The Black Keys have returned with their fourth album, earning more acclaim for their simplistic and soulful takes on blues music. Yet there’s something less satisfying about Magic Potion than predecessor Rubber Factory.

Perhaps it’s a case of familiarity breeding…well, not contempt, but more a case of over-familiarity. As good as songs like “Your Touch” are, the simple fact of the matter is that Magic Potion’s songs differ little to the formula that the band have used over the course of their recording career, and the limited approach is now overly similar to what they’ve done in the past.

As much as brickbats can be case at the White Stripes’ Get Behind Me Satan, both that album and the far better predecessor Elephant both advanced that duo’s sound beyond that found on the White Stripes first three albums. Here, the Black Keys sound exactly as the Black Keys have always sounded – the primal backbone beat, and the wicked flashes of guitar.

See, there’s no doubting that Magic Potion is a good Black Keys album. It’s strong and muscular, but with somewhat tender touches on the likes of “You’re the One” and “The Flame”. The pop directness melding into freeform experimentation of “Strange Desire” and “Goodbye Babylon” offer something a little different from the normal template, but for the most part Magic Potion sticks to the Black Keys being the Black Keys. Take that as you will.