Grammy-winning rock duo The Black Keys have returned with their thirteenth studio album, No Rain, No Flowers, released on August 8, 2025, via Easy Eye Sound and Warner Records. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have once again proven their staying power, channeling a tumultuous 2024 into a vibrant, groove-heavy record that blends their signature blues-rock roots with fresh, eclectic influences. This 11-track collection, recorded at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, is a testament to the band’s resilience and creative evolution.
No Rain, No Flowers
Listen to No Rain, No Flowers on Spotify · Album · The Black Keys · 2025 · 11 songs
The album’s title, No Rain, No Flowers, seems to reflect the band’s journey through adversity. In 2024, The Black Keys faced significant challenges, including the cancellation of their North American tour and a split with their management. Rather than retreating, Auerbach and Carney turned to the studio, transforming hardship into art. “The last year really led us to do what we usually do in the face of adversity… we went to the studio and we started to make music and just create,” Auerbach shared. The result is an album that feels both introspective and celebratory, with a sound shaped by the duo’s wildly popular Record Hangs—dance parties where they spin rare vinyl 45s for fans.
For No Rain, No Flowers, The Black Keys took a different approach to collaboration, focusing on working with renowned songwriters rather than performers. The album features contributions from Grammy-winning songwriters Rick Nowels (known for his work with Lana Del Rey), Daniel Tashian, and Desmond Child, alongside legendary keyboardist and producer Scott Storch (Dr. Dre, The Roots). “We wanted to go straight to the source—into the room with people known for their songwriting,” Carney explained. This shift brought a new dimension to the band’s sound, with Nowels’ piano-driven writing and Storch’s keyboard expertise adding layers of polish and groove.
Auerbach noted the immediate chemistry with Nowels, with whom he had previously collaborated on Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence. “We’d never really collaborated with a keyboard player or someone who writes on piano the way he does, but it clicked immediately,” he said. The result is a record that balances the band’s raw, Ohio-bred rock instincts with a dreamy, 60s psych-soul vibe and danceable rhythms.
No Rain, No Flowers spans a wide stylistic range, from modernist blues to grainy country rock and southern soul grooves. The album’s lead single, “The Night Before,” has already claimed the top spot on the Alternative Airplay chart and secured the band’s ninth No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart. Other singles, including “Babygirl,” “No Rain, No Flowers,” “Man on a Mission,” and “On Repeat,” showcase the album’s diversity, with each track offering a distinct flavor.
Critics have praised the album’s cohesive yet varied sound. AllMusic’s Neil Z. Yeung noted that the duo “keep it close to their existing blues-rock sound, with the producers simply adding a little shine here and there,” creating a “pleasant, straightforward collection of reliably rocking jams.” Meanwhile, Mojo highlighted the “Hendrix fuzz” of “Man on a Mission” and the “slick, Philly-shaped soul” of “Make You Mine,” which sees the band soaring to “new poppy heights.”
The tracklist includes:
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No Rain, No Flowers (3:16)
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The Night Before (2:34)
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Babygirl (2:54)
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Down to Nothing (3:37)
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On Repeat (3:18)
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Make You Mine (3:41)
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Man on a Mission (3:31)
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Kiss It (3:05)
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All My Life (2:53)
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A Little Too High (3:37)
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Neon Moon (4:24)
More than two decades into their career, The Black Keys continue to evolve while staying true to their roots. No Rain, No Flowers is a labor of love, reflecting the band’s deep commitment to their craft and their ability to find light in the face of challenges. As Auerbach put it, “Every year the bond that we have as a band gets tighter. With every year that passes we realize how special that is.”
The album is available in multiple formats, including limited-edition colored 12” vinyl with tattoo-style illustrated posters and a CD with a fold-out poster. Fans can stream or purchase No Rain, No Flowers now via platforms like Apple Music or the band’s official website.
For those looking to experience The Black Keys’ latest chapter, No Rain, No Flowers delivers a gritty, groovy, and heartfelt addition to their storied discography. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a new listener, this album invites you to dance, reflect, and rock out.
