Black Keys, The Vinyl Records
Midwest guitar-and-drum duo the Black Keys are known for their raw blues- and garage rock-infused sound. Influenced by performers like Junior Kimbrough, Howlin' Wolf, and Robert Johnson, the band emerged in Akron, Ohio, and gained early buzz with 2002's The Big Come Up before signing with cult blues label Fat Possum Records for 2003's Thickfreakness and 2004's Rubber Factory. While they've drawn comparisons to their Detroit-bred contemporaries the White Stripes, the Keys have carved out their own potent niche, dipping into both psychedelic rock and roots sounds, a combination that has earned them Grammy Awards, including for 2010's Brothers and 2011's El Camino, both of which cracked the Top Five of the Billboard 200.