The Big Come Up

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: May 14, 2002 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Thickfreakness2003studioThe Big Come UpThe Black Keys - The Big Come Up.jpgThe Black KeysMay 14, 2002January–March 2002Synth Etiquette Analog Sound (Akron, Ohio)Template:HlistTemplate:HlistAlivePatrick Carneyx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

The Big Come Up is the debut studio album by the American rock duo the Black Keys, released on May 14, 2002, on Alive Records.

Background and recording

The album was created in Akron, Ohio, also known as the Rubber City.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> As band members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney began to grow up, they realized that rubber companies, such as Goodyear, were a dying industry.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They knew they were not guaranteed an automatic job by achieving a college degree, so the two dropped out of college to pursue their musical career. They began producing The Big Come Up in their basement.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Carney and Auerbach recorded the album in Carney's basement, using two microphones bought off eBay. They recorded their album on a 16-track digital recorder.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The record contains thirteen songs. Eight of them are original tracks, with five cover songs. "240 Years Before Your Time", the closing track, becomes silent at about 1:39 into the track on the CD version. This silence lasts until 21:41.

Release

The Big Come Up was released through Alive Records on May 14, 2002. Alive re-presses this album regularly, often several times a year on different colored vinyl or with altered sleeve artwork. These are usually marketed as limited editions.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They have released the album on vinyl on at least 14 separate occasions,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> opening themselves up to criticism, particularly in regard to the marketing term "limited edition".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The band also released an EP that included covers of the blues song "Leaving' Trunk" and the Beatles' song "She Said, She Said". The song "I'll Be Your Man" was used as the theme song for the HBO series Hung. "I'll Be Your Man" also appeared on the FX series Rescue Me.

Reception

According to Nielsen Soundscan, the album sold around 139,000 copies.<ref name="billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The two did not make much money from the album, so they had trouble paying for a tour. Therefore, they raised money by mowing lawns for their landlord. Although the album sold poorly, it gained a cult following and attracted critics. In 2005 music critic Chuck Klosterman singled out The Big Come Up as one of 21 "high-quality albums" from the previous three years.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> As the two blues-rock musicians began to gain attention, they caught the eye of American Independent record label, Fat Possum Records. Fat Possum Records quietly released blues music that drew inspiration from the gritty country blues guitar rhythms and from artists like Junior Kimbrough, one of Carney and Auerbach's leading inspirations.

Personnel

The Black Keys

• Dan Auerbach – electric guitar, vocals, bass, 12 string guitar, slide guitar
• Patrick Carney – drums, tambourine, maracas, beats, sampler, production
• Gabe Fulvimar – Moog bass on "She Said, She Said", "Heavy Soul", "The Breaks", and "Countdown"

Production

• Patrick Boissel – album cover design
• Michael Carney – album cover design, photography
• Dave Schultz – mastering