Ohio Players was a mess of a record for Black Keys in 2024, with its forced party vibe and bevy of special guests trying to mask the fact that it was bereft of lasting musical ideas. Tour dates were cancelled and the duo had to adjust, which they did in 2025 with the pleasant, straightforward 
No Rain, No Flowers.
Fast forward to 2026, and the suddenly-prolific team has released yet another album, one that harkens back to their blues roots. The 10-song, 44-minute disc is nothing but blues-rock covers, a partner to 2021’s Delta Kream with a similar vibe. And if it does nothing but buy the band time to figure out their next move, it does so with a love of the blues and a sound that will never go out of style.
Those who never cared much for the Keys’ stylistic detours will dig this the most. There’s not a bad cover to be found, really; the keyboard flourishes and jaunty stomp of “Stop Arguing Over Me,” the swampy “Who’s Been Foolin’ You” and the slow, swirling psychedelic-blues of “It’s A Dream” are early highlights. The best song comes about halfway through, a stomping, attitude-filled take on “You Got To Lose,” which will be a killer live highlight, I wager.
It’s difficult to reinvent the wheel when it comes to blues-rock, and the Keys don’t do it here, but they’re not trying to. If you’ve loved their sound for decades, then you’ll love their overdrive take on “She Does It Right” or the stretched-out guitar work of “Nobody But You Baby,” the other contender for best song. More important, the duo (and the hired help, which does not include Beck this time) sound revitalized and—dare I say—gritty again, for the first time in a while. Recording mostly live with minimal overdubs also helps, as you really feel the spirit shining through the songs here.
Peaches! digs deep into both the blues catalog and the Keys’ roots and unearths a gem of a covers album, certainly their best work since Let’s Rock.