The thick fuzz riffs that propel "Don't Hold Back," the opening track on Eric Johanson's The Deep and the Dirty, signal that the guitarist lives in a post-Black Keys reality: the combination of stylish retro affectations and traditional rhythmic crunch enlivens his blues-rock. Johanson's voice may not have much grit, yet he compensates by serving up all manner of earthy guitar tones. It isn't just saturated distortion: "Beyond the Sky" crackles with acoustic picking and slide guitar. The tapestry of six-strings isn't the only variety on The Deep and the Dirty, either. "Undertow" is a jumping house rocker with a big beat swing, "Elysian Fields" is a creeping blues noir, and "Galaxy Girl" hops to hooks that flirt with pop. What ties it all together is Johanson's sharply honed taste and muscular playing, a combination that gives The Deep and the Dirty contemporary verve. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine