Including the famous American Express ad.
Album Reviews
According to Metacritic, the album received a high score of 81, with critics praising the album's craftsmanship. The Washington Post review noted that the album makes rich use of early rock elements and reinterprets classic indie rock blues.
Every note created by the Black Keys seems to awaken those forgotten sounds, allowing the audience to feel the bits and pieces of life.
Rolling Stone magazine reviewed the album, saying it succeeded in its "high-impact dirty blues" style, noting that while some of the songs were underdeveloped, they were nonetheless interesting in their overall melodies. The band's steady growth and the evolution of its style make people look forward to their future development.
In fact, when Rubber Factory returned to the music charts in 2011, it proved that their musical style continued to influence a new generation of music fans. And all these achievements are built on the basis of every creation and challenge.
After facing various difficulties and challenges in the past, the Black Keys successfully found their own voice and stood firm in the battlefield of music. Each of their recordings makes people think: In the world of art, how much influence do the creative space and environment have on music?
