Album Review: Hacienda – Shakedown

Although Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys has his musical influence throughout all three of San Antonio-based Hacienda’s albums, this band cannot easily be dismissed as simply a pet project of a famous musician. Their latest release Shakedown holds a balance of soft vocals and catchy melodies that fuse together a variety of musical genres. The first single “Savage” and “You Just Don’t Know” cater to the mellow listener while intriguing surprises like “Let Me Go” and “Victoria” offer a throwback into vintage pop rock.

While melodic, catchy drum lines and simple lyrics glue the album together, the true appeal of Shakedown is in the unique layers each song offers. Every track stands well on its own yet somehow fits harmoniously as a complete album.

Luckily, Hacienda did have Auerbach offer a helping hand to the limelight by taking them on his 2009 solo tour as an opening act. This leg up is two-fold since Hacienda is still trying to prove they are a solid, original band with staying power. Unfortunately, it’s going to be increasingly difficult to break free from the stigma that Auerbach is the brains behind the music. They may be forced to venture out and consider a new producer for a future release.

Review by: Cheryl Stornelli