“Things Ain’t Like They Used to Be” sums up the Black Keys’ brand of nostalgia too well. Like most of the celebrated blues rock duo’s mournful songs, it’s about a relationship gone sour and, stripped of context, the title’s a succinct description of their general outlook. Rather than freshen their sound, producer Danger Mouse makes Patrick Carney’s drums sound more vintage than ever, and has Dan Auerbach playing an out-of-tune-piano on “Psychotic Girl” that’s positively antique. Unfortunately some of these cuts seem to be limping — Auerbach lets his vocals wander out into traffic, oblivious to the world around them. After the thundering riff of “I Got Mine” gives way to the lethargic “Strange Times,” what seem like stabs at dust-bowl-esque atmosphere too often amount to boredom. 

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