Song of the Day: “She Does It Right” by The Black Keys

May 04, 2026

With their latest release, Peaches!, The Black Keys continue their decade-long journey of reconciling their raw, garage-rock origins with their status as elder statesmen of the modern rock landscape. Following a period defined by high-concept production and psychedelic detours, this record manages to be both breezy and swampy, a difficult tightrope walk that suggests the duo has reached that comfortable middle age where they can use all the things they’ve learned over the years to create their sound without feeling the need to pick a specific lane. The songwriting is tighter and the arrangements more disciplined, suggesting a duo that has moved past trying to be something they’re not to sustain momentum.

Evolutionarily speaking, Peaches! is the spiritual successor to the “back-to-basics” grit of Delta Kream, but with the pop sensibilities of the El Camino era tucked neatly into its back pocket. While their mid-career work occasionally felt like it was wearing a suit that was just a bit too tight, this album fits like a pre-shrunk vintage tee. It signals a shift away from specific incarnations of their sound, choosing instead to integrate those influences into a cohesive, contemporary identity... a sound that is unapologetically analog and suspiciously infectious (not to mention, absolutely DRIPPING in reverb).

For me, the undisputed centerpiece of the album is “She Does It Right.” While the record is consistent in its quality, this track stands out as the most vital song on the project, primarily because it is the perfect amalgam of all the tools the band has at their disposal. The song is anchored by a thick blanket of bass over which a sharp, staccato guitar figure demands attention, both of which provide a rhythmic skeleton for Auerbach to deliver one of his most convincing and urgent vocal performances in years. The psychedelic elements are still present with the organ runs, slide guitar, and gospel-style background vocals but mixed so impeccably into the track that they have a subliminal effect on how the song is perceived without it being obvious. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to drive slightly over the speed limit toward a destination that definitely serves cheap beer.