The Black Keys Albums Ranked: Fan Favorites (2025)

Diving into the discography of The Black Keys always starts a conversation.

It's a catalog built on raw blues, arena-ready rock, and soulful detours. But which of their albums truly stands out?

We're exploring The Black Keys albums ranked, with a list guided first and foremost by the fans. Community sentiment provides a unique look at what many consider the best The Black Keys albums.

Later, we will see how popularity data tells a slightly different story.

Ranking The Black Keys's albums: The fan favorites

Here's how the albums stack up based on fan sentiment, community discussions, and overall buzz.

We're starting with the most beloved.

1. El Camino (2011)

El Camino is the band's seventh studio album, co-produced with frequent collaborator Danger Mouse.

It followed their commercial breakthrough, Brothers, and was designed to be more uptempo. The band wanted songs that would translate better to a live arena setting.

Drawing from glam rock, rockabilly, and soul, the album was a critical and commercial smash. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

Key tracks:

• Lonely Boy
• Gold on the Ceiling

Taking the top spot, El Camino is a titan in the band's discography. It's the record that took their blues-rock foundation and polished it into a collection of undeniable rock anthems.

For many fans, this album represents the peak of their mainstream power without sacrificing the core energy that makes the duo great.

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2. Brothers (2010)

Brothers was the duo's sixth studio album and their major commercial breakthrough.

Co-produced by the band, Mark Neill, and Danger Mouse, it sold over 73,000 copies in its first week. This set a new high for the band on the Billboard 200 chart.

The album's success was fueled by hit singles like "Tighten Up" and "Howlin' for You." It ultimately won three Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album.

Key tracks:

• Howlin' for You
• Tighten Up

Often debated for the number one position, Brothers holds a special place in the hearts of longtime listeners. It was the moment the world caught up to what underground fans already knew.

Its soulful, gritty, and expansive sound marked a huge step forward, proving The Black Keys were more than just a garage-rock duo.

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3. Turn Blue (2014)

Turn Blue is the band's eighth studio album and their fourth collaboration with producer Danger Mouse.

The album's creation coincided with Dan Auerbach's divorce, which heavily influenced the lyrical themes. This resulted in a more melancholy and psychedelic sound compared to its predecessor, El Camino.

Despite its slower pace, the album was a huge success. It became the group's first record to debut at number one in the US, Australia, and Canada.

Key tracks:

• Fever
• Weight of Love

Landing solidly in the top three, Turn Blue is appreciated by fans for its emotional depth and sonic exploration.

It's seen as a mature, introspective turn. The album proved the band could channel heartbreak into a sprawling, hypnotic rock experience that still found a massive audience.

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4. Rubber Factory (2004)

Rubber Factory is the third studio album from The Black Keys. It was self-produced and released on Fat Possum Records.

The album was famously recorded in a makeshift studio inside an abandoned tire factory in their hometown of Akron, Ohio.

It received very positive reviews and was the band's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, signaling their growing reach.

Key tracks:

• Keep Me
• 10 A.M. Automatic

A true fan favorite, Rubber Factory is often celebrated as the definitive statement of the band's early, raw sound.

This album is cherished for its unrefined energy and the pure, unfiltered blues-rock that pours out of every track. It's the sound of a band hitting its creative stride in the most industrial of settings.

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5. Thickfreakness (2003)

Thickfreakness is the duo's second studio album and their debut on the Fat Possum label.

Continuing the tradition of their debut, the album is a raw, heavy, and blues-drenched slice of garage rock.

Most of the album was recorded in a single 14-hour session in Patrick Carney's basement, a necessity born from a small record label advance.

Key tracks:

• Thickfreakness
• Hard Row

This record's high fan ranking speaks to its power and authenticity. It captures the lightning-in-a-bottle urgency of the band's early days.

Fans who love the duo's lo-fi roots often point to Thickfreakness as the moment their heavy, blues-infused sound was perfectly crystallized.

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6. The Big Come Up (2002)

This is the debut studio album by The Black Keys, released on Alive Records.

The album was recorded entirely in Patrick Carney's basement using just two microphones purchased from eBay.

It features a mix of original tracks and covers of songs by blues legends like Muddy Waters and Junior Kimbrough, establishing the band's core influences from day one.

Key tracks:

• Heavy Soul
• I'll Be Your Man

As the band's origin story, The Big Come Up is held in high regard. It's the blueprint for everything that followed.

Fans appreciate it for its pure, unadulterated sound. It's a document of two musicians in a basement, creating something vital and real with minimal resources.

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7. Attack & Release (2008)

Attack & Release is the band's fifth studio album and a pivotal release in their discography.

It was the first time the duo worked with an outside producer, Danger Mouse, and recorded in a professional studio.

This marked a transition away from their purely "homemade" ethos, introducing a more layered and atmospheric sound. The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200.

Key tracks:

• I Got Mine
• Psychotic Girl

This album is seen by many as a crucial bridge between the band's raw beginnings and their slicker, chart-topping future.

Fans who appreciate sonic texture and experimentation often praise Attack & Release. It's the record where the duo opened up their sound pallet, setting the stage for the massive success to come.

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8. Chulahoma (2006)

Chulahoma is an EP dedicated entirely to the songs of Mississippi hill country bluesman Junior Kimbrough.

Kimbrough was a massive influence on the duo, and this record serves as a direct tribute to his legacy.

The Black Keys had previously covered Kimbrough on their debut album, but this release was a deep, focused dive into his work.

Key tracks:

• Meet Me in the City
• Keep Your Hands off Her

While not a traditional studio album, Chulahoma is deeply respected by the fanbase for its authenticity and heart.

It’s a passionate homage that gets to the very root of the band's sound. Its respectable ranking shows how much fans value the duo's connection to the blues tradition.

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9. Magic Potion (2006)

Magic Potion is the fourth studio album by The Black Keys and their first release on a major label, Nonesuch Records.

Despite the label change, the album was still recorded in Patrick Carney's basement, retaining their signature lo-fi sound.

It was also the first time the duo wrote and composed an entire album of original material, with no cover songs included.

Key tracks:

• Your Touch
• Just Got to Be

Magic Potion is a solid, meat-and-potatoes rock record that holds its own in a stellar discography.

While it may not have the breakthrough status of its successors or the raw fury of its predecessors, fans see it as a confident and consistent entry that bridges two distinct eras of the band.

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10. Dropout Boogie (2022)

Dropout Boogie is the band's eleventh studio album, released in 2022.

The album saw the duo collaborate with multiple musicians, including Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Greg Cartwright of Reigning Sound.

Recorded at Dan Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville, the album received favorable reviews and a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album.

Key tracks:

• Wild Child
• Good Love (feat. Billy F Gibbons)

As a more recent release, Dropout Boogie finds its place lower in the fan rankings, which often favor classic and formative albums.

It's viewed as a fun, loose record that returns to the duo's fundamental guitar-and-drums chemistry, even with notable guests. It's an enjoyable listen, if not considered as essential as their peak-era work.

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11. Delta Kream (2021)

Delta Kream is the band's tenth studio album and is composed entirely of hill country blues covers.

The album was recorded in about 10 hours over two afternoons at the end of a tour, with no rehearsals.

It features contributions from musicians directly linked to the genre, including Kenny Brown and Eric Deaton, who played with blues legends R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough.

Key tracks:

• Crawling Kingsnake
• Poor Boy a Long Way From Home

Similar to Chulahoma, Delta Kream is a tribute to the band's roots, but its lower ranking suggests it may be seen as more of a side project by the wider fanbase.

It's a record for the purists, deeply respected for its authenticity but perhaps less essential for fans drawn to the band's original songwriting and rock hooks.

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12. "Let's Rock" (2019)

Released in 2019, "Let's Rock" was the duo's ninth studio album and their first after a five-year hiatus.

The album was a conscious return to a more straightforward sound. The band self-produced and deliberately avoided keyboards in favor of a guitar, drums, and vocals approach.

Lead single "Lo/Hi" was a massive success, topping four separate Billboard rock charts simultaneously.

Key tracks:

• Lo/Hi
• Shine A Little Light

This album's placement suggests a mixed reception from the core fanbase. While a welcome return, some fans found its direct approach to be less adventurous than previous efforts.

It's seen as a well-crafted rock record, but for a portion of the audience, it didn't quite recapture the magic of their most beloved albums.

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13. Ohio Players (2024)

Ohio Players is the twelfth studio album from The Black Keys, released in early 2024.

The album features a host of collaborators, including high-profile names like Beck and Noel Gallagher.

It includes original material alongside a notable cover of William Bell's classic "I Forgot to Be Your Lover."

Key tracks:

• Beautiful People (Stay High)
• I Forgot To Be Your Lover

As one of the band's most recent efforts, Ohio Players has yet to build the nostalgic weight of the classic records.

Its collaborative, party-record feel marks a different direction that, for some longtime fans, may feel like a departure from the duo's core identity, placing it lower in the fan-driven rankings.

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14. No Rain, No Flowers (2025)

No Rain, No Flowers is the band's thirteenth studio album, set for an August 2025 release.

This upcoming record marks the first time the duo has worked with acclaimed songwriter and producer Rick Nowels.

The album follows a turbulent period for the band, who parted ways with their previous management team ahead of its creation.

Key tracks:

• No Rain, No Flowers
• The Night Before

As an unreleased album, No Rain, No Flowers naturally sits at the bottom of a fan sentiment ranking.

Its legacy is yet to be written. Only time will tell where this new chapter, born from a period of change, will ultimately stand in the band's celebrated discography.

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Picked your top The Black Keys classic? Check out The Black Keys's discography on their Roll The Record Artist hub.

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The Black Keys albums: A look at popularity data

While fan sentiment paints a rich picture, current popularity data can offer another interesting angle.

This looks at an artist's discography through a different lens.

Below is a ranking of The Black Keys's albums based on their popularity scores from available data. This reflects which releases are currently seeing significant engagement.

Popularity Rank	Album Title	Release Year
1	El Camino	2011
2	Brothers	2010
3	Turn Blue	2014
4	"Let's Rock"	2019
5	Dropout Boogie	2022
6	Attack & Release	2008
7	Ohio Players	2024
8	The Big Come Up	2002
9	Rubber Factory	2016
10	Thickfreakness	2003
11	Chulahoma	2006
12	Delta Kream	2021
13	Magic Potion	2006
14	No Rain, No Flowers	2025

Quick FAQs about The Black Keys's albums

Q: Why is the album El Camino named after a car not shown on its cover?

A: The title was an inside joke. The band named the record after the El Camino muscle car but used an image of a minivan, similar to the one they toured in early in their career, for the cover art.

Q: How was the recording for El Camino different from previous albums?

A: Unlike past records, the band entered the studio without any pre-written material. They also focused on creating more uptempo, hook-driven songs after finding that the slower tracks from Brothers were difficult to perform live.

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So there you have it. A look at The Black Keys albums ranked from two different perspectives.

We see the deep love for their breakthrough era, the respect for their raw beginnings, and the ongoing conversation around their newer work.

Ultimately, the "best" The Black Keys album is the one that connected with you. It's about the moments and memories those songs soundtrack.

What does your personal ranking look like?