No Rain, No Flowers (The Black Keys album)

Last updated

No Rain, No Flowers
NRNFBK.jpg
Studio album by
the Black Keys
ReleasedAugust 8, 2025 (2025-08-08)
StudioEasy Eye Sound (Nashville, Tennessee)
Length36:50
Label
Producer The Black Keys
The Black Keys chronology
Ohio Players
(2024)		No Rain, No Flowers
(2025)
Singles from No Rain, No Flowers
  1. "The Night Before"
    Released: February 7, 2025 [1]
  2. "Babygirl"
    Released: March 23, 2025 [2]
  3. "No Rain, No Flowers"
    Released: May 16, 2025 [3]
  4. "Man On a Mission"
    Released: June 20, 2025 [4]
  5. "On Repeat"
    Released: July 19, 2025 [5]

No Rain, No Flowers is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock duo the Black Keys, released through Easy Eye Sound and Warner Records on August 8, 2025. [6]

Contents

Background

In 2024, the Black Keys fired their management, "We got fucked. I'll let you all know how so it doesn't happen to you." wrote the duo's drummer Patrick Carney in a now deleted tweet to his social media. [7] No Rain, No Flowers is the first Black Keys album to include songwriter/producer Rick Nowels. [6] It also includes Daniel Tashian and Scott Storch. [8] The duo wanted to work with long admired songwriters rather than lesser known musicians. [9] When talking about the album's production work, Carney stated: "We wanted to go straight to the source – into the room with people known for their songwriting. Daniel Tashian was one of the first people I met after moving to Nashville, and we've been fans of Scott Storch forever" [10] The duo recorded the entire album at Easy Eye Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. [11]

Release and promotion

No Rain, No Flowers was released on August 8, 2025, through Easy Eye Sound and Warner. [6] Five singles have preceded the album as of July 25, 2025: "The Night Before", [1] , "Babygirl", [2] "No Rain, No Flowers", [3] "Man on a Mission", [4] and "On Repeat". [5] The duo is currently on the No Rain, No Flowers Tour, a tour to promote the album. [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.6/10 [13]
Metacritic 71/100 [14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [15]
The Arts Desk Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Clash 7/10 [17]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [18]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [20]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [21]
Pitchfork 5.4/10 [22]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [23]
The Skinny Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [24]

AllMusic critic Neil Z. Yeung states the duo "keep it close to their existing blues-rock sound, with the producers simply adding a little shine here and there", and notes they "their established nostalgic aesthetic washes over everything, providing familiar moments that connect No Rain, No Flowers to similar-sounding tracks throughout their catalog. There aren't many surprises here, for better or worse, and it's a pleasant, straightforward collection of reliably rocking jams". [15] In his review for the Arts Desk, Tom Carr states the album has "more of a groove", noting an "unshakeable feeling of Auerbach and Carney remaining somewhat in flux", ending that "There is still potential for an unmistakable classic from The Black Keys somewhere in there, but the easy listening rock of No Rain, No Flowers isn’t quite it". [16]

In another positive review, Pitchfork critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that he finds the duo "shaking off complacency and venturing into new territory, leaving their gnarled blues-punk back in the garage", noting the album "glides along amiably". [22]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, with additional writers noted.

No Rain, No Flowers track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."No Rain, No Flowers" Rick Nowels 3:16
2."The Night Before" Daniel Tashian 2:34
3."Babygirl"
2:54
4."Down to Nothing"
3:37
5."On Repeat"Nowels3:18
6."Make You Mine"
3:41
7."Man on a Mission"Tashian3:31
8."Kiss It"Nowels3:05
9."All My Life"Tashian2:53
10."A Little Too High"
  • Brenneck
  • McLaughlin
  • Michels
3:37
11."Neon Moon"
  • Brenneck
  • Michels
  • Tashian
4:24

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [25]

The Black Keys

Additional musicians

  • Sam Bacco – tambourine (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11), shaker (1, 4, 5, 9–11), bongo drums (1, 9), cymbals (1, 8–11), woodblock (1), cowbell (2, 5, 10), percussion (3), chimes (4, 5), congas (4–6, 8–10), timbales (5, 10), maracas (5), wind chimes (6, 8, 9), güiro (8); bass drums, claves (9)
  • Andy Gabbard – background vocals (1, 3–5, 7, 8, 10, 11), guitar (7)
  • David Levita – guitar (1, 3, 5–9)
  • Tom Bukovac – guitar (1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11), piano (1), Rhodes piano (5)
  • Rick Nowels – Wurlitzer (1, 5, 8); acoustic guitar, horn, Juno synthesizer, Mellotron, organ, strings, synthesizer (1); piano (5, 8)
  • Via Mardot – theremin (1)
  • Daniel Tashian – background vocals (2, 3, 7, 9, 11), Mellotron (2, 3, 11), bass (2, 7, 9); organ, piano (2, 9); congas, shaker, woodblock (2); guitar, vocoder (11)
  • Scott Storch – bass synthesizer, organ, piano (3, 6); clavinet (3), clavichord (6)
  • Jake Botts – saxophone (3); alto saxophone, baritone saxophone (9)
  • Ray Mason – trombone (3, 9)
  • Ashley Wilcoxson – background vocals (4–6, 9), claps (4, 9)
  • Leisa Hans – background vocals (4–6, 9), claps (4, 9)
  • Leon Michels – bass synthesizer (4, 9), tambourine (4, 10); Moog, organ (4, 11); percussion, piano, synthesizer (10)
  • Tommy Brenneck – acoustic guitar, bass (4, 10, 11); guitar (4, 11)
  • Nicole "Lady" Wray – background vocals (4)
  • Pat McLaughlin – background vocals (4)
  • Mike Rojas – bass synthesizer (5, 8, 9); clavichord, glockenspiel, organ, vibraphone (9)
  • Zac Rae – Mellotron (5, 8), organistrum (5), organ (8)
  • Austin Corona – bass (5)
  • Desmond Child – background vocals (6)
  • Mireya Ramos – background vocals (6)
  • Shae Fiol – background vocals (6)
  • Glenn Fishbach – cello (6)
  • Larry Gold – strings arrangement (6)
  • Jonathan Kim – viola (6)
  • Steven Heitlinger – viola (6)
  • Blake Espy – violin (6)
  • Emma Kummrow – violin (6)
  • Gared Crawford – violin (6)
  • Luigi Mazzocchi – violin (6)
  • Natasha Colkett – violin (6)
  • Tess Varley – violin (6)

Technical

References

  1. 1 2 Skinner, Tom. "Listen to The Black Keys' "cool" and groovy new single 'The Night Before'". NME . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Lewry, Frasey. "The Black Keys release extremely groovy single Babygirl". Louder Sound . Classic Rock . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Strauss, Matthew. "The Black Keys Detail New Album No Rain, No Flowers, Share Song: Listen". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Dunworth, Liberty. "The Black Keys tell us: "There was more to it than the tour, but making this record helped us work through it"". NME . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Mason, Samantha. "The Black Keys Share Dynamic New Single "On Repeat"". MXDWN. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Murray, Robin (May 16, 2025). "The Black Keys Detail New Album 'No Rain, No Flowers' | News". Clash Magazine. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  7. ↑ Newman, Jason (February 6, 2025). "The Black Keys Are Finally Ready To Talk About It All" . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  8. ↑ "The Black Keys Preview New Album 'No Rain, No Flowers,' with Five Songs — 13th LP Out Aug. 8 (Pre-Order)". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  9. ↑ Damara Kelly, Tyler. "The Black Keys detail self-produced album, No Rain, No Flowers". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  10. ↑ Kielty, Martin (May 16, 2025). "The Black Keys Detail New Album 'No Rain, No Flowers'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  11. ↑ Skinner, Tom (May 16, 2025). "The Black Keys announce "labour of love" new album 'No Rain, No Flowers' with breezy title track". NME. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  12. ↑ Brasil, Sydney. "The Black Keys Threaten New Album 'No Rain, No Flowers,' Share Title Track". Exclaim! . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  13. ↑ "No Rain, No Flowers by the Black Keys Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  14. ↑ "No Rain, No Flowers by the Black Keys Reviews". metacritic.com. Metacritic . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  15. 1 2 Z. Yeung, Neil. "No Rain, No Flowers Review by Neil Z. Yeung". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Carr, Tom. "Album: The Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers". The Arts Desk . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  17. ↑ McLister, Matthew. "The Black Keys – No Rain, No Flowers". Clash . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  18. ↑ Goggins, Joe. "The Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers". DIY . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  19. ↑ O'Connor, Roisin. "Album reviews: The Black Keys – No Rain, No Flowers, and Memory of Jane – Unsinking the Cypress". The Independent . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  20. ↑ Doyle, Tom. "New Music The Black Keys – No Rain, No Flowers Reviewed: Pop songwriters help duo scale new heights". Mojo . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  21. ↑ Livesey, Donovan. "The Black Keys – No Rain, No Flowers". MusicOMH . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "The Black Keys: No Rain, No Flowers Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  23. ↑ Dolan, Jon. "The Black Keys Are Still Really Good at Being the Black Keys" . Rolling Stone . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  24. ↑ Chung, Rho. "The Black Keys – No Rain, No Flowers". The Skinny . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  25. ↑ "No Rain, No Flowers / The Black Keys / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
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