Elephant
The White Stripes
2003
Album Summary
Elephant is the fourth studio album by the American rock duo the White Stripes. It was released on April 1, 2003, through V2, XL, and Third Man. The album garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, earning a nomination for Album of the Year and a win for Best Alternative Music Album at the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004, peaking at number six in the US Billboard charts and topping the UK album charts. In later years, the album has often been cited as the White Stripes' best work and one of the best albums of the 2000s; Rolling Stone magazine ranked it 390th on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and later the fifth-best of the decade. Third Man Records released a limited edition red, black and white vinyl reissue of Elephant on April 20, 2013, in celebration of the album's 10-year anniversary, as a Record Store Day exclusive. The special edition 2013 Record Store Day, and August 2013 180-gram black vinyl reissues were pressed at United Record Pressing in Nashville, TN.
WikipediaElephant 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.
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.
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.
Compelling from start to finish. A couple of annoyances that I could nitpick, but it's a great album. Best track: Seven Nation Army
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.
Tuttu entuudestaan ja ei todellakaan haitannut kuunnella taas. White Stripes on vaan kova!
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?
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!
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.
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.
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)
Seven Nation Army is on the album. Mostly alright though I never cared for Jack White. 5/10.
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.
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.
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
The Sound of garage rock This is how to write ‘stripped back’ rock songs Guitars and drums are rarely flashy but work for the song 100% ‘Deep cuts’ are probably even better than the hits Guitar tones manage to sound classic yet heavy as hell and somehow up to date Ball and Biscuit is a rock classic One of the 2000s best rock albums
Great blues hard rock album, gotta love seven nation army and hardest button to button
This album was foundational for me in high school. It's nice to know it still holds up as a fantastic visceral listen from start to finish.
Never listened to one of their album, no regrets, was really good. I'll dig deeper in it
Hard riffs, stripped back blues. Simple drums that complement the brilliant songwriting. Another classic. Jack white is a legend
Most songs worth listening to. Gets repetitive in the middle but finished strong!
Almost missed today. This album is awesome. Got lots of Jack White on my phone. I hope Meg is well. There are at least 2 covers covers for the album. 1 with a black dress and one white with flipped image.
A record for which I am very familiar given the number of singles released. I had never listened to it completely or in running order. Somehow it all works magnificently. Meg's drumming actually accents the sound on this record giving it just enough garage with the simple pounding beat. Like a clock.
Excellent, brash, swaggering, bluesy garage rock. So many great tracks, but have to go with "Seven Nation Army" as a fave!
Used to listen to this a lot! Highlights include ‘I just don’t know what to do with myself’, ‘you’ve got her in you pocket’, ‘the hardest button to button’ and of course the epic ‘7 nation army’. Cracker!
Muito mais que um vício Muito mais que amor Não é o puto do grêmio É o Rolo Compressor
Has aged like a fine wine. Still amazes me the breadth of noise and creativity that Jack and Meg produced. Top of my list of "bands that should reform" alongside Pulp and Pavement
Such a great album that brings backs a lot of mems. There was a good couple of years when these guys were my favourite band and it’s nice to re-listen to it with fresh ears. Still sounds fresh. The sound they created was massively unique. Some classic White Stripe tracks on here. Love it.
Saved Prior: Seven Nation Army Not Saved Tier: 14. You've Got Her In Your Pocket 13. Little Acorns Cutting Edge: 12. Ball and Biscuit Saved: 11. Well It's True That We Love One Another (don't know why there's a minute of silence at the end of this one, would've been higher) 10. Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine 9. There's No Home For You Here 8. In The Cold, Cold Night 7. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart 6. Black Math 5. The Hardest Button To Button 4. Hypnotize (if only it was longer!) 3. The Air Near My Fingers 2. Seven Nation Army 1. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself Overall Notes: I had prior exposure to Seven Nation Army and Hardest Button To Button, so I was expecting this to be an out and out rocker. Was a lot more nuanced and personal than that, and it was better for it. Didn't absolutely adore any of the songs, but this was an incredible album regardless. A low-end five, but 11/14 saved songs speaks for itself.
The only complaint I have about this album is that the White Stripes aren’t still around. Brilliant dirty blues rock n roll - too many great songs to list and barely a foot wrong throughout
Peut être le plus grand album des années 2000 Ball and Biscuit, seven nation army, hardest button to button, black math, i just don't know what to do with myself, girl you have no faith in medicine, there's no home for you here, Little acorns Jack White est un des plus grands artistes de tous les temps
Obviously the best and most known White Stripes album. This deserves an instant 5, as the impact it had on my musical life is immense.
First track an absolute classic banger. Few tracks in and it feels like a 4, I know a few of the tracks already and rate them. Gettin towards the end and I've added loads of tracks to my playlist, I'm torn whether it's a 4 or a 5 just cos I've enjoyed it so much. Prob a 5.
I mean, with the album kicking off with the bassline from "Seven Nation Army," what more could you want? And a clear indication that what would follow would be masterful. An amazing blend of blues and garage rock, by the best 2-person rock group since Local H (and then the Black Keys would come along a few years later!). I could go on and on about every track on this album - its one of the absolute best. Easy 5 stars, no reservations.
One of the best rock albums of the last 20 years. Every riff feels new, original, and powerful. The songwriting is hooky and memorable. I can’t speak highly enough about the album.
Already know it! Spectacular album. Full of rocky and chill Songs! And of course it starts off with Seven Nation Army, what a banger! :D
If there's one thing that I learned by listening to this album it's that half-assing it works well for Jack and Meg. Highlights include Ball and a Biscuit, No Home for you Here, Black Math and Little Acorns. I feel like at a show when I listen to this. So good. So much more to say, but taking a page from their book and half-assing this review.
Refined yet raw. It's amazing how powerful and driving it is almost 20 years later.
Seven Nation Army was the biggest rock song of my youth and it still rips! There's no skips, and the pacing is fantastic. Meg killing it on In The Cold, Cold Night is an added bonus. 5 stars!
Where do you begin? An album that to this day still is absolutely fantastic. The white stripes have consistently put out amazing albums and finally got the recognition they deserved with Elephant. Ball and a biscuit *chef kiss*
one of the most iconic guitar riffs of all time, on one of the most revolutionary rock albums of the early 2000s 😘#period #y2k
I was worried that this might just be "other songs released with seven nation army", but actually enjoyed the rest much more than the overplayed first track.
You cant really go round with anything that starts with Seven Nation Army and covers I just dont know what to do with myself....
Classic?/10 Seven nation army may be an overplayed anthem of every jockball game but the song still slaps and the album that follows is consistently great.
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
Loved this, never really got into the White Stripes, but this surprised me. Will listen to more on theirs!!!
Love this album. Loaned it from the library in high school to burn it for my personal collection. Seven Nation Army was one of my favorite songs. Really like Hardest Button to Button.
After the difficult of rating Shaka Zulu, the random generator has thrown me a bone with the easiest 5* I've given so far. The album kicks off with seven nation army, and it doesn't even peak there - probably the highlight for me is ball and biscuit, but the entire album up to that point and beyond absolutely shreds. It's also surprisingly deep in parts - when I picked this up as a teenager Jack and Meg were still pretending to be siblings, so teenage me missed a lot of the nuances of the fact this is an album made by a recently divorced couple, which really does add a whole new meaning to some of the songs.
Easy 5 stars My dad got me this on the weekend it came out - he happened to be in the UK and thought I'd like it. I think that these days, this is basically my foundational definition of 'what an album ought to be'. As far as I'm concerned, all other music is basically Elephant, with added bells and whistles. There's just so much charisma! It's like Jack and Meg can make a song out of anything. If they had a guitar with one string and a single broken drum, they could make a banging rock and roll track and fill in any gaps with sheer force of personality. His later work, after he left the white stripes, was never as good, and the problem was always something to do with overindulgence. Even the later albums, with their overdubs and weird organs, lack the energy of this one. It's perfect - the height of their career, the high watermark of rock music in the 2000s. Best songs - the air near my fingers, the hardest button to button, ball and biscuit (which is maybe the greatest guitar track of all time) I get nervous when she comes around, when she comes around, when she comes around I get nervous when she comes around, when she comes around, when she comes around
Welcome blast from the past! Gonna rate it a 5 because of the limited nuance 5 star rating system lol Black Math, Ball and Biscuit and The Hardest Button to Button are some of my faves
Enough to heal pent up energy, great to listen loud. That slightly unpolished sound that makes it so good
I was familiar with Jack White and the White Stripes, but had never engaged in listening to them. This is great stuff!
Ja, dit is toch wel een klassieker. Goede variatie in de nummers, lekker
Probably a 4.5 for me but on the higher side. I have lots of love for the White Stripes
Hardest Button to Button, I Don’t Know What to Do With Myself, Little Acorns, Black Math, the list goes on and on. Ball and Biscuit is a classic blues rave-up, Seven Nation Army is a sports stadium staple. The White Stripes at their world conquering rock n roll height. Blistering, thumping, a little sensitive, and a lot weird.
Nugget after nugget of deliciousness. It's varied and raw, with lots of great surprises. Stellar album... even with the squirrel story.
I have cold feet. Because this album rocked my socks off. Every. Single. Sports. Stadium. Plays. Seven. Nation. Army. And to start an album with such a strong thumping bass crescendo is just unfair to all the other songs on the album. The whole thing is sooo... original.
There were a few songs that didn't do anything for me, but I thought I'd like this album pretty well and I did. I've always liked Seven Nation Army- I even backed it up to start it again so I could listen to it louder. I also liked Black Math, the understated In the Cold, Cold Night, You've Got Her in Your Pocket, The Hardest Button to Button, and the inspirational message leading into Little Acorns- I haven't gone over the lyrics to that one yet. 4.5.
This is so in my wheelhouse. Punky garage rock at its finest. Loved Little Acorn.
Absolutely brilliant album. Brings back lots of memories of Fopp days. Much stronger album tracks than I remembered.
one of the best alums of the 2000s decade. 7 nation army is a rock classic. plenty of genuinely great rock songs with some fun and humour thrown in too.
Starts with Seven Nation Army and finishes with a duet with Holly Golightly, fantastic album
The White Stripes have always had a unique sound. This album showcases that sound and adapts it to several different formats.
A very excellent album. This is a very nostalgic album for me. I specifically remember singing Seven Nation Army on the way back from scouts in my friend's dad's land rover. Also I reckon it was the first song I learnt on bass... The whole album is great, such an excellent sound. I love Ball and a Biscuit, that guitar is PENG!
Jack and Meg had intended to name their band after the candy they loved, The Peppermints, but instead took their last name White and playfully added Stripes as a nod to their favorite treat. Peppermints are beloved by children, bringing sweet joy, which is who/what, I believe, they yearn to be/have, or have been. Alas, the songs on 'Elephant' tell a different story, experiences as children and young adults (their own, perhaps?) that are anything but joyful. The heartache and longing for affection and attention (including self-love and respect) is just palpable on this LP. ‘The Hardest Button to Button,’ offers a heartrending lyric with which any child from a broken home will immediately identify: ‘I had a backyard with nothing in it except a stick and a dog and a box with something in it.’ Few words spoken, much said. The moods The White Stripes capture, both lyrically and in their playing are an integral component to their appeal, and they set them well. Jack White does have a way with lyrics- striking images, unusual cadences (‘There’s No Home for You Here,’ ‘The Air Near My Fingers’)- creativity just pouring from his written word… and then exploding out of his amp. You’ll be hard pressed to find any more authentic 12 bar blues solo (especially from a young white dude) on ‘Ball and Biscuit,’ or the searing guitar solos he plays on ‘Black Math,’ or ‘Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine.’ While there are no computers used on Elephant, nor any instruments made beyond the early 1960s, the guitar solo on ‘There’s No Home for You Here’ sure sounds computerized. I can't bring to mind a more quirky (in a good way) guitarist then Jack White, in both tone and fingering. And the variety of music on 'Elephant' is pretty terrific too: everything from quick, loud, trashy punk (‘Hypnotize’) to tender acoustic finger picking ala the Laurel Canyon scene, circa 1960s (‘You’ve Got Her in Your Pocket.’) Piano, both acoustic and electric, rounds a few numbers out; and, even an intentionally hokey, but playfully good-natured country/folk number to close the album. The White Stripes make a big sound for only two persons, especially given one of the two is drummer Meg White, all of 5’6”, and mesmerizing in an unexplained way, as if she’s studying, almost willing the beat. She might not be a big powerful gent, like John Bonham, but she can pound the skins and crash the cymbals with the best of the boys; then, just as quickly quiet down to tap the same with great finesse. Yes, another great feature of The White Strips is their use of dynamics. Both her and Jack’s playing on 'Elephant' is nothing if not passionate, and where some bands just ‘phone it in’ the Whites prefer a megaphone! But they also bring to 'Elephant' a sophisticated understanding of dynamics, an almost Taoist philosophy to song arrangement: ‘Thirty spokes share the hub of a wheel; yet it is its center that makes it useful. You can mold clay into a vessel: yet, it is its emptiness that makes it useful. Cut door and windows from the walls of a house; but the ultimate use of the house will depend on that part where nothing exists. Therefore, something is shaped into what is: but its usefulness comes from what is not.’- Tao Te Ching: Chapter 11. The boom of The White Stripes is absolutely dependent upon their effective use of silence. A good example of this may be found on their cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s (yep!) ‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself,’ when Jack and Meg utterly cease to play just seconds before Jack then sings acapella, ‘Like a summer...’ and then just a hair past, ‘rose,’ a tremendous surge of pure garage band distorted guitar and thunderous drums and cymbals to accompany the next lyrics. The knowledge and ability to insert just little bits like this turn an otherwise good arrangement into a great one. The listener will find plenty of that stuff throughout 'Elephant.' And while Jack’s voice is somewhat of an acquired taste, not unlike escargot, once you get used to its unusual flavor I think you’ll find it deliciously irresistible. And given that escargot is loaded with garlic butter, an after dinner White Striped peppermint seems quite appropriate.
Blusey, crunchy, dirty, and fantastic. One of my favorite albums from the early 2000s.
Some people don't like Jack White, and those people are wrong. Some people don't like Meg White, and those people are *extremely* wrong. This isn't the White Stripes' best album, but it is probably their most famous and enduring if only for Seven Nation Army. Its power is undeniable, and just about every track is great. I am not a huge fan of Little Acorns. The run of You've Got Her in Your Pocket through Ball and Biscuit to The Hardest Button to Button is one of the strongest hat tricks the White "siblings" ever composed.
One lunch in early high school Joel Meersman was humming the riff to Seven Nation Army and tapping on the table and I had to know what it was. The rest as they say..is history
Kicking myself for never giving the White Strips a chance. This album is awesome, a great mix of highs and lows. Opens with a banger in 7 Nation, has some songs that made me soon (I want to be the boy…) I just genuinely loved this album and will be adding it to the rotation.
A long time ago, this was one of my favorite albums, and listening to it after some years brings me some very good memories. However, now I can note that this album does not deserve 5 stars because it's a little bit dated... Who cares...this is a 5 ;-P
the year is 2001 and a wee 16 year old not-nigel is crushed up against the stage at manc academy 2 for the white stripes. this blew my tiny little mind and as such has them firmly close to my heart. Thanks to that gig i am massively skewed towards De Stijl and White Blood Cells, those two albums are stone cold 5 star albums. Elephant to me is the first of the second, more popular, phase of the white stripes. i still listen to the first two albums regularly, but i rarely got in to any of the later stuff. so listening to this almost feels like listening to an album i haven't listened to before. what its lost in rawness and originality it has gained in the quality of the hooklines and his playing is stronger. it doesn't get near the first two albums but if i didn't know about those albums then i'd probably be raving about this one. shame football has absolutely shat all over seven nation army. i wonder if the pet shop boys feel the same about go west?
There's more than meets the eye in every aspect of this album - the cover art, the drumming, the writing, the pedal stomping riffs. It's all deceptively complex, thought provoking and face melting
Champion album, masterpiece of rock. Mix is perfect for the style, too.
“Seven Nation Army” is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. What an opener! And amazingly, the rest of the album lives up to it. “There’s No Home for You Here” is another great song. I think it’s a good example of how they draw influence from a lot of different musical styles but blend them into something unique. Like, there’s no doubt who you’re listening to with that song. It’s so White Stripes. Their version of “I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself” is stunning. It starts with a slinky, sexy energy and explodes into grungy hard rock. “Ball and Biscuit” is an epic one too. Scorching hard blues. 🔥 And “The Hardest Button to Button” follows it? Wild. The back half of this album is stacked with head banging hard rock. I want to list other album highlights but I feel like I’ll just end up typing out the whole track list. Great album.
Super special album. Saw then at Ally Pally shortly after this album was released. Great gig...
This record is almost 20 yrs old, a 00's classic. Jack White is a tremendous musician and I think this is his best work. Favorite tracks: Black Math, I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself, Ball And Biscuit, The Air Near My Fingers
Dat 'Seven Nation Army' zelfs niet het beste nummer is van dit album zegt genoeg. Topplaat
This came out the year I lived in Providence. I think the first time I heard it I was going to a Stop and Shop grocery store when I heard "Seven Nation Army" come on over the PA system. The line about Wichita really made me perk up my ears and feel homesick after having lived in Kansas for so long. The pitched down guitar basslines really stuck out from their previous records. Seems like they got a little slicker on this record, and started throwing on more bells and whistles - much to my delight. Had a friend Brian who was living up in Detroit and helping Jack White's brother build a geodesic dome around this time. Brian made sure I became a White Stripes/Jack White believer for life. This album became a big part of the soundtrack to my life. A beautiful time when something so idiosyncratic and, how should I say... analog, could be massively mainstreamly successful. Good times.
Here's what I love about Seven Nation Army, the first track - it is so simple (one guitar and drums) but sounds like so much more. The opening chords sound like bass but it's just Jack White playing the top couple strings. And then he switches into chords and his signature high-pitched guitar sounds for the choruses. I just love his creativity and high-tempo energy, and Meg White pounds the skins pretty good too. The album might be 5-star if they could keep it up the whole way through. There are some snoozers (tracks 5 and 14 when Meg White sings and tracks 6 & 7 although I started to dig their softness on multiple listens). But pretty much the rest of the songs are rockers. That includes the well knowns like There's No Room for You Here, I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself, Ball and Biscuit, The Hardest Button to Button and the lesser knowns like Black Math, Little Acorns (after the intro), Hypnotize, The Air Near My Fingers, and Girl You Have No Faith in Medicine (the first and last of which are freakin' awesome). It's a definite 4.5 star album since I named 10 out of 14 songs as rocking. I think I'll ignore the so-so songs and round up for the fun and awesomeness that the rest of the album provides.
Genius album by a genius (and Meg), never going to be any less than 5 🌟!
oh nice, Seven Nation Army: The Album but seriously, it sucks how overshadowed this album is, like yeah SNA is a great track but so is nearly the whole tracklist this is a 10/10 for me can’t decide what my favorite song is, so many to choose
I really really loved this album in high school. “Ball and Biscuit” is still one of my favorite White Stripes songs — Jack White’s soloing on there made me want to play guitar. This certainly isn’t my favorite Stripes record because there’s a couple songs on here I didn’t like much (they all happen to be smack dab in the middle). What I like about them, and what most people seemed to like, is their marriage of blues and garage rock with a naughties rock production style. The aesthetics of the White Stripes and the silly story surrounding their relationship (siblings or couple?) add to their charm and mythos. Though not my favorite Stripes record, I’m inclined to give this a 5 because of the nostalgia and in case I don’t ever see another Stripes record here again (I don’t want to skew my summary up! I love the White Stripes). 5 5 5!
Masterpiece Meg White you are a master. Good for you for taking care of yourself. This album contains some of my favourite musical moments; -Seven Nation Army opening -the sustained feedback on There’s No Home For You Here -The solos on Ball and Biscuit -I got a backyard with nothing in it, except a stick, a dog and a box with something in it. We are poorer for not having the White Stripes in our lives anymore. The bands that followed in their wake never really reached their heights. Jack Whites fine on his own, but there’s something about the raw, deliberate energy the Stripes had. I listened to this album twice today. Does not seem like it’s going to be 20 years old next year; most stuff on alternative radio hasn’t evolved since what these two put out. Incredible lineup of music videos that went with this album too. Seven Nation Army is still incredible to look at.
Okay, hear me out. This popped up today and I was like "YEEESSSSS". Seven Nation Army is definitely a MF CLASSIC and I love the song. Black Math not so much what I like, very loud and I can´t feel the groove. There´s No Home For You - WHY didn´t I know this song before?! Awesome, love the guitars and of course Jack White´s singing fits so perfectly. I really like the lyrics, too. Perfect break-up song, I dunno. I Just Don´t Know What To Do With Myself - also a classic. I totally remember the music video within the first two SECONDS of the song. I remember some chick dancing super sexy - oh it´s Mrs. Moss. Fine. I feel this songs has really strong Rolling Stones vibes. In The Cold, Cold Night - Love the bass, love the singing. Shit. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother´s Heart - Glorified version of Stacey´s Mom? Oh Jeez, what. I GIGGLED. You´ve Got Her In Your Pocket - Sounds a little like a B-Side Song. Not really my thing. Ball and Biscuit - LOVE the guitar and the drums. Does anyone strip to this? If yes, congrats. Great song, good beat. The Hardest Button to Button - Like the guitars and the beat, but still don´t feel the song. Oh wait, not true. 2 minutes in and it´s good. Little Acorns - completely catches you off guard. Ooooohhh, piano. Like the story, like the actual lyrics. "Grab all your problems and rip them apart" spoke to me, dunno why. Hypnotize - like it. Not much to say here. Short n´ sweet. The Air Near My Fingers - really like it. Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine - I really am enjoying this song, once again. It´s fun and typical White Stripes rock. But also: random. Acetaminophen so Tylenol. Makes me laugh Well It´s True That We Love One Another - I still remember the rumors about them being lovers. So this made me laugh. Resume: Really, really, really good. You always forget about music you listened to almost 20 years ago.
listening to it for the first time in years....holy s@*t - I forgot how great it is! Just pure loud live guitar - superb.
Good, really showed off how to do a minimal striped down version of drums. Made me realize that I need to double all my guitar and voice parts on left and right. Also his acoustic guitar songs were nice to listen to with the picking guitar and his voice cut through with strong Melody’s
Fantastic album here I really don't know how to put my feelings into words about it. It has great peaks and valleys. Hard hitting tracks and fantastically calming smooth spots that flow between each other so well. The monologue in Little Acorns. A grungy garage blur guitar tone like no other with some hard slapping drums. It's all you need.
19th September 2022 Listened while painting the cupboards in the spare room. Bank holiday, went to the field with Js and the boys. One of my all time faves. Blistering, centred on ball and biscuit which is stunning. And of course 7 nation army.
All-time classic by The White Stripes and easily one of my favorite albums of all time. The simpleness of the instrument work helps the album create some the catchiest riffs written in rock. The songs on the album range from good to fantastic with highlights being Seven Nation Army, I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself, The Hardest Button to Button, Ball and Biscuit, and Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine. The acoustic tracks, while not as instantly memorable, are nice songs that break up the constant fuzzed-out guitar tones. This album is the longest White Stripes album, but isn't dragged out by any means. If you're interested in The White Stripes, this would be my go-to album to get started with the band.
What a great album. Brought back so many lovely memories listening to this. Jack White is a genius
I love this album. I have loved this album for almost 20 years, so I can't have a objective opinion on this. Obviously 7 nation army has grown to cultural level, people know the song even if they don't know the song. But the rest of the album is also brilliant, stripped down rock and roll blues at their best.
With a striking 3-color aura and a ravaging blues-punk elephant of an album, The White Stripes is one of the most prominent acts of the 2000's.
It's indie rock, so I'm very biased in favour of it. Nevertheless, biases notwithstanding, this is a fantastic album. 7 Nation and Button to Button are great head banging catchy tunes, two nice stripped back tracks in the middle. More bluesy than I expected, not entirely unpleasant.
Instant 5. Jack White at the height of his considerable powers. Oh yeah Meg is good on it as well
Fav songs: - Seven Nation Army - There's No Home For You Here - In The Cold, Cold Night - I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mothers Heart - The Air Near My Fingers - Well It's True That We Love One Another
Tätä albumia ei oo tullut kuunneltua kokonaisena hetkeen, niin siinä mielessä tähän oli kiva palata! :) Suosikkeja: There's No Home For You Here, I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself, Ball and Biscuit, The Hardest Button To Button
I mean, I love Jack White vocally, and there is just something so potent about this sound that was so pervasive in the midst of other mainstream successes at the time.
This was a great album from start to finish. I enjoyed it more than Whote Blood Cells, which is why I’m giving it a 5 since that was a 4
Never outright listened to this full album but I know Peppa used to listen to it all the time when we lived together... interested to see if I like it 15 years later haha. I've always kinda had an admiration for their style/weirdness etc, even if I never liked the music much. Ok, way better than I gave it credit for at the time. It's got a cool energy to it. Meg can't sing, but she bashes the drums good. Jack has shit together. Songs are varied and it doesn't seem to drag. 4/5 will probably even listen again someday haha.
I like the increased diversity in the style of the songs on the album. A lot of energetic badass songs, but there is also a lot of subtly in the songs. Closer to a 4.5
A fun, rebellious, heartbroken album. I'm not (currently) heartbroken so maybe it doesn't hit that hard at the moment, but I like the more rowdy and rebellious tracks. Standout Tracks: Seven Nation Army, In The Cold, Cold Night, Ball and Biscuit, Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine
Some are good. Seven Nation Army is of course too iconic to not mention.
Very raw and full of energy, a good listen and some great tracks on there
Reminds me of youth. When Jack White was at the height of his powers - excellent choruses and hooks.