The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney Blasts Lady Gaga’s “Shitty” New Single “Perfect Illusion”

The Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney appeared on last night’s episode of “Vice News Tonight”–Vice’s latest program for HBO. He was part of a new segment called “Patrick Carney’s High Music Standards Corner,” where he listens to new music and critiques it. He first heard some OneRepublic–which he was embarrassed to say he enjoyed–and then Norah Jones and the metal band Testament. Finally, Patrick Carney listened to Lady Gaga’s new Joanne single “Perfect Illusion,” produced by Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Mark Ronson, and Bloodpop. Carney did not hold back:

First of all, I hate guitars that sound like that. I’m lost because the guitar at the top of it sounds so shitty. It’s like “Eye of the Tiger,” but not even nearly as good as that. It sounds like Hulk Hogan is playing the fucking guitar.

I met Hulk Hogan once, and he was really, really nice, and he did say this to me: “These fingers have never touched a fret. Been up and down the Florida coast playing rock‘n’roll all through the ’70s, never touched a fret.” I think that’s what he’s saying! He’s saying he was playing a fretless bass in a prog band or something. Fucking cool!

But the thing is, that songs’s growing on me. I’ve heard it now. That’s one of those things. That’s the thing about music: The more you hear something, the more you like it. That’s why payola worked.

Carney looked physically uncomfortable while listening to “Perfect Illusion” and let out an audible groan when it ended. Watch the segment below.

Read some thoughts on “Perfect Illusion” on the Pitch.

Listen to “Perfect Illusion”:

Comments are closed.