Dan Auerbach
"Waiting on a Song"
(Warner Bros. (ASTERISK)(ASTERISK)(ASTERISK))
Even though they're a garage-blues duo, the Black Keys got big enough to sell out arenas because Dan Auerbach turned out to have a far greater facility and comfort level with pop hooks than your typical would-be blues guitar hero. The song craftsman aspect of his musical personality was emphasized to a certain extent with his 2015 side project the Arcs, but it really flourishes on this charming throwback pop record, for which Auerbach's Nashville pals John Prine and Pat McLaughlin cowrote the title track and legit guitar hero Duane Eddy dropped by for two cameos.
Some of the boppier numbers, such as the jingle-jangling "Shine on Me" and equally optimistic "Show Me" recall the casual 1980s master craftsmanship of the Traveling Wilburys and Dire Straits. (Mark Knopfler also was a guest.)
Since moving to Nashville from Akron, Ohio, in 2010, Auerbach has thrived as a songwriter and producer, with Dr. John, Lana Del Rey, Bombino, and many more. As long-time-in-coming solo albums go (Auerbach's last was "Keep It Hid" in 2009), "Waiting on a Song" doesn't play the usual confessional "this is the real me" card. Except in the sense that it does show the real Dan Auerbach doing what he does best: making pop songs.
_Dan DeLuca
