Music Discussion #5 - The White Stripes / Jack White

**Buzzkill** · 05-11-2012, 01:28 PM

On the heels of Jack White's recent solo album Blunderbuss, I've been reflecting on how much I love this man and his work. I've been a massive White Stripes fan since I first heard White Blood Cells, and they easily make my top 10 favorite bands of all time.

While some people may find the stripped down sound and spastic drumming off putting, I've always found it to be the key to tying all of their eccentricities together. The White Stripes, to me, have always represented taking very basic , rustic elements and combing them into something much greater than their individual parts. Their ability to create such huge, full sound with such sparse instrumentation has always drawn me to them.

Drums, Piano, Voice:

This is a philosophy that is represented both lyrically and stylistically throughout their albums. From Jack's obsession with simple but strong colors (red, white, black), to the power of the number 3 (drums, guitar, vocals; plus all of his references to the number throughout his songs). It's also a philosophy that appears lyrically in almost every album; countless White Stripes songs are about finding a beat up, fixer upper of a home and turning it into something domesticated and livable.

To me they are in many ways a "perfect band". Immediately distinguishable sound, lyrical and stylistic cohesion from album to album, enigmatic and extremely eccentric lead man, and a consistency from album to album that other bands "could only dream of". I don't think there is a single White Stripes song that I don't like. Not to mention they have that once in a generation hit that became an instant American classic the moment it hit the airwaves; a song that is still loved and chanted throughout the world (Seven Nation Army). They are, to me, the quintessential American rock band of the last decade, and JW is the rock star of our generation.

Could probably write an essay on this, so I am going to end it there for now and leave it to you fine folks to continue the discussion

I encourage you all to read this fucking great piece on Jack from NYT Magazine. It cemented everything I love about that maniac. Even if you only have a passing interest in JW, anybody into literary journalism will dig it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/ma...pagewanted=all

Here are some of my favorites from the Third Man.

The White Stripes - You Don't Know What Love Is

SPOILER: show

The White Stripes - Hotel Yorba

SPOILER: show

The White Stripes - Ball and a Biscuit (Live)

SPOILER: show

The White Stripes - Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine

SPOILER: show

The Raconteurs - Carolina Drama

SPOILER: show

The Raconteurs - Rich Kids Blues

SPOILER: show

The Dead Weather - Old Mary

SPOILER: show

Jack White - Weep Themselves to Sleep

SPOILER: show

05-11-2012, 01:28 PM	#1
Buzzkill Jamiroquai Bodega Posts: 18,627	Music Discussion #5 - The White Stripes / Jack White On the heels of Jack White's recent solo album Blunderbuss, I've been reflecting on how much I love this man and his work. I've been a massive White Stripes fan since I first heard White Blood Cells, and they easily make my top 10 favorite bands of all time. While some people may find the stripped down sound and spastic drumming off putting, I've always found it to be the key to tying all of their eccentricities together. The White Stripes, to me, have always represented taking very basic , rustic elements and combing them into something much greater than their individual parts. Their ability to create such huge, full sound with such sparse instrumentation has always drawn me to them. Drums, Piano, Voice: This is a philosophy that is represented both lyrically and stylistically throughout their albums. From Jack's obsession with simple but strong colors (red, white, black), to the power of the number 3 (drums, guitar, vocals; plus all of his references to the number throughout his songs). It's also a philosophy that appears lyrically in almost every album; countless White Stripes songs are about finding a beat up, fixer upper of a home and turning it into something domesticated and livable. To me they are in many ways a "perfect band". Immediately distinguishable sound, lyrical and stylistic cohesion from album to album, enigmatic and extremely eccentric lead man, and a consistency from album to album that other bands "could only dream of". I don't think there is a single White Stripes song that I don't like. Not to mention they have that once in a generation hit that became an instant American classic the moment it hit the airwaves; a song that is still loved and chanted throughout the world (Seven Nation Army). They are, to me, the quintessential American rock band of the last decade, and JW is the rock star of our generation. Could probably write an essay on this, so I am going to end it there for now and leave it to you fine folks to continue the discussion I encourage you all to read this fucking great piece on Jack from NYT Magazine. It cemented everything I love about that maniac. Even if you only have a passing interest in JW, anybody into literary journalism will dig it. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/ma...pagewanted=all Here are some of my favorites from the Third Man. The White Stripes - You Don't Know What Love Is SPOILER: show The White Stripes - Hotel Yorba SPOILER: show The White Stripes - Ball and a Biscuit (Live) SPOILER: show The White Stripes - Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine SPOILER: show The Raconteurs - Carolina Drama SPOILER: show The Raconteurs - Rich Kids Blues SPOILER: show The Dead Weather - Old Mary SPOILER: show Jack White - Weep Themselves to Sleep SPOILER: show Last edited by Buzzkill; 05-11-2012 at 01:49 PM.