The Black Keys: Where to Start

You don't have to ask ! Just get everything from the black keys. While you are at it, get Dan Aurebach's 'keep it hid' also.

If you're looking for vinyl start by trying to find a disc that was manufactured/recorded properly so that it sounds at least reasonably good on a better-quality audio system. If you do let me know since I have not had such luck. I have 2 of their lps [The Big Come Up & Thickfreakness) but won't get suckered into a third until someone tells me something has improved. I do like what music they lay down but just can't handle the poor sound quality of the discs.

This is like trying to find some good sounding Robert Johnson on vinyl.

No. There is a difference when comparing R. Johnson to the Black Keys. Johnson's recordings were based on very old recording techniques etc. The black keys are 2009! Reminds me of a lot of the quickly put together stuff Neil Young did as "garage" band in the 70s. Interesting work but difficult to tolerate the sound deficiencies.

What is so interesting about a recording done in someone's basement? Wouldn't the playback of the quality music be so much more interesting if it actually sounded like one was in that basement with them? Instead of the low grade sound that they're giving us for our money?

I don't know where the hell I was sleepin, but someone was smart enough to play them at Borders books one evening.

The Big Come Up, Rubber Factory, Thickfreakness, Magic Potion & Chulahoma went into my collection the next day.

I hear Cream, Hendrix, SRV, Trower & Vanilla Fudge, the Black Keys earlier stuff rules for me.