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The World of the White Stripes Red guitars, white dresses, screaming blues riffs, interesting lyrics, bouncy rhythms, tons of mystery, tons of attitude, and enough talent to back it all up. All of these things describe The White Stripes, planet Earth’s newest King and Queen of rock and roll. Jack White is the leader of the two piece blues loving punksters, singing most of the songs, playing all of the guitars and keyboards, producing all the records, and providing a huge amount of attitude and intelligence that has been lacking in rock music ever since Kurt Cobain left the world. Meg White is sometimes Jack’s wife/ex-wife and other times she is his sister, but at all times she is the backbone of the White Stripes, providing solid and basic drum beats and a mysterious and intriguing amount of sex appeal. These two twenty something rockers from Detroit Rock City have taken over my life ever since the release of their fourth album entitled Elephant. My obsession for the band is evident with the fact that I bought the new album on both double record vinyl and compact disc the very fist day it was available. Obsessed I may be, but alone I am not. The White Stripes brand of electrified Mississippi Delta Blues has become number one on the European album charts and a top ten hit here in America. In just four years they have went from hungry scenesters in Detroit, to international stars. In those four years the White Stripes have produced four amazing albums full of great original songs as well as an impressive and interesting selection of cover songs. They have risen to the upper echelon of rock’s elite class and have even made Bob Dylan into a fan of their music. Recently the White Stripes played four straight nights on Conan O’Brien’s late night talk show, and on each night they showed the world why they have become the biggest thing in the music industry. The White Stripes took over Conan’s late night universe by showing style and creativity in all four of their performances, which were highlighted by a cover of Dolly Parton’s song Jolene and Jack White playing a inspired solo on top of Conan’s desk. Now I know that everyone doesn’t have time to sit around and dissect, magnify, and study everything the White Stripes have done in the recording studio over the last four years, but I do, so I will break down their four albums for you so no one out their in cyber land is left out of the circle of cool which has been created by this artistic duo. The White Stripes – 1999 The Stripes first full-length album is very representative of the band’s live performances. Hard-hitting and furious, at the same time lyrically intriguing and captivating. Songs like Astro, Screwdriver, When I Hear My Name, and The Big Three Killed My Baby let you get to know the bands funny take on writing songs, which is often very interpersonal and at other times quirky and removed. This first album shows that Jack White has great ability at writing songs about himself, outside himself, and sometimes outside of this world and it also performs the initial steps of creating the separated art world of the White Stripes. Arrangements of Stop Breaking Down and Dylan’s One More Cup of Coffee show where the Stripes are coming from, but at the same time show that they have an individual and unique view of the world and how their music should sound. De Stijl – 2000 This is hands down my favorite album produced by these budding rock stars. This album takes great leaps and bounds in creating a signature studio sound for the band. De Stijl contains a certain amount of diversity that wasn’t present on their first album. There are moments of blues, punk rock, pop, and folk. A cover of the legendary Son House’s song Death Letter is perhaps the high point of the album, but the raging Hello Operator and the poppy Apple Blossom prove the greatness of the record as a whole. The first song on the album, You’re Pretty Good Looking, is a great example of Jack White’s songwriting taking on a life of it’s own, without gender or race, but rather just purely musical and artistic. If there is one album that I would tell someone to buy if they were interested in the White Stripes if would definitely be De Stijl, so what are you waiting for? Go out and buy it! White Blood Cells - 2001 This album was the Stripes biggest step towards the success they are receiving today. While containing the MTV anthems Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground and We’re Going To Be Friends, White Blood Cells is not a watered down pop version of the Stripes, it still contains underground gems like Hotel Yorba, Little Room, and The Union Forever. White Blood Cells made the White Stripes show up on the mainstream rock and roll radar due to its accessible feel and sound, because of this musical palatability it is the album has the best chances of being played around college and high school campuses across the world. Elephant – 2003 The White Stripes come full circle on Elephant. It is very diverse containing punky rock songs like Seven Nation Army and Hypnotize, straight up blues jams like Ball and Biscuit, folky sing along songs like It’s True That We Love One Another and In the Cold, Cold Night, pop sounding ballads like I Want To Be The Boy and You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket, and underground music gems like Little Acorns and The Air Near My Fingers. While being recorded on equipment that pre-dates the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, the White Stripes were able to make an album without computers and millions of dollars. Without the luxury of modern equipment the White Stripes made an album that is purely amazing and timeless. This is the album that defines the White Stripes and is a must have for any lover of true rock and roll. So there you have it, a brief look at the private world of music and art created by the White Stripes. Hopefully the normal excesses of rock stardom will not claim another victim now that the Stripes have become such a success. The White Stripes truly make music that is representative of their own unique tastes and influences, and to me that is all you can ask from a rock star superhero god and goddess. So God speed Jack and Meg, and don’t ever forget Detroit.
Well You’re In Your
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