Let’s be real. If you followed The Black Keys in 2024, it felt like watching a slow-motion car crash in a very expensive leather jacket. First, there was the sudden, quiet cancellation of their massive "International Players" arena tour. Then came the very loud, very public firing of their management. For a minute there, it seemed like Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney were finally hitting that "legacy band" wall where the hits dry up and the drama takes over.
But then they did the most Akron thing possible. They went back to the basement. Well, technically Dan’s high-end Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville, but the spirit was the same.
The result is the The Black Keys new cd, titled No Rain, No Flowers, which dropped in August 2025. It’s an album born out of what Patrick Carney called "pure frustration." If Ohio Players was their attempt at a big, shiny pop-rock party with Beck and Noel Gallagher, this new record is the sound of the morning after. It’s grittier. It’s weirder. And honestly? It’s probably the best thing they’ve done in a decade.
Why No Rain, No Flowers is the Black Keys New CD You Actually Need to Hear
Most bands would have taken a three-year hiatus after a public meltdown like they had. Instead, the Keys leaned into the chaos. They didn't just release a "sorry we messed up" record; they pivoted toward a sound that feels like a sweaty, late-night DJ set at a dive bar.
The title itself, No Rain, No Flowers, is basically a mantra for their survival. Auerbach has been vocal about how the "damage" of 2024 forced them to stop trying to be an arena-rock machine and start being a band again. You can hear that shift in the production. They brought in some wild-card collaborators, including Scott Storch. Yes, the legendary hip-hop producer.
A Tracklist Born From Chaos
The album isn't just a collection of blues riffs. It’s got a pulse. Here’s how the 11-track journey shakes out:
- No Rain, No Flowers – The title track and lead single. It’s got this stoned-disco vibe that feels like a middle finger to everyone who said they were finished.
- The Night Before – A track that leans heavy on the soul influences Auerbach has been obsessed with lately.
- Babygirl – Retro swagger. pure and simple.
- Down To Nothing
- On Repeat
- Make You Mine – If the Keys ever played a club in 1977, it would sound like this.
- Man on a Mission
- Kiss It
- All My Life
- A Little Too High
- Neon Moon
The collaboration with Rick Nowels (who worked on Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence) brings a cinematic, melancholic weight to songs like "The Night Before." It’s a far cry from the "Lonely Boy" stomp, and that’s a good thing.
The "Trophy Edition" Confusion: Clearing the Air
Before No Rain, No Flowers arrived, the band put out a deluxe version of their previous album, Ohio Players (Trophy Edition), in late 2024. A lot of fans got confused, thinking this was the "new" album. It wasn’t. It was more of a victory lap—or maybe a "please buy this so we can pay our lawyers" lap.
That version added four tracks, including "Stay in Your Grave" featuring Alice Cooper and "Mi Tormenta" with DannyLux. It was cool, sure, but it felt like a patchwork quilt. The Black Keys new cd, No Rain, No Flowers, is a completely different beast. It’s a singular vision. It’s the sound of two guys who have been friends for twenty-plus years finally realizing they don't have to prove anything to the charts anymore.
The Scott Storch Factor
One of the most surprising things about the new music is the involvement of Scott Storch. When you think of The Black Keys, you think of fuzzed-out guitars and thumping drums. You don't usually think of the guy who produced "Lean Back."
But Carney and Auerbach have always been record nerds. They spend their "Record Hang" nights spinning obscure soul and funk 45s. Storch helped them translate that love of the groove into the actual studio. The result is a drum sound that’s tighter and more "hip-hop" than anything they’ve done since the Blakroc days.
Is This the "Documentary" Era?
If you want to understand the headspace behind the The Black Keys new cd, you have to look at the Jeff Dupre documentary, This Is A Film About The Black Keys. It premiered at SXSW in 2024 and gave a "warts and all" look at their history.
Seeing their struggles on screen—the divorces, the periods where they didn't speak, the sheer exhaustion of the road—makes the upbeat, defiant tone of the new album make sense. They've lived through the rain. Now they want the flowers.
What’s Next: The 2026 Outlook
As we move into 2026, the band is doubling down on the "less is more" philosophy. Their tour schedule is no longer about booking 50 arenas and hoping for the best. They are hitting festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival.
It feels more sustainable. It feels more "them."
If you’re looking to pick up the The Black Keys new cd, don’t just stream it. This is a record built for vinyl. The production is warm, the low end is thick, and it’s meant to be heard with a little bit of needle hiss.
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Actionable Steps for Fans
- Listen to the title track first. It sets the mood for the entire "danceable-blues" experiment they are running.
- Watch the documentary. It’s available on most VOD platforms now and provides the necessary context for why they sounds so relieved on this record.
- Check the 2026 festival lineups. If you missed the "International Players" disaster, these festival sets are the band's way of making it up to the fans with a much tighter, more energetic setlist.
The Black Keys aren't the same band they were in 2011. They’re older, a bit more cynical, but arguably more creative than ever. No Rain, No Flowers is the proof.