Black Keys' Auerbach digs Creedence

TOLD YOU SO: When El Camino came out in early December, one of the first reviews—by L.A. Times lead critic Randall Roberts—asserted that the Black Keys’ “are ‘a pure rock band’ that recalls such varied outfits as the Rolling Stones, Booker T. and the MG’s, the Ramones and White Stripes.” We quoted that line, among others, in Mill at the time, adding that, “From what we’ve heard so far, the Stones comparison is valid, but we also hear Creedence in the memorable guitar riffs and compact hooks.” So we felt mighty pleased with ourselves when we came upon this Dan Auerbach quote in Brian Hiatt’s excellent Rolling Stone cover story on the Keys: “I love Creedence,” he says. “If there’s any musician I’ve ever aspired to be like, it’s probably Fogerty and Creedence, because, even in the age of hippiedom, they were just dressed way normal, and what they did was kind of timeless. It’s a mixture of a lot of things that I love, like rockabilly and blues music and folk.” (1/13a)