Elephant

Elephant is massive and has long tusks. Thundering through the forest right off the bat with Seven Nation Army, this album has no gaps but does allow room for breathers. In The Cold, Cold Night is a beautifully chilling song that was on bedtime mixtapes I made for my girls when they were little, and You've Got Her In Your Pocket is a heartbreaking love song of insecurity and control that somehow is still tender and sweet. However, the heartrate isn't lowered for much time as Ball & Biscuit, The Hardest Button to Button, Little Acorns, and subsequent followers strike hard like a voltage surge with Meg-n-Jack signature grinding grooves and beats that trigger electric joy. Sometimes when spinning this album, organic dance spasms have been known to induce. Elephant is definitely one of my favorite rock albums of all time and the one that caused me to step back to their prior 3, and never lose sight of what these two were up to moving forward. May we all follow in the footsteps of Janet, who allowed the squirrel to teach her about breaking this sometimes-overwhelming life down into piles and take one acorn at a time! ***I'll never forget Jack's innovative 2014 set at Bonnaroo. Ben and I were jumping like kids for a VERY long time.

One of my all-time favorites, from start to finish. I bet Jack and Meg White looked at Karen and Richard Carpenter and said, "They have to be fucking with us. The Carpenters aren't really brother and sister. They're a twisted married couple! Genius!" If you look at some of the Carpenter's album covers, it's not such a stretch. And that's exactly what Jack and Meg decided to do. They put up a front of being brother and sister, when they were actually husband and wife. Jack would even take Meg's last name (presumably because Jack White sounded way cooler than Jack Gillis). Their marriage apparently ended in divorce 3 years before this release, but that didn't stop these crazy kids from keeping the whole brother/sister act going. Jack would continue to introduce his "big sister" Meg in concerts. Like Karen Carpenter, Meg was the drummer (but rarely sang, although she does have lead vocals here on “In The Cold, Cold Night”). And Jack oversaw all the musical arrangements in a Richard sort of way. But that's where any similarities to the Carpenters (real or pseudo) end. The Stripes slap, and slap in a big way. One can argue there's been no better recent purveyor of the Blues than Jack White. And his "sister" is the secret sauce. No one keeps the beat like Meg. "Elephant" was their big break through, perfectly blending elements of classic rock and the blues, and even taking a Hal David/Burt Bacharach oldie and making it their own. You already know the classic “Seven Nation Army”. And you’re probably familiar with “Ball and Biscuit” even if you haven’t seen "The Social Network". Even the deep cuts are bangers here. I'll take the "Seven Nation Army/Black Math/There's No Home for You Here" opening trifecta over almost any other album's first three songs. The Spotify link here took me to an older version of this classic that didn't have "Hypnotize" for some odd reason. Be sure to listen to the full album. It's on the short list of the best albums of the last 20 years.

I came into this review thinking of the White Stripes as a pale imitation of the Rolling Stones. I'd heard them before in passing, but didn't really pay much attention. Listening to Elephant, it's apparent that leader Jack White is very much his own man. Elephant is elemental music, painted in primary colors. There is no shading to speak of. The instrumentation is unadorned aside from a little distortion here, a little reverb or echo there. The song structures and melodies are dead simple, but very hooky. Beyond this music being rock, I really didn't pick up on any of the influences I would have suspected, like the Stones or Marc Bolan. There's no blues until you get to the 8th song. Then, with the cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's I Don't Know What To Do With Myself, it becomes clear. On Elephant, The Whites Stripes are making pop music with the attitude and instrumentation of rock. But do they do it well? There's no doubt that The White Stripes perform with conviction. They have something specific to offer, and they put it across cleanly and with a minimum of artifice. But I don't really dig it. First off, I like the blues and rock without it seems kind of besides the point to me, but that's probably just because I'm old. More damaging, Jack White's musicianship is downright primitive. While there's nothing wrong with Jack White's imagination or ears, I prefer my musicians more technically accomplished, and my music more complex, more shaded. One listen in, and you'll have gotten pretty much everything there is to get out of Elephant. There's not much point in listening to it a second time. Still, I wouldn't skip over these songs if they turned up on a playlist. I'll give Elephant credit for being pleasant and for accomplishing what Jack White set out to do. He aims low and hits the target.

This is the album that allowed the band to break through and become the legends they were destined to become. Jack White became the guitar god of a new generation and deserved the status. A hard blues rocking album, but with Jack's twists that gave blues rock a new sound and opened up the ears of the pop-drenched culture. He could be responsible for the vinyl and classic rock resurgence, but also gave hope to many that rock was far from dead.

Compelling from start to finish. A couple of annoyances that I could nitpick, but it's a great album. Best track: Seven Nation Army

This album punched me right in the mouth from the get go with Seven Nation Army. I was familiar with the bass line to the song because it is played a lot at sporting events. I thought it was played out prior to today, but now I contend its wide spread use is justified by how much this song kicks ass. Holy shit the guitar sound for Ball and Biscuit is sublime (chef’s kiss to the effects and amp set up), and the vocals are a call back to some super sultry Led Zeppelin tracks. Black Math and Hypnotize are punk inspired songs I can get behind. Now let’s go break some stuff. Additionally there are several tracks without the familiar distorted, guitar driven sound that are most excellent like: In the Cold, Cold Night; I Want to Be the Boy; and the last track, Well It’s True That We Love One Another, which is a playful, refreshing end to the album. The drums are never at the forefront on the album, yet they are solid and perfectly support the overall sound. Overall this album is a great reminder that often times less is more. The stripped down nature of both the musical parts, and having only two members, really allows the parts that are present to shine through quite brightly. A revelation…bravo!

From the iconic opening baseline of “Seven Nation Army” through to the lighthearted closer “Its true that we love one another”, Elephant is an explosive mixture of ferocity and subtlety. Meg’s under appreciated drumming is minimal but integral to the alchemy, constantly and relentlessly driving the record forward. “Black Math” is frenetic from start to finish with its blistering solo leaving you breathless. “You’ve got her in your pocket” is an example of Jack’s great song writing, “Little Acorns” too an example of his inventiveness. His lyrics are clever, at times dark and humorous, standing out in particular against the menacing, rumbling bass on “it’s a cold, cold night”. The electrifying “girl, you’ve got no faith in medicine” is everything a garage rock song should be, punchy and instantly gratifying, whereas on the the blues epic “ball and biscuit” Jack White teases and toys with us, showcasing his guitar playing prowess in the most aggressive fashion imaginable. In the early 2000s You simply couldn’t escape The White Stripes. The question is, why would you have wanted to?

I was never a big fan. I know they covered up for their lack of bass in the studio with clever EQ and layering of guitars, but their live sound was dismal. I believe Jack White has made much better music post-White Stripes. Giving them three stars because they still had some nice riffs and rocking tunes here and there.

What have I done to appease the generator and have such a solid run of albums of the last 10 days (with one notable Kanye-sized exception)? Is it the ritualistic imbibing of wheat grass juice I’ve adopted in the generator’s honor? Perhaps it’s the sage burning I took part in to rid my abode of the evil spirits of recommendations past? (I’m looking at you, “Blood and Chocolate” by Elvis Costello and ABC’s “Lexicon of Love”) More likely, it’s the generator taking pity upon me for the horrors I’ve had to endure over the last 150+ records…The generator has seen my suffering and is now rewarding me, graciously, with a reprieve. All hail our benevolent album generating overlord, whose limitless bounty enriches even the smallest man. Now that I’ve given thanks, I turn to the album recommendation at hand: “Elephant” by The White Stripes. Unless you live under a rock or come from an alternate dimension, you at least have an awareness of the White Stripes. Their bare bones, explosive brand of blues based garage rock is so ubiquitous in 2022 that you can’t go to a sporting event in America (and much of the world) without hearing “Seven Nation Army”. “Elephant” is solid from front to back and might be the perfect encapsulation of their sound over their career, but it runs a bit long for me. As a personal preference, I think around 40 minutes is the perfect album length, especially for a band like the White Stripes, whose love of vinyl is well documented. A record like this, explosive as it can be, you want it to come on, sock you in the face and leave you wanting more. By the end of Elephant, I was glad it it was over. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because it started to feel like it was repeating itself.

4Jack White is an undeniable talent and this album is mostly enjoyable but there are several moments where you can tell ol' Jackie Boy is just being wierd for the sake of weird. That's the thing that's made him the darling of the East Nashville scene but I personally find it annoying. Not so annoying that I can't enjoy the album but annoying nonetheless. The thing that really makes this album interesting to me is also the thing that makes Jack White interesting to me despite his eccentricities: the mixing. It deviates significantly from the established norms of "how to mix an album" and it stands out as very different from its contemoraries. I believe that unorthodox approach to mixing is what has made Third Man Records such a powerhouse in the industry in such a short time. A Jack White joint just ... feels different. It stands out.

I had heard a few White Stripes songs on the radio, but my eyes were really opened when I saw them on TV playing at some big awards show in the early 2000s (maybe the 2002 VMAs) and realizing that they were doing something _very_ different than most big rock bands. They were actually _playing_. It was rough and raucous and unpolished and sloppy and it really rocked, unlike everything else I had seen that night or at any other awards show ever. Now, I see a lot of small bands in small venues, so I recognize real sweaty rock and roll when I see it. This wasn't major-label, airbrushed, produced, domesticated and professional rock; this was a band playing in the moment, consequences be damned. Their performance was gloriously imperfect, which gave it power. I wasn't really paying close attention to 'new' bands and releases around this time, but I certainly heard about the White Stripes. They were already big by the time they made an impression here in Australia. I remember the excitement about this record when it came out, and Seven Nation Army very quickly revealed itself as a classic track. They can capture their live excitement on record, which is no small feat. Jack White is a pretty hot and messy guitar player, and his voice is idiosyncratic at times (that weird warble he does), Meg's drumming is basic, but they play with dynamics and they clearly _listen_ to each other. It's the right balance of tight synchronization between the players, with a looseness that allows them to follow the moment. I really want to emphasize their use of dynamics and space, which is a bit rare these days. They are often loud and noisy, but they can pull back to quite sparse and quiet at the drop of a hat. And on a technical note, they don't over-compress their mastering. Hardly anyone does that these days. The songwriting is catchy, heavily influenced by blues and country, but not actually either when you dig into it (any more than, say, Led Zep is real blues). The highly stylized and constrained aesthetics of the White Stripes -- visually and musically and production-wise -- play to their strengths, which are that immediacy and a real power (even in their constrained inauthenticity). Most record company execs would, I'm sure, list a bunch of weaknesses -- the basic drumming, the simple songwriting, the relatively unadorned arrangements, the noisy recording, Jack's voice, Meg's voice -- but these 'weaknesses' are all strengths. Hell, you level nearly all the same criticisms at the Velvet Underground, similarly despised by record execs but, you know, the Velvet fucking Underground. This is probably the White Stripes' best album; it's got some really classic songs (Seven Nation Army, Hardest Button to Button, Ball and Biscuit). it passes Howard Hawks' rule for a good movie (and a good album): three good scenes and no bad scenes. Playing is powerful and generally tightly edited (later albums can tend to ramble) and Jack is not distracted by fad ideas (whoever left a marimba in the studio for him to experiment needs a firm talking to). But at the end of the day, the most important thing about this album is that it rocks. It's one of the big major label records that does actually rock. Rock as a genre has been unwell since the late 80s, and it hard to think of many bands that have had this kind of major success by playing straight ahead rock. Is this the final spasm of rock as an important genre? Maybe. There are still plenty of smaller bands, especially if you are willing to hand out in dive bars, but I don't think rock will ever be relevant to popular culture in the same way ever again. A last great album for a previously great and important genre, and a great listen.

Sounds like Scott Pilgrim music. Also bluesy

Wow, what an album to miss on my vacation. I adore the White Stripes, of course I have this album on vinyl. I don't think it's my favorite from them, but it's undeniable nonetheless. Opens with the legendary Seven Nation Army, one of the all-time great basslines. Something about two-man bands (man and a woman in this case), why do they rock so hard? Jack White is a menace on guitar, and Meg White is a severely underappreciated drummer. Yeah, what she plays may be simple, but it gets the damn job done. Frankly too many bangers on here to give this less than five stars. Hell yeah. Favorite tracks: Ball and Biscuit, Seven Nation Army, Hardest Button to Button, Black Math, Hypnotize, I Want to Be the Boy. Album art: Iconic. Legendary. These two understood color scheme. What's black and white and red all over? Classic album covers. 5/5

Glad I listened to this. I hadn’t before. However, aside from the obvious seven nation army it didn’t really grab me as anything new. Solid but not really a standout.

The album started of with a famous Darts intro song. I think the cover of 'I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself' does right to all the other covers of this song. Did not know that that song was first recorded by Chuck Jackson in 1962. I think this Album is alright although I don't know The White Stripes to much. 'In The Cold Cold Night' made me think of the sound of the Doors, 60 70 sound. Very nice. After these songs the album got me. And the use of a slide gitar makes it even better. The loud hardrock passages are not my favourites. I could endure them as I was intreged by this abum.

The first song obviously iconic, known to everyone, then the rest super underwhelming overall

Can't say I loved it. A little too much talk-singing for my taste. Do enjoy the crunchy sound and some catchy riffs in several songs.

Off this evidence The White Stripes were more concept than conceptualisers, so aside from a couple of killer tracks (Seven Nation Army, obvs, but also Black Math, in which Jack plays the guitar like a washboard and a cheese grater) these are mostly genial but part-formed blues-rock etudes. In other words, too much jam in this donut.

sososososso goddam boring

### In-Depth Review of *Elephant* by The White Stripes *Elephant*, the fourth studio album by The White Stripes, was released on April 1, 2003. It is widely considered a landmark in the garage rock revival of the early 2000s, showcasing the raw power of Jack and Meg White's minimalist approach to rock music. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting influence, while also weighing the pros and cons. #### 1. Lyrics Jack White's lyrics on *Elephant* are both cryptic and direct, often straddling the line between the two. The album's most famous track, "Seven Nation Army," encapsulates this duality. The song's lyrics are straightforward, depicting a battle against an unseen antagonist: "I'm gonna fight 'em off / A seven nation army couldn't hold me back." However, the lyrics are ambiguous enough to invite various interpretations, from personal struggles to broader social commentary. The album frequently explores themes of love, betrayal, and self-reliance. In "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself," a cover of Burt Bacharach's classic, Jack White expresses existential despair, highlighting the album's preoccupation with emotional turbulence. "The Hardest Button to Button" tells a story of familial disintegration through a narrative of a child's alienation, while "There's No Home for You Here" addresses the end of a relationship with biting sarcasm. A standout in lyrical complexity is "Ball and Biscuit," a bluesy track that features Jack White as a swaggering narrator boasting of his prowess: "It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl / But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son." The song weaves together traditional blues themes of machismo and seduction with White's own idiosyncratic storytelling. Overall, the lyrics of *Elephant* are a mix of raw emotional expression and poetic ambiguity. They draw from classic rock, blues, and folk traditions, while also injecting a modern, almost post-punk sensibility that reflects the uncertainties and ironies of contemporary life. #### 2. Music Musically, *Elephant* is a tour de force of minimalism and raw energy. The album is built on a foundation of distorted guitar riffs, pounding drums, and a minimal use of bass—a rarity, considering it appears on only a couple of tracks. Jack White’s guitar work is a standout feature, characterized by its gritty tone and innovative riffs. The album opens with "Seven Nation Army," a track that immediately hooks the listener with its iconic bass-like guitar riff, created using a pitch shifter. This song sets the tone for the album, showcasing The White Stripes' ability to create a huge sound with minimal instrumentation. The riff is both simple and hypnotic, embodying the band's philosophy of stripping rock music down to its bare essentials. Tracks like "Black Math" and "Hypnotize" are fast-paced, punk-influenced rockers that highlight Meg White's primal drumming style. Her drumming, though often criticized for its simplicity, is integral to the band's sound, providing a steady, almost tribal rhythm that drives the music forward. "Ball and Biscuit" stands out as a seven-minute blues jam, featuring extended guitar solos that pay homage to the Delta blues tradition. Jack White’s guitar playing here is loose and fiery, with a rawness that evokes the spirit of classic bluesmen like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. In contrast, songs like "In the Cold, Cold Night" and "I Want to Be the Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart" slow down the pace, introducing a more intimate, almost tender mood. The former features Meg White on lead vocals, adding a haunting quality to the minimalist instrumentation. The album closes with "Well It's True That We Love One Another," a playful, acoustic number that contrasts sharply with the intensity of the preceding tracks. This song, featuring guest vocals from Holly Golightly, serves as a light-hearted epilogue to the album's more serious themes. #### 3. Production *Elephant* was recorded at Toe Rag Studios in London, known for its strict adherence to analog recording techniques. The album was recorded on an 8-track tape machine, using vintage equipment that eschews digital technology, which was increasingly dominating music production at the time. This decision to use analog recording equipment was a deliberate one by Jack White, aimed at capturing a raw, unpolished sound that would give the album a timeless quality. The production on *Elephant* is intentionally lo-fi, giving the album a gritty, garage rock feel that complements its musical and lyrical content. The sound is characterized by its lack of digital effects and overdubs, with most tracks recorded in a single take. This approach lends the album an immediacy and authenticity that is often missing in more polished, digitally-produced records. The mix is also worth noting, with the instruments often placed prominently in the foreground. Jack White's guitar and vocals are the central focus, with Meg White's drums providing a solid, albeit sometimes understated, backbone. The sparse use of reverb and other effects keeps the sound tight and focused, ensuring that every note and beat hits with maximum impact. While the production style contributes to the album's raw energy, it can also be seen as a limitation. The intentionally lo-fi sound may not appeal to listeners who prefer a more polished production. Additionally, the minimalist approach, while integral to the band's aesthetic, might come across as repetitive or simplistic to some. #### 4. Themes The themes on *Elephant* are diverse, yet they are united by a sense of confrontation and struggle. The album's lyrics often explore the dynamics of power and control, whether in personal relationships, as seen in "There's No Home for You Here," or in broader societal contexts, as suggested by "Seven Nation Army." One of the central themes is the tension between love and autonomy. Songs like "I Want to Be the Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart" and "You've Got Her in Your Pocket" explore the vulnerability and possessiveness that often accompany romantic relationships. In these tracks, Jack White delves into the complexities of love, oscillating between yearning and resentment. Another recurring theme is disillusionment. In "The Hardest Button to Button," the lyrics depict a sense of alienation and frustration, perhaps reflecting the band's own struggles with fame and public perception. Similarly, "Little Acorns" uses a spoken-word introduction to suggest resilience in the face of adversity, reinforcing the album's overall message of perseverance. The album also touches on themes of tradition and authenticity. By drawing heavily on blues and classic rock influences, and by choosing to record with analog equipment, *Elephant* can be seen as a reaction against the slick, commercial sound of mainstream rock in the early 2000s. The White Stripes position themselves as torchbearers of a more genuine, unvarnished form of rock music. #### 5. Influence *Elephant* had a profound impact on the music landscape of the early 2000s and beyond. The album is often credited with bringing garage rock into the mainstream, influencing a wave of bands that sought to emulate its raw, back-to-basics sound. The success of *Elephant* helped pave the way for other garage rock revival bands like The Strokes, The Black Keys, and Arctic Monkeys, all of whom drew inspiration from The White Stripes' stripped-down approach to rock music. "Seven Nation Army" in particular has become a cultural phenomenon, with its riff becoming one of the most recognizable in rock history. The song has been adopted as a stadium anthem, chanted by crowds at sporting events around the world, transcending its original context to become a global cultural touchstone. The album's influence also extends to its ethos of authenticity and simplicity. At a time when many rock bands were incorporating more elaborate production techniques and electronic elements, *Elephant* stood out for its commitment to analog recording and its minimalist aesthetic. This approach resonated with listeners who were seeking an alternative to the overproduced sound of mainstream rock, and it helped to spark a renewed interest in vinyl records and analog equipment. #### Pros and Cons of the Album ##### Pros: 1. **Raw Energy and Authenticity:** The album's analog production and minimalist instrumentation give it a raw, unfiltered sound that captures the essence of rock and roll. 2. **Iconic Tracks:** Songs like "Seven Nation Army," "Ball and Biscuit," and "The Hardest Button to Button" have become staples of modern rock, showcasing the band's ability to craft memorable riffs and lyrics. 3. **Innovative Guitar Work:** Jack White's guitar playing on *Elephant* is both inventive and expressive, blending classic blues influences with a modern rock sensibility. 4. **Diverse Sound Palette:** While staying within the confines of a minimalist setup, the album explores a variety of musical styles, from blues to punk to garage rock, keeping the listening experience dynamic and engaging. 5. **Cultural Impact:** *Elephant* played a key role in the garage rock revival of the early 2000s and has left a lasting legacy in rock music, influencing countless bands and musicians. ##### Cons: 1. **Repetitive Elements:** The album's minimalist approach can sometimes lead to a sense of repetition, particularly in the drumming and guitar riffs, which may not appeal to all listeners. 2. **Lo-Fi Production Limitations:** While the lo-fi production adds to the album's rawness, it also means that the sound is intentionally unpolished, which might not satisfy those who prefer a more refined audio experience. 3. **Lyric Ambiguity:** While the lyrics are often evocative, their ambiguity can sometimes make it difficult for listeners to connect with the songs on a deeper level. 4. **Lack of Bass:** The absence of a bass guitar on most tracks, while a distinctive feature of the band's sound, might feel like a limitation in terms of musical depth and range for some listeners. 5. **Inconsistent Vocals:** Meg White's vocal performance on "In the Cold, Cold Night" and other tracks, while charming in its simplicity, might not appeal to those who prefer more technically proficient singing. #### Conclusion *Elephant* is a defining album of the early 21st century, showcasing The White Stripes at the height of their creative powers. Its raw energy, innovative guitar work, and commitment to analog production make it a standout record in the rock genre. While its minimalist approach and lo-fi production might not appeal to everyone, the album's influence on rock music is undeniable. *Elephant* is not just an album, but a statement of artistic intent, one that continues to resonate with listeners two decades after its release.

Nice. Even if you skip "seven nation army", it's a very solid album.

The best thing about the White Stripes is that they weren’t afraid to sound sloppy—extra notable because the 2000s was probably the most “polished” sounding decade for popular music. They would come out of the gate with music that was loud, manic, and really rocked, making them one of the last truly huge rock bands. And “Elephant” certainly has cemented its place in the canon of great rock albums, largely thanks to its lead single, “Seven Nation Army,” which features a guitar riff so iconic, it feels crazy that it hadn’t already been written. Jack White’s vocals and guitar work always feel like a clear homage to Led Zeppelin, but nevertheless, he and Meg always manage to be their own thing. Now, as for my rating, I was planning to give it 4 stars, but I didn’t know why. In fact, I must admit that this is a better album than some I’ve given 5 stars to. So I gave it a second listen, and I think considering the pacing, the variety, and the special thing this was upon its release, I’m giving it the full 5.

Better than I remembered

Tuttu entuudestaan ja ei todellakaan haitannut kuunnella taas. White Stripes on vaan kova!

Seven Nation Army is one of the best songs ever made. The rest of the album got kind of monotonous to listen to, though.

really quite shite

more like the RED stripes ehehehheh ehhe

So many great ditties

I mean it really just bangs

I have such a soft spot for the white strips; love the fast bluesy songs as well as the more stripped down folky ballads. I'm not a completion-ist so it was nice to hear some songs I didn't know from this album; really liked girl you have no faith in medicine.

I am groot

Fantastic. Liked many songs more than the big hits and the album gave a sort of queen vibe.

The last gasp of American three chord garage rock. Went down kicking and screaming.

Love this album. Been a huge fan for a long time and really appreciate the second half of it. Youve got her in your pocket is one of my favorites

Really love just about anything Jack White touches. Great song writer, guitarist, and singer. One of my favorite guitar tones today and so recognizable. Probably prefer Raconteurs stuff out of all of it, as I like the more Americana southern rock stuff, and also has a more interesting rhythm section than just Meg, but it’s just all so so good across the board. With how much Jack was influenced by, and maybe even ripped off Zep/Plant, now feels like the appropriate time to publicly walk by my low rating of Physical Graffiti, after many more listens. That album is really damn good, and I clearly need to listen to more of them.

A lot of times in this list I forget what a great album is supposed to be, and then something comes along to remind me. Just a great album, strong arrangements, focused and creative songwriting, emotion, and a cohesive and strong tracklist. All that done with a "less is more" approach, which I really appreciate after hearing so much bloated and meandering music. Seven Nation Army is up there as THE song of the early 2000s to the point where today you hear it as a ubiquitous chant at almost any crowd gathering.

I feel like describing Elephant as a Oreo cookie feels like a weird analogy for such a well-regarded album, but my stupid brain feels like it fits. It has a hard opening structure, a soft part in the middle, and ends as hard as it started. Everyone knows about it and has heard it (Seven Nation Army specifically), but you’ll be hard-pressed to find much of anyone who hates it. And after listening to it, I finally get the hype. This is such a collection of bangers from just two people. It feels like this bizarre classic rock album that stays modern enough to not feel like it panders to nostalgia. And Jack White is so talented, carrying the electricity through songs like Seven Nation Army and There’s No Home For You Here, while toning it down for You Got Her In Your Pocket. And Meg’s great too in In The Cold, Cold Night. I’m very glad this album is now a little more than just the Seven Nation Army album to me. Favorite Track: Seven Nation Army (I know, basic bitch pick, but it’s infectious) Other hits: Black Math, There’s No Home For You Here, You Got Her in Your Pocket, In the Cold, Cold Night, The Hardest Button to Button, Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine, Well It's True That We Love One Another

Absolute fire

A really good album, loved Seven Nation Army. I also liked I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself.

9/2/24. Thanks 1001 albums for assigning one of my all time favorite albums on Labor Day! Love the simplicity and folk-style songwriting, backed with that lovely 2000s garage rock sound. Will always revisit this one.

Their biggest sound and a well crafted album all the way around.

I was watching the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics this summer and as the athletes were walking into the stadium, some of them started to chant the opening notes from "Seven Nation Army." It quickly caught on as all these people from all over the world chanted it along with each other. Kind of an amazing moment. This is White Stripes album I've been waiting for and it's terrific!

I think I probably like "Icky Thump" more as an album, but "Seven Nation Army" is easily their most popular song so I get why this album is on the list. A few songs on here feel like filler, but the good songs are enough to get this to a 5. Whether you like their music or not, it's hard to argue with Jack White as a singular talent when it comes to writing guitar riffs. Is he a straight up weirdo? Seems like it. Is he a great guitarist? Definitely yes. 4.5

A banger from start to finish. It is always good to revisit this one.

Funny having a listen to this album and so so Long! And I’m wondering why I haven’t really listened to it in so long because it’s a fucking fantastic album from T to B

Which button is the hardest to button?

Great album!!!

só as melhores. coisa fina demais

I love this album.

Love this album. Have loved The White Stripes for a while and this album is an iconic piece of work from them.

Sure, Seven Nation Army is overplayed but Jack's songwriting and guitar playing is top tier on this record. Meg providing a thumping ass heart beat keeping everything on track without Jack getting too carried away. Their most cohesive record. This shit rules.

I liked this. It gives a vibe of stripped-down Beatles.

There have been many songs that I think are overplayed but just stand out as great within the context of their album; Seven Nation Army is not one of those songs. It's almost groan-inducing as the album opener. It's a great song, but its so simple and so ubiquitous that it has nothing left to surprise with. The rest of the tracklist has some moments, but I feel like The White Stripes are like a novelty flavour beer, you can enjoy it in moderation but if you have 13 or 14 tracks of it, you'll definitely be sick. When things change up like in the spoken word on "Little Acorns" or Holly Golightly's vocals on "It's True That We Love One Another" it's a welcome respite. Fave Tracks: I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself, Ball and Biscuit, The Hardest Button to Button 3.7/5

Okay so.. popularity rot for the opening track.. and 3 tracks in I was almost ready to throw in the towel not liking this.. BUT.. In the cold cold night flips a switch in my mind, switches up the vibes a bit and I throughly enjoyed the album thereafter. In the cold cold night sets such a chill riding with the windows down at midnight vibe, and it's just fuckin awesome. I also enjoyed "I want to be the boy" and "Ball and biscuit" the riffing on ball and biscuit is nuts! I know for a fact this is an album that will grow even more over time, so it's deff getting bookmarked.

not for me

meh, it all sounds the same. I turned it off after about 5 songs

Yes, yes, yes - I know I'm doing music wrong. But this BORES ME TO TEARS. Undoubtedly one of the most significant acts of my 20s but did absolutely nothing for me. Gets a bonus star for the video to "I Just Don't Know....." though.

Acceptable garage rock. Gets a little pretentious. Jack is too dorky to take seriously. Too many bad memories to ever want to hear this again.

Of course I enjoyed Seven Nation Army, but the rest of the tracks I could do without

In retrospect, the White Stripes were much more of a singles band.

Somewhere there is a wretched man rending his dri-fit polo over the fact that the White Stripes started using a bass in this like some sort of Millennial Dylan going electric.

already listened, didn’t resonate with it much… except for a few of the songs, it became redundant for me

"If you study the picture carefully, Meg and I are elephant ears in a head-on elephant. But it's a side view of an elephant, too, with the tusks leading off either side." - Jack White This guy was smoking some fucking insane kush, because I've been staring at the cover for the past 30 minutes and I don't see anything that even slightly resembles an elephant. I'm not a fan of The White Stripes. Their only good song is "Seven Nation Army" and putting it as the first song of the album only meant that it was downhill all the way.

OK.

Seven Nation Army is on the album. Mostly alright though I never cared for Jack White. 5/10.

Aparte del Seven Nation Army este disco me gusta pero no me entusiasma. Lo escuché en su época con muchas ganas y me decepcionó. Hoy sigo opinando lo mismo. (el tema 11 Hypnotise o Hypnotize no estaba disponible en Spotify pero si en Youtube y por cierto es otro de los interesantes de este disco)

Jaha oli joku suosittu biisi.. olikos.. heheh ve vill ve vill rock you biisi... tais olla... Heh.... Joku biisi... Heh.. ensimmäisenä... heh... Sen jälkeen.. SONNAN SOITATUSTA!!!.. Noh.. sentään saman tyylistä.. palpatusta.. kuppaloppalointia... pippulpapsulaa... Intialaisia,,, viisaita: "Elephant is elemental music, painted in primary colors. There is no shading to speak of. The instrumentation is unadorned aside from a little distortion here, a little reverb or echo there." "- - these are mostly genial but part-formed blues-rock etudes. In other words, too much jam in this donut." Tekninen puoli:..... Ei bassoa

Amazing albums. No fillers.

One of the best albums of all time by the best duo band of all time. Showing that less is more and how you can do so much with so little. Just a guitar and a drum kit and they make enough sound to fill a stadium. This album achieves with 2 instruments what many rock and metal bands can’t even come close to with 3 guitarists 2 bassists 3 drummers and 2 singers. Not a bad track on the album and it of course opens with the now very famous seven nation army known for its intense bass beat (played on Jack Whites classic red guitar just down an octave) which is one of those songs you here so much now on the tv and in adverts it’s almost annoying but that just speaks to the reach and effect this album has had.

the "seven nation army" album the majority of the arrangements on this album ties closely with the white stripe's stripped down aesthetics somehow. and i think because i like arctic monkeys, franz ferdinand and this album, one of my most favourite genre is garage rock revival from now on. 5/5

A progression of white blood cells, another banger. What more can you say, jack white is on the sly one of the leading musicians of this generation really.

One of the most loud, abrasive, and aggressive albums I’ve heard that’s still approachable to the average music fan, not to mention they did all of this with just a guitar and a drum set. The same way Nirvana showed that you could be unbelievably loud with just three people, Meg and Jack show on this album that you can be even louder with just two.

I'm not sure of this is the most famous album by The White Stripes, but for sure it is their best achievement. Very simplified, just rag and bones music-wise, but it's almost perfect execution. The riff in Seven Nation Army is now legendary, but it's definitely Ball and Biscuit that is their best song here. Simple riffs, amazing solos, recipe for greatness. Great album.

Truly an excellent album, a real evolution of the grunge and garage rock of the 90s. Each song is punchy and catchy and worth giving multiple listens. While some may not like Meg White’s more simplistic drumming, it’s hard to not want to stomp your foot to the repeating kick drum in most of the songs. I would heartily recommend this, and I will happily give this album another listen in the future.

I am not what you’d call a fan of Jack White, but this album is a Super Sugar Queen.

ну ебёт чё

amazing album,

Easy 5 stars for me. The best album by one of my favorite bands, and the one where Jack White's guitar playing really hit it's stride. Hardly any wasted space on this album (only the introduction narrative to Little Acorns is potentially a skip). 7 Nation Army gets the most attention, but with the likes of The Hardest Button to Button, Ball and Biscuit and Black Math it's got fierce competition for my favorite on the album.

Elephant is pretty close to perfection. It’s complex yet simple. Hard driving without trying to hard. The pocket screams for attention, it’s glorious.

I wore this one out in college.

Basically anything Jack White does is a 5 for me. This is no exception. Some are probably tired of hearing Seven Nation Army, but it’s still played at every sporting event today.

It feels like the groundwork for what a rock album is supposed to be, even though it came out 5 decades after rock & roll became a thing. Jack and Meg manage to fill up the entire sound palette just between the two of them. The songs here manage to be vary different from one another. Tons of rockers on here, really enjoyable album.

If you don’t like this album, you don’t like rock and roll and I don’t like you. 5 stars

Fantastic album!

i continually fail to form any opinion or have any reaction to seven nation army but all these other songs are sick as hell tbh!!! was kinda taken aback by how much i like this, i have no strong associations w/ this band at all but maybe i should. some months back i was talking to a critter more knowledgeable in Relevant Areas than me (pre-60s recorded music we'll say broadly) and she pointed out that blues is typically an extremely loose and expressive genre, and jack white's razor-minimalist take on it is actually rly unusual and interesting. it definitely makes sense to me...lots of hard-hitting stuff here delivered with ruthless efficiency but just enough space for diversity and distinctiveness. just rly admirably attuned for Greatest Impact Possible thru pacing and focus and clarity...could understand this being a Desert Island Pick for some ppl. man i used to be obsessed with that thought experiment i should play around with it again sometime lol. 1/5th of the way there btw wowie!

One of the best rock albums ever made

Genuinely one of my favorite records - it was a much needed infusion of simple rock.

Fucking amazing guitar solos

i grew up with this album on repeat. it is undoubtedly a modern rock classic, a bold statement that there was still fertile ground in rock n roll to be cultivated. listeners that only know seven nation army (a song that holds up if you somehow haven't heard it in a few years) will be pleasantly surprised by the variety.

18/01/25 The album was better than I remember it.

It's hard for me to be objective in reviewing this album. It was the soundtrack to my junior and senior year of high school. But 22 years later I can say with confidence, this is not a 'you had to be there' album. It's an all time rock and roll classic regardless of age and era. Time Travel with me back to 2003 when garage rock and The The bands were all the rage. The White Stripes, The Strokes, The Vines, The Hives, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc. These bands and music videos were all over MTV. Who was going to rise to the top? Enter Seven Nation Army. Before the song was ubiquitous, and before it had been co-opted by high school bands and sports teams, it electrified the nation, reminding us how good simple rock and roll could be. That's a hook to remember. And Elephant could have easily ridden that single to the heights it got even if the rest of the album was mediocre. But this is not a single only album. From the other hard rock songs like Black Math and There's No Home For You Here to the softer tracks like You've Got Her In Your Pocket and even the Meg song In The Cold Cold Night, the album covers a lot of ground and does it really, really well. For my money, Ball and Biscuit is the best White Stripes song and can stand alongside the best rock songs of all time. I'm listening to this on earbuds while getting my kids ready for school and having the same visceral reaction to it as I did when I was a 17 year old. That should say something because there's a lot of music I listened to then that no longer hits. The White Stripes rule. Long live Jack White, rock guitar's weird uncle who continues to keep the genre alive decades on.

Boner of the month club

An undeniable classic. One of the 20 albums that would be on Mount Phelpsmore.

What a solid record. Seven Nation Army is one of the most iconic songs and for good reason. Even without that song, this album would be very solid and enjoyable.

How lucky am I that I was consciously listening to music when Seven Nation Army came out? I would put this song on the same playing field as "We Will Rock You" when it comes to rock anthems that literally everyone can get behind. Is it my favorite song by The White Stripes? No. But do I love it and stoked that I can remember downloading this to my computer and hearing it on the radio? Hell yeah. This album is apex mountain for The White Stripes. They're kind of at the peak of their power and from here, it just gets better (until it eventually, unfortunately and inevitably comes to an end.) They're just having so much fun with this album. Bending genres, getting weird, adding samples, having sing alongs, getting more weird, getting normal, getting loud, getting quiet, being sad, being happy, being weird, being silly, being serious. It's kind of all over the place and every song takes you on a new journey without ever leaving the airport. Its never too much, even when it almost is too much. I love how Jack is constantly tipping his hat and playing with genres that he loves and that inspire him. Rock, garage, blues, country, folk. When you break the songs down, they're really just simple blues or folk or country songs, but they're played with such a different energy and sound. I wouldn't call it a "twist" either, its just 2 peoples take on a American Music and what rock and roll means to them. Its carrying on a long and ongoing legacy. Which I highly respect. Something that is often overlooked, is just how damn clever Jack's songwriting is. Its very similar to that of John Prine or Jerry Jeff Walker. It's funny but never really a comedy, its sad but never really depressing. Its just storytelling and commentary on love, loss, joy and longing. I really think every song on this record works. No notes. I love all of them. I've loved this album for almost as long as I can remember.

Excellent

Lot of great tracks here! Love how stripped back this is, but sounds so huge at the same time.

Phenomenal

I would give this album 6 stars if I could. The first time I ever heard a White Stripes song was Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground on the radio. Had never really heard of them before. And the second I heard that song I was hooked. And Elephant is my favorite of their albums. Phenomenal from start to finish...with one of the most iconic rock songs ever written (Seven Nation Army) that transcends music into the sports world to boot.

Hell fucking yeah brother!!! Favourite tracks: In the Cold, Cold Night; Ball and Biscuit; The Hardest Button to Button Least fav track: I Want to be the Boy to Warm Your Mother’s Heart