Elephant

Pretty decent garage rock album, but nothing I’m going to return to.

The album cover says it all. 5 stars. No notes.

Rock & roll is back

Because I love the first track I thought I'd love this album but the rest was a bit shite. The algorithm playing other songs from the period provided much better tunes.

No és el tipo de rock que me gusta, me gusta más tranquilo y menos estrepitoso. Que que no està del todo mal.

Some great songs, but I don't like the album composition. It starts out with Seven Nation Army (which is a forever banger that I will never not want to listen), then, when you're pumped up, the energy dips dramatically, and picks up again only in the second half of the album. Overall I would rate it mid, it's not mind-blowing.

It's amazing what you can do with just a guitar and a drum kit.

Best of the White Stripes' takes on '60s garage rock, if only for Jack White's efforts to fill in the sound with bass lines on his old Kay guitar.

It is really a masterpiece! I like it so much! It is hard a little bit, but soft and melodious. It is one of my favorites now!

Not for me 2.1

Iconic 2000 album

Enjoyed it

masterpiece

A few songs were too loud

Surprisingly interesting listen despite the redundant lyrics that typify this genre. 3/5

Years ago I went to V Festival. Standing waiting to get a beer I overheard the following conversation: "I've just seen Hard-Fi." "How was that?" "They did a cover of Seven Nation Army. They used a kazoo." "Fucking hell - what was that like?!" "What do you think?"

Easiest rating I’ve done in a while. Brilliant album

Started off strong and kept that pace for most of the album. Had one or two that didn't quite stand up to the quality of the others but overall pretty good. 4 stars

This process has given me a new found live of the white stripes and this is another banger

I already knew it was pretty good from my childhood

One of my favorites from the aughts. Something about this duo that still brings me joy.

I definitely owned this album when I was 13. Didn't like it as much now as I did then, but it held up surprisingly well

Jack and Meg at their best.

Its ok. Pretty teenage. DOn't like the voice narration

I liked more tracks than initially expected. Nothing groundbreaking; Jack carries.

I liked this! Both the slower and faster numbers. A really good lo-fi feel throughout, good songwriting. Would listen to it again.

3.6 stars. Musically interesting, the songs had a cohesive and recognizeable sound but were not too samey. inb4 "bu'in"

6,5

Really grows on you .

The last great White Stripes album!

***

it has its moments, but i wish it was shorter and more focused

Deserves every single bit of the praise it earns. How amazing that two people can create such a huge, powerful sound!

I like Seven Nation Army — a lot!!!

Fabulous

really nice

It was ok - we all know seven nation army

It's everything you want a White Stripes album to be.

Not what I expected after Seven Nation Army but a fun album anyway!

Favourite Song: Seven Nation Army The album becomes a bit boring in the middle, but the start and end are great.

Quite surprised by this album. Of course I had heard seven Nation army, but hadn't tried the rest of the album. I'm impressed with and refreshed by the lyric style and bluesy garage guitar. I wish I had tried this album out when it came out.

It's such an amazing album. The only thing that always bothered me is that Seven Nation Army is the opening song. It is arguably the best song of the album and it sets the standard for the rest of the album incredibly high which makes it kind of hard to enjoy some of the other songs.

10/10 would listen again. Rocks

Pretty good

This feels like the maximum potential of this band. Some great, catchy riffs and lots of creativity with feeling too avant-garde or disjointed. Really good performances too

Meh

Seven Nation Army has long been a favorite and Hardest Button to Button is great as well. But the rest of the album just didn't catch me like some of the previous White Stripe or Jack White projects on this list. Still alright, just not infectiously enjoyable.

I appreciate some of the songcraft and the sonic inventiveness of the guitar tone, but there’s something about this music that I just can’t connect with. Is it the lack of bass? Jack White’s personality? The dumb simplicity of the riffs? The fact that it’s yet another White guy playing the blues? Whatever it is, I’ll never love the White Stripes the way so many people seem to.

Great albums, lots of earworms. Enjoyable all the way through.

Unique and simple at the same time

I like Jack White, really like the first WS album, loved The Raconteurs first album, etc. but I think this album is full of average songs other than Seven Nation Army and Black Math. Some I don't even like very much. 3/5

Seven nation army is a classic, but was surprised it was the album opener. Much more varied than I expected, some quieter, calmer songs than I would have guessed given the opener. Not my go to rock but a good album

Damn. This was pretty entertaining. I liked it a lot.

This was released when I was a kid and I was obsessed with the first song. I never had the opportunity to listen to the whole album until now. I liked it overall but it didnt blew my mind.

3.5 rounded to 4, prefer white blood cells but only just.

The Jack White brand is pretty fascinating. Gotta appreciate someone carving out something that feels even remotely unique. Also the fact that Seven Nation Army became the universal futbol anthem is still funny to me ^_^

Not my cup of tea

Thoughts before listening: This week has been nothing but 00s bangers. The White Stripes were an incredibly important band to me in my 20s, and Jack White is probably the ultimate rock star of that era. This is a great album. Review: Right out the gate this album hits you with "Seven Nation Army" which is quite possibly the last great rock anthem, becoming part of American culture as a jock jam, Guitar Hero track, and even popular marching band song. Few songs outside of the 60s and 70s classic rock hits have had that kind of reach. Other than that song, this album is full of bluesy stomps powered with a punk rock grit and Jack White's unique guitar playing style. I love it. 5-stars.

Not so much

many people, me included believe that this album is probably one of the most iconic rock albums of the 21st century, a modern... blues album. very fuzzy, thumping and infectiously raw. i know you can already hear that iconic riff from seven nation army. lots of people can hear it. a great album with great stories to tell.

A brilliant album, with legendary tracks that keep on giving. even the tracks that never made it to legendary status are earwurms!

What a sound, what an album. Gotta let this one sink into my brain too.

Liked it better than I did during my childhood. Very bluesy. Wry and fun

Jack just knows where it’s at.

ITS QUITE BE POSSIBLE THAT IM YOUR THIRD MAN GIRL BUT ITS A FACT IM THE SEVENTH SON

favourite: Seven Nation Army (obv), There's No Home For You Here, Ball and Biscuit least favourite: In The Cold Cold Night jack white guitar hard carries the album, his vocals are kinda ass meg white vocals on in the cold cold night are great but the song itself isn't great mayb 7-8/10

Jack White's distinct vocals compliment this an album that takes a lot of inspiration from its blues and hard rock influences. There's some great riffs to be found on the more up-tempo and aggressive tracks, and the more down-to-earth acoustic tracks help to balance that out. The back half of the album does feel like it drags itself out just a bit, but it's a great listen throughout.

it was okay, not my style and Seven Nation Army is so overplayed

It’s ok. Not really my type of music

This started really strong with Seven Nation Army, and I did not expect to enjoy the rest as much as I did. A great mix of heavy and slower songs, all very well done, and quite interesting and experimental. Stand-out: I Want to Be With the Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart

HELL. YES. This was an awesome one

I loved this. Jack White can't do much wrong in my book, he's the perfect mix of classic influences with a twist. He's very cool.

Avoided them for years because of the hype and not particularly liking Hotel Yorba. What an idiot I was.

Not sure what I was expecting. A lot of banging and thumping. Really enjoyed it. Might even listen to it again 😀

Great album.

Achei muito bom e só conhecia algumas musicas mas amei o album como um todo

What do you get when you take two weird kids from suburban Detroit and have them meet at a bar in Royal Oak? One of the greatest garage rock bands of all time. The White Stripes started with a simple blues and punk-based influence and a minimalist approach of only guitar and drums. They were relatively short-lived releasing only six studio albums but their albums sold millions of copies and have had a lasting legacy. Jack has continued as a solo artist and with numerous other projects supporting other bands. His musical ability is no less than genius. Meg has been very controversial as an artist, with many believing her playing to be rudimentary and with very little technical ability. Say what you want to about her ability but her playing had a distinctive sound that was integral to the White Stripes' music. When she decided that she had enough, Jack knew the White Stripes were done. This album is a testament to how great a band they were.

Banger! Hard to think that I didn't like the White Stripes as a teenie.

Jack White’s signature distorted guitar riffs and Meg White’s primal drumming. A sports and commercial anthem Seven Nation Army. I also enjoyed Ball and Biscuit and The Hardest Button to Button.

I get the hype but not my favorite

Really solid album, I personally enjoyed “Seven Nation Army,” “In The Cold, Cold Night,” and “Little Acorns.”

2003 was the year fake siblings and real divorced couple Jack and Meg White were crowned as the most important act currently performing by rock fans all over the world. *Elephant* is not even my favourite album of that year--that would be Grandaddy's *Sumday*, closely followed by Yeah Yeah Yeah's *Fever To Tell*--but it sure had the necessary material to reach that much coveted status for a lot of listeners in 2003--even in front of the excellent *You Are Free* by Catpower, or The Strokes' *Room On Fire*. This album is a devilish hit machine, enough said--recycling blues tropes into miraculously fresh reënactments, one track after the other, with some other suprises added to the mix. Obviously, opener *Seven Nation Army* is one of the most impactful and most memorable rock songs ever released this side of the year 2000, an earworm whose bassline has conquered every sports arena out there--quite an hilarious feat given that the instrument playing that bassline is actually... no bass at all! After that now-legendary opener, "Black Maths" and "There's No Home For You Here" dig that same garage blues-rock trench further to great effects (that short repeated break with haunting vocals on the latter is a moment of pure wonder). Then comes Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", in an iconic cover version if there has ever been one in The White Stripes's discography. I still remember the first time I listened to the song as played by Jack and Meg. It was during a festival in Paris where The White Stripes were performing--I wasn't really a fan of the band back then. But dicovering the band onstage *before* I properly listened to their albums was a privilege I will always be grateful for. And I remember how awestruck I instantly was when I heard that cover. To me, that was the key that unlocked their world. Since we're talking about The White Stripes as performers, a quick aside about its members' musicianship here. Jack White is obviously a great guitar player--not so much a virtuoso, but rather a careful craftsman using every skill in his book and pedal in his pedalboard to make his instrument shine. But the true enigma when it comes to musicianship within the band is Meg White's minimalistic drumming style. Drums are usually a pretty "formatted" instrument. Either you have a good sense of rhythm as a drummer or you don't. Usually, drummers just *can't* have the sorts of weird idiosyncracies that can be found in a guitar player, for instance--where a lack of technical skills can be mitigated by an instantly recognizable, very personal playing style. Drums are way too pivotal for the structure of a song to allow an overabundance of those, well, "irregularites". But the way Meg White plays those drums authorizes that, miraculously. For instance, her kick on the bass drum on fast tracks is actually quite... irregular, to use the exact same word I used before. But here, instead of ruining the songs, said irregularity actually adds to them--because it brings a welcome ambiguity and *literal* timelessness to those tunes already drawing from all sorts of American grassroots traditions. The whole White Stripes guitar-and-drums dynamic sounds legit, authentic. And so do the technical "flaws". And when you factor in the relentless "drive" that Meg emphasizes in most of the cuts on this record, her style becomes a pure treat for the ears. Going back to the tracklist, I'm gonna play the fast-forward button and leave aside the three cuts after "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself". Not that those cuts are bad--they even add intimate, folk textures to an album that's far more varied that The White Stripes' reputation lets on. But we need to move to the real "meat" of this record quick, which is the *whole second half of the album*--proving that *Elephant* is not merely the "one with *Seven Nation Army* on it", but also the probable equal of *White Blood Cells* in terms of overall quality. For example, as obvious as it is that *Ball And Biscuit* rips off countless blues acts from the past, the result (and that iconic guitar riff), is simply, utterly, irresisitible. And so is "The Hardest Button to Button" with one of the catchiest guitar and drum interactions ever penned by the band (which says something!). Truly one of the five most memorable songs ever written by Jack White. "Little Acorns" explores darker territories with its borderline-hard rock/heavy metal mood and its parody of self-help advice in the lyrics. "Hypnotize" then goes full-blown "lo-fi", with welcomed punkier outcomes when it comes to both sound and performances. Following that short cut, "The Air Near My Fingers" offers a wealth of other iconic riffs and vocal parts. Plus having that rhodes piano double-tracking the guitar riffs was a stellar idea to push the enveloppe just a little sonically speaking, just the way the sound of this record needed to be "pushed" towards its end. Finally, "Girl, You have No Faith In Medecine", the last rocker in the album, gives you the feeling that it has existed for the last four or five decades, just like 80% of the other songs on *Elephant*. One little meta-joke-of-a-song after, with a guest singer named Holly Golightly suggesting the possibility of love triangle rock fans shoudn't fantasize about *too seriously*, and the album is over. Revisiting it, I thought I would nitpick about a few things and give it a 4.5/5. But nitpick, I will not. The *Elephant* is out of the room from the get-go when you start spinning this LP. Because the "deep cuts" have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, and the highlights are just incredible. 5/5, then. Number of albums left to review: 275 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 321 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 177 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 233

I always like their music and I like Jack White's work post-The White Stripes. He is so superbly talented. One of the best guitarists I've ever heard. And hearing Meg White sing lead on "In The Cold, Cold Night" makes me want to hear more songs in which she has the vocal lead. So good!

3.5 - this was a good album to listen to on a Saturday on the way to the dispensary. The song titles were silly and each song had its own fun vibe! “I’m in love with jack white like my little brother”

I liked this one a lot, boarderline 5 star album 4.6*

Great album. Lots of bluesy riffs. Meg White is a solid drummer for what she does. She doesn't deserve the hate she gets.

9/10

The first band to wear black and red, can you believe it?

#138. I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. It's as weird as you'd think, but I dig it. 4/5: it good *this is the thirteenth album I purchased from this list Song added to playlist: Seven Nation army I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

All songs saved

was hoping to be surprised by song that i hadn't heard on here before, but found the album to be mediocre overall.

Decent over all, some really good songs. Much prefer the bluesy ones. 7 nation army almost lost the album a star though, something about it annoys me

I was vibing the whole time. This album definitely shows why Jack White has the standing that he does. Loved the composition of the album.

I was prepared to hate this album. I have dismissed Jack White as all stylists, publicists, managers, mythmakers, and no substance but this album won me over. I never thought I would say this, but I might have to add this to The Collection. The sparse production allows the instruments to stand out and the vocals are more straightforward than the other stuff I am familiar with from J.W. Meg's vocals on "In The Cold, Cold Night," also stand out. I guess she has dropped out which is too bad because she seems to have chops and I appreciate her drum style. Ordinarily, I am the harshest of critics when it comes to white boy blues, but I have to admit "Ball and Biscuit" is a pretty good jam.

Excellent Album - 4.5

A classic as soon as it came out, and you know it's a classic at the first song

Simultaneously rough and tender, this LP is probably the White Stripes' opus of the garage rock sound before moving onto more diverse musical pastures. With nothing but Jack White's guitar and Meg White's kit, the sound is still layered in such a way that nearly every track blankets the ears. Some may not like Meg's somewhat mousy vocals on "In the Cold, Cold Night" and the record ends on a somewhat corny duet with singer Holly Golightly, but the rest of the album, dripping with love lost, is a driving treat.

I would’ve told you, I hate the white stripes, but this album was really good. I’m surprised.

Not my favourite White Stripes album, but the most important one since it was the record that really got me into them and made me want to listen to everything they had made before and would make in the future (even if that proved to be very short-lived). “Seven Nation Army” still bangs, even if it has become part of popular culture in the most obnoxious way (being badly yelled off-key at sporting events).

Boring but fine.

Great album, had a good time with it

Most of the criticisms about this album that I recall from back then were in the vein of it being too simplistic. The thing is that's what made it brilliant and stand out. A 2 piece band playing back to basics rock with catchy hooks and an interesting sound.

White Blood Cells wasn’t exactly a groundbreaking album to me. I enjoyed parts of it, and I understood the influence it had. It was just a very middle of the road garage rock album to me. But I also saw the potential there was. And I figured that if certain things were changed, I would probably like future albums from the duo better. I’m happy to say that Elephant is an improvement on their previous record in almost every way. White Blood Cells was a raw album, but I felt like it could still get heavier. And this record embraces that heaviness. It’s more intense, more raw, and truthfully the songwriting feels much stronger. I mean, the last album didn’t have anything like Ball and Biscuit. And no song portrays this change better than Seven Nation Army. I’ve never been a huge fan of this song, but there is no denying how much of a 2000’s rock anthem this was. And it sets this album apart from its predecessor from the get go. Jack White’s writing abilities are as strong as ever, and they make up for the lack of a bassist with some really dense and distorted guitar parts. I will also not tolerate any Meg White slander. If Ringo is able to get by and be referred to as one of the greatest drummers of all time, why can’t she? Just like Ringo, she plays all the right parts for the songs, even if they are simple and amateurish. They are still effective and still intense. Plus I think her drumming improved significantly since the last album, and she has some really great parts here. This really was the height of The White Stripes’ existence as a band. Not only did they improve their sound immensely, but they also continued to push forward a revived genre and created a massive hit at the same time. Basically any bands dream. Rating: 8/10

¡Un álbum buenísimo! Vinilo.

Conocida Seven Nation Army.

This is such a fantastic album. I absolutely loved it from to back. Some iconic song and hidden gems. Very close to 5 stars but a little to grunge or something. 4.5/5

on the lawn they’re white hot listening to rock all day long

Sonically striking with flashes of raw brilliance. All the burning urgency of the best garage rock, with bluesy overtones and moments of real emotional depth. I don't personally love every song on this album. But its power is pretty undeniable and it's possibly the best thing the White Stripes have ever done. Fave Songs: Seven Nation Army; Ball and Biscuit; Hypnotize; I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself; I Want to Be the Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart; Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine

Classic album with several bangers

First five tracks rocked. Even 7 Nation Army which is erm, a little over chanted...? I liked Meg singing. Didn't finish but would listen to again

10/10

Oh hell yeah. Seven Nation Army will be timeless. The sound is so dirty and it works so well. Ball and Biscuit is a great blues-based rock song. Very Led Zeppelin.

J'ai pas de souvenirs a part m'être dit ''ah c'est si récent seven nation army ?" Et que j'ai fait une pause au milieu de l'album pour écouter diam's. Donc ça devait être ok 2.5

Nice !

seven nation army <333 sehr nices album, aber fallt zum teil echli in hintergrund

rock iiiit

Enjoyed it

This album rocks so hard. Ive always loved Seven Nation Army and its short solos, Hardest Button to Button, and Ball and Biscuit, but kistening through the whole album was a treat and I will definitely be coming back.

The one song is a classic, but the others are kinda forgettable imo. Also, his voice is a little grating.

Some good classic weird modern Rock

aww 2003.

Legendarisk

The White Stripe exuded the energy and creativity of Jack White. Meg White certainly played a role, and her drumming was a significant addition to the White Stripes sound. That said, Jack White wrote all of the songs, and their sound was defined by Jack's brash guitar work and his distinct vocals. The White Stripes have a raw, bold energy that few bands could ever match. Elephant is their fourth album, and many regard this as the White Stripe's best work. It opens with "Seven Nation Army," which may be their most famous song, and has become a stadium anthem, especially in the soccer world. The rest of the album is filled with the White Stripes fierce version of alt-rock. Their sound has a foundation in the blues - like found in "Ball and Biscuit" - and developed with Jack's skilled, raw guitar riffs.

mixed feeling some songs very cool also explored more rock which i was a fan of some songs were just annoying tho if i could i’d rate it 2.8/5

LOVED IT!!

I was surprised at the fact that--not only was this the first time I've listened to this album--there are so many genuinely awesome songs there are here. Of course, we all know Seven Nation Army...but it is hard to find a weak song on Elephant. This seems to have captured the magic of Jack and Meg at their finest as an artistic group. Simplistic garage rock at some of its finest. Meg never has gotten the credit she deserves for providing a damn solid rhythm section! The vocal patterns on There's No Home For You Here are fantastically pleasing to my eardrums and Jack's various instruments, particularly the slide guitar and keys on songs like I Want to Be the Boy That Warms Your Mother's Heart, are ear-wormy and destroy the idea that The White Stripes were just drums and a fuzzed out guitar. This is my first five-star rating for an album on my 1,001 album journey and I feel confident in this rating. This album is absolutely fantastic and has massive replay value for music fans of various genres. Several fun Wikipedia factoids about the album: *"In an interview with Q Magazine in 2007, Jack White said, 'If you study (the album cover) 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." He went on to say, "I wanted people to be staring at this album cover and then maybe two years later, having stared at it for the 500th time, to say, 'Hey, it's an elephant!'" *Including the song "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (a Dusty Springfield/Burt Bacharach cover) in their repertoire was Meg's idea, and the band had begun to cover the song live. *"You've Got Her in Your Pocket" was a song that had been written by Jack soon after the band's debut album was released in 1999. He had planned on eventually giving it to a local band to cover, but ultimately felt it was too personal to give away and decided to include it in the album. *Meg is featured for the first time on lead vocals in the track "In The Cold, Cold Night", having only performed background vocals for De Stijl and White Blood Cells previously. *"Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine" was originally written for the band's previous album, White Blood Cells, but Meg had disliked the song, finding the lyrics to be problematic, and it was removed. After debating it, the song was rerecorded and included in Elephant. Jack removed a line from the song that he felt was too harsh. *"There's No Home for You Here" was made with the idea "to see how far we could go with an eight-track recorder, and I think how far we went is too far." Standouts: Seven Nation Army, Black Math, There's No Home For You Here, Ball and Biscuit, The Hardest Button to Button, Girl-You Have No Faith in Medicine

I was blown away by this album when it came out. When “Seven Nation Army” became such a big hit, The White Stripes felt like a breath of fresh air and so, not necessarily original, but so different than anything else that was happening at the time in mainstream music. I found them to be very exciting then, and still enjoy this album now. Musicians are great, but rock stars are really fun, and The White Stripes were rock stars. The mythology, the motifs, the brashness and confidence; all classic rock star stuff. And the songs are worthy of all the trappings that accompanied them. This is definitely an album everyone should hear.

Pretty decent. Weirdness on some songs. Not a fan of the short intro things and "artistic" crap.

The tones Jack White gets out of his guitar are amazing. It's impressive they get so much sound out of only 2 people, especially since the drum parts are so basic. "Ball in Biscuit" will always be my favorite track from this album, but there's so many other great ones.

Huge fan of the white stripes. Listened to them sooo much when I was in high school. Distilled down blues rock power duo with innovative song writing and instrumentation. Nice variety. Some people may claim it’s “simple” but that’s the best part.

Like how much 'sound' they can produce with just 2 people. Also love the way that their songs are all just a bit different.

I liked the vibe of this album

Seems like it should be a 5-star because there are so many bangers, but there are actually several tracks I don't like on here. Still a great album by a great band

Incredible follow up to White Blood Cells. Took their own garage sound and made it just a tiny bit more accessible. Has some of the worst technical drumming I've ever heard but JW embraces it. They ended up with fucking international soccer anthem. one of my all time top 50 albums.

black math 🫶🏻

I want to call Seven Nation Army overplayed, and it is, but it's also just so good. The rest is good but nothing really stands out. The last song is actually pretty fun, I like calmer Jack White

Gui

All time classic !

This book can keep putting White Stripes and Jack White albums on this list, insisting that I have to hear this album before I die. Hearing the White Stripes again isn't going to make me suddenly like them. It's not bad music, but it is just not interesting to me. If someone put the White Stripes on at a party (that I don't attend because I'm old) then I would not be upset. I would probably mention I don't love the band, but would not find it offensive. At no point would I seek out this album or see out the White Stripes music.

Very weird album. Not musically, but consistency-wise. It starts real bad: Seven Nation Army is an awful, awful song besides the riff, which is admittedly really good. Next couple songs are pretty good, then after those it just becomes really mid and indistinguisable. I enjoyed it overall, but probs won't listen to this album nor the White Stripes again by choice.

Certainly an interesting piece. While some of this is pretty good, some songs seem like weird fits into this album and are just overall meh. Still an enjoyable listen, and of course Seven Nation Army's iconic melody has to be mentioned, but I wouldn't rate this higher than 3 on a scale of 5 with no half points.

Great listen, but definitely not something I'm adding into my library

One of my favorite alt-rock records. It's very much of its time in some ways, but it still holds up as a great listen.

Love this album good vibe

Good overall, seven nation army still carried.

I generally like this band but for whatever reason this record didn't really take for me. I like "Get Behind Me Satan" better.

3 for seven Nation army, but that's it...

1. 4.9 2. 2.7 3. 4 4. 3.7 5. 4.3 6. 3.6 7. 3.8 8. 4.7 9. 4.8 10. 3.7 11. 3.5 12. 3.6 13. 3.9 14. 3.6

I need to give deeper on the white stripes. I judged them too quickly the last time.

Oujes

Only familiar with one song on album. Not on my radar previously.

Excellent work. Raw ane effective. Uneven but great overall.

Rockabilly modernism.

I had never heard this album before. I really like it! Thank you Album a Day!

Jesus Christ this is amazing. Was really lucky to have not listened to this before. I've listened to their first album and to White Blood Cells but other than Seven Nation Army, Hardest Button... and Ball and Biscuit, Elephant was new to me. Black math is a perfect statement of intent for the rest of the album. There No Home... is literally just Dead Leaves in the Dirty Ground with new lyrics but I'm not complaining. Other highlights for me were Little Acorns, Hypnotize and Girl You Have No Faith... but I absolutely loved every song and could and will and almost already have listened to this album countless times.

It’s a banger. Solid throughout, but nothing hits like Seven Nation Army no matter how many times it’s played at sporting events.

Buenos inicios

CLASSIC! Of my era. Finally

C'est bon mais ça m'allume pas tant que ça.

Garage blues

This was better than expected.

It all slaps.

Quite a fun album. Nice hooks. I found myself wanting a broader sonic palate.

a classic

Some good songs, the rest are forgettable to me.

It's ok. Some great songs on there and it's very of the time. I remember enjoying it at the time but it hasn't aged well, probably because of how much music was just like this looking back.

Of the White Stripes, this is my favorite album. Despite the dynamics and raw garage drive of the songs, they have developed a dynamic between songs. And that makes the album even more interesting. The riffs and the approach with the vocals are all much more to my liking here. I think they changed the comic and this one sounds more like Tom Morello than Papa Roach.

Not my favorite by the White Stripes or Jack White, but it’s easy to see why it’s considered their best. “Seven Nation Army” is a masterpiece and the rest of the album is full of awesome blues-rock jams.

4.5 The whole world has heard Seven Nation Army and The Hardest Button To Button but I think they deserve the hype. In The Cold, Cold Night has been a favorite of mine for a while as well. Happy to have discovered Black Math and Ball and Biscuit today.

its ok kinda gets samey after a while

1.8 just can't stand them idk what it is, i can appreciate it might be good to someone who likes them tho lol faves: seven nation army???

3 - I'm inconsistent at rating White Stripes. I'm guessing that their sound just hits different at different times? I actually had to slightly move down my ratings for their other albums on this list on Rate Your Music because I definitely rated them too high at the time compared to how I remember them. They feel like a group where I kinda have to revisit them again, perhaps in order, so I can actually get a concrete opinion on these albums. Anyway, the two hits I know are good, and everything else is perfectly fine, just not to hold my attention past my required listening.

8.5/10 - 4/5 This was the first album that I really knew from this list. Super good listen, as always. Really interesting flow of energy, with even the slower songs having jamming sections. It was pioneering when it first came out, and holds up.

I must have listened to this on 100 times before this. It's good.

Some great songs, I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.

This album was just alright had a few good songs but think I’m good for awhile

There's a few good songs here, but some pretty weird stuff too. Maybe slightly above average for me? 3/5

It’s basically good. Just fine. I was never really swept up in all this. It felt like good songs but the most exciting tracks by White Stripes came an album earlier for me. The more polished they were, the more the good stuff got stripped away.

I like this album very much. Only heard a couple of songs that I had heard on the radio. One of those bands that actually has better stuff on the album. Their sound is full with overtones of great many rock bands like the Beatles, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix and the like. Will definitely seek more of their music!!

Though everyone knows a couple singles from them, I still don't think they get the respect they deserve for being one of the best rock bands of this century easily. 6 albums in under a decade, 5 of them bangers and 1 kind of a dud ('Get Behind Me Satan' is that one). They just rocked too hard, how can you not scrunch up your face when 'Ball and Biscuit' starts shredding.

Straight up masterpiece. I didn't get into this album until a few years after its release, but it is an achievement of a singular creative vision. The production is raw but brilliant, there is something to be said about limiting your tools to push creativity. The backstory about recording it in 2 weeks, not using any computers or recording equipment from before 1963, is intriguing and doesn't negatively impact the results in any way, but probably enhanced the output. It doesn't sound dated. Obviously "Seven Nation Army" is the standout cut from the album, but every song is fantastic and is a showcase of songwriting talent.

Cool raw songs

better than the last jack white album

good garage rock revival, but idk i was a little bored. just not in the right mood for it i guess

No surprises here. I’m familiar with the White Stripes’ biggest songs, and this collection sounds exactly what I thought a White Stripes album would sound like.

Kings of garage rock. Not my favourite genre, but admittedly great at what they do.

favourite song: Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine really really good album. had heard a few of the songs before but never a full listen

I only knew this band for the first song of the album, Seven Nation Army. It has a feeling of new rock. It balances very well it's energy, but sometimes I feel like it lacks intensity. Then you get In The Cold Cold Night, and WTF was that? Does that song belongs to this album? Same thing for I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Head (They could've used a shorter title). Then other two unbearable songs followed by The Hardes Button To Button which is useful when you want to walk and feel cool but that does not make sense when hearing the lyrics. The beggining of Lttle Accorns was cool but once the melody started the motivational message did not mix well with the music. They are very creative and the lyrics change a lot, but this is not for me. One has stuck with me so far, It's True That We Love One Another, that one felt real. Lol, the first and the last one were my favorites

10/10

raw sound, powefull, like it !

Oh my god this album. This is the peak of garage rock of the Aughts, I reckon. Seven Nation Army is going to get shot into space as a 21st century representation of our artistic prowess as a species. An easy 5 stars.

Classic, hits me right in the college. I think I didn't appreciate Jack White until a little after this came out, but he really does a great service to modern rock and roll.

It's been a few years, but I listened to this quite a bit when it came out. This album is at turns screechy and jarring, and then as adorable as a bunny. I don't really know what to make of them, but they're utterly unique. There was a spot on Samantha Bee's show where they played some of his noisy-ass guitar playing and she said "I'm so glad someone told me to like this." It's sure as hell not soothing, but very often sweet.

Some big songs but very forgettable tunes in-between them. Lacks the depth of other albums.

Love the White Stripes.

This album is already so legendary. I love the white stripes, not a long-time fan but definitely respect Jack White and his musicianship. Such a good album

What else can be said, it was an instant classic. It's a seminal recording. It's, in my opinion, The White Stripes at their best.

After knowing mostly the singles of their career, this is my first dive into a complete album and I loved it. Not a bad song in the bunch. Stellar songwriting, playing, production, the whole shebang. This one will be in rotation.

It was okay, nothing special for me.

Absolutely enjoyed the first two songs and the last three songs. Can’t say the same about the others though. I noticed that it has greatness, but I just could not sink that into my mind. Yet, fun album, great music, and quite a positive rating.

If I had to pick a favorite White Stripes album, it would have to be 'Elephant'. The whole thing sounds tighter and more powerful than their previous releases. It's amazing how much variety two people can produce using old instruments and recording equipment. There are a few stand out songs here, including the amazing and instantly recognizable 'Seven Nation Army'.

IT OK

Liked this considerably less than my first day, which I felt pretty spoiled by. Beautiful in its rawness, but it felt underwhelmingly simple compared to the dense esoteric art-pop of Kate Bush. Gave me the opportunity to really re-listen to In the Cold, Cold Night properly, which is a straight banger.

My first real exposure to The White Stripes. A decent rock album. I wouldn’t call it great, but it’s good. Man, does he love that distortion pedal.

Good stuff.

Duplicate

Really solid album. Everyone knows Seven Nation Army but Black Math and Little Acorns are unknown bangers that cook. Kind of wish they would get back together. This was an enjoyable listen.

Some odd things about Jack White that shine through in this album: he was known for favoring guitar technique over the quality of the instrument and is known for making his own guitars out of the bare minimum components. This comes through to the music with harsh highs and muddy power chords. Another oddity is the low production value of these first few albums, it’s really not until Get Behind Me Satan that you hear the production rival the technique. Then there’s the obvious bare-bones song composition. You have ragtag piano sing alongs and absolute filthy guitar blues. Here’s the thing, this album may have what appears to be a nonchalant production value, and the fact that Meg White only serves to accompany the madness and not take any sort of lead doesn’t harm the value of the finished product in any way. That’s the beauty of art and music. Jack white knew he was magic and he was able to concoct a potion to redefine Indy/blues rock. This album combines passion and rock rhythm into something in excess of its parts. It’s remarkable musicianship from a guy who is not only arrogant, but can live up to his hype.

Not for me, very basic

Better than I remembered

I enjoyed a couple of the songs 'Seven Nation Army', It's true that we love each other',

My first exposure to a full White Stripes album. A few good cuts, but overall I'm not really into it.

Amazing how much sound 2 people can produce

FUCKED HARD

Rating: 8/10 Great album overall. Really enjoyed the guitar riffs and energy throughout the album. Most of the songs, especially the more upbeat ones, were played with a lot of charisma and personality from Jack and Meg White. The guitar riffs and drum beats in these songs really stood out and is what carried these tracks. There were also a lot of incredibly catchy melodies on this album. The production on this album is also the best up to this point in their careers and really complemented the instrumentation. However, some riffs were definitely recycled from their earlier albums and some slower songs were not interesting to listen to. Favorite songs: Seven Nation Army, Black Math, In The Cold Cold Night, Ball and Biscuits, The Hardest Button to Button, Hypnotize, The Air Near My Fingers, Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine. Worst song: You've Got Her In Your Pocket.

Do not have a lot of comments here.

Start to finish great songs. Would listen on repeat

Boring, sucks

This album has some standouts but it’s not great. The middle where it’s slow is kinda bland and boring in my opinion.

Really liked it, will definitely listen again. 4.5

3/5, have heard before, some solid songs.

Classic. Loved this album since it came out!

Classic.

Simple but good garage blues.

i love seven nation army SO!! MUCH!! consistently good guitars and drums and i like the atmospheric stuff like in the cold cold night. i probably won't listen through the whole thing often but some of the songs i will

good album

Great opening but thin and one note

Seven Nation Army is such a great song and amazing kick off to this album. I love the amalgam of punk and roots/country influences. The middle of the album falls into the same sonic space, interrupted every once in a while by a quirky song that stands out. I’m still knocked out by the sudden British accent when Holly Golightly stops singing and starts talking on the last track. ***1/2

So good!

Simple but great!

Fine

Some good songs, didn't get as into it as I thought I would

Tandy Scale Rating: 2.5 Best Songs: Seven Nation Army, Ball and Biscuit Foot Notes: Detroit bias but maybe the most iconic song of all time followed unfortunately by a completely average album Would I Listen Again: Probably not

I feel like my understanding is tainted because of Seven Nation Army. Excited to listen to the rest. It’s solid. I wasn’t in love though? I just never got hooked. Loved “In The Cold, Cold Night.” I thought it was going to be a turning point in the album in terms of sound. Seven Nation Army was THE song for a reason. But I did find some appreciation in other songs. All in all, it didnt speak to me but very much can appreciate the music itself.

3.4/5. A garage rock essential, great album to start out with listening to White Stripes. I think there is better song writing to be had and there are better The White Stripes albums to be listened to.

Enjoyable, pretty consistent album

From the off can we just agree that Seven Nation Army is the greatest sing of this first quarter of the twenty first century?

The White Stripes is one band that seems to have completely passed me by. I've heard Seven Nation Army, of course, but nothing else, and I was suprisingly impressed by this album. I then made the mistake of going down the rabbit hole of Wikipedia and found out that they weren't brother and sister as I had presumed, they were husband and wife and that White wasn't his surname, it was hers, but he took it when they got married. How progressive, just like this album.

Not too bad. 3/5

Great listen

I used to think this album ruled but I just liked Seven Nation Army a lot. Even the other hits were a pass for me. Maybe I'm just not a Jack White fan, despite his unique delivery working really well sometimes but missing more often.

Fine. 3 stars because Seven Nation Army is a stone cold classic. The rest of the album is alright but it’s mostly just Jack rambling nonsense while Meg rides the shit out of that cymbal

OK.

"Elephant" was not at all what I expected. I guess I was thinking most of the songs were going to be like "Seven Nation Army," which was indicative of early 2000s rock. But I was pleasantly surprised that there's a bit more eclecticity to the music. I love the bluesiness of "Ball and Biscuit" and the lyrics for most the songs were intriguing and worthy of a few more listens.

I appreciate the sound more now- so full for two people. Only a few tracks I remembered.

Ok, not my style, a bit too ‘electric and loud’ sounding for me

A classic fav

Some of my favorite white stripes but still think I like De Stijl and White Blood Cells more. Rating: 4.4

Was okay.

3.5

Could be stripier.

forgot how amazing the white stripes are

Great record. Almost every song is memorable and recognizable. The sparse instrumentation gives it a unique sound that no other band can fulfill.

keep I keeps 097

don't get the hype

Classic and brilliant!

There’s not a bad song! A banger with a super bluesy rock. How come I don’t own a single record? I don’t know, it has been on my list for a while. [1103/1001]

Love at first listen!

Good tunes.

Looking back, this is starting to sound dated. Once upon a time, the garage sound was new an innovative, today it sounds tinny and of poorer quality than it could have been. The historic value of the album still holds its value though. It sounds (mostly) unlike anything issued before. It is not an easy listen - you need to concentrate.

2/5

Man I loved this album growing up but I really don't think it's aged well. I used to love the catchy but simple composition and how the songs are both precise and loose at the same time. They sure had some cool styling too. Solid album but it's just not great.

i want to marry meg

i want to marry Med White

ah, the white stripes! jack white and first wife meg white in all their glory. “seven nation army” was most people’s introduction to this band, and it is a good gateway. i personally consider jack white one of the most important musicians of our generation, as he not only helped usher in a resurgence of blues based garage rock, he has long been a champion of vinyl records and started his own record label. all that said, this record slaps. blues based guitar heavy rock with elements of folk as well. great mix of slower songs and absolute scorchers. solid effort. highlights: “black math”, “ball and biscuit”, “the hardest button to button”, “little acorns”…

Much different sound that the last White Stripes album, but I like it.

Good stuff.

3.5

good

4.5/5 Stars

3/5

Seven Nation Army is the best song on the album

There's a few clunkers but the hits are all absolute monsters. Not my favorite White Stripes record but undeniably great.

not my all-time favorite by the White Stripes, but perhaps the best demonstration of just how almighty they could sound.

It might seem overplayed but that 7 nation Army intro is iconic. Ball and biscuit still prob my favorite.

And a half

The softer tracks are kinda forgettable but boy when this hits it really hits

I'm not sure that anyone ever rocked harder or has since. Every track is gold, with variety, charm and punch.

Get Behind Me Satan was better.

Seven Nation Army deserves 5 stars alone

„Seven Nation Army“ ist schon ein ganz geiler Song. Von vorne bis hinten ganz geil. Kann man nix sagen.

It feels a bit rage-y for me. Like instrumentally, so impressive and I know the drumming ability is basically unmatched but it’s just one I have a hard time connecting with!

Rock and roll dude 😎

"Seven Nation Army" is probably the most used/overused entry song for prom kids, boxers, stage artists, ... and for a good reason. It's also the entry song for this album, so you know the hype is real. "There's No Home For You Here" is really good. "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" is really good. "In The Cold, Cold Night" is really good. "Ball and Biscuit" is really good. "The Hardest Button To Button" is really good. "Little Acorns" is really good. Elephants are really good animals... This album is really good. 4.5/5

Fantastic album. The guitar work is so memorable, but very creative and intricate as well. The garage edge to it makes it feel a lot more authentic as well.

Amazing album. No skips.

This album was a lot more mellow and soft than I was expecting based on the song I knew from it. I don't hate a lot of the instrumentals, they're obviously pretty good. I'm just not sure that I'm a fan of Jack White's vocals though. You've Got Her In Your Pocket felt like it could have been really beautiful, but the vocals were kinda whiny and recorded weirdly. I think the back half of the album was a little stronger, some songs near the end were really cohesive. Favorites: In The Cold, Cold Night, The Air Near My Fingers, Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine

Back to back Stripes albums, this being the greater of the two (previous album being Get Behind Me Satan). Let's start with the obvious here - Seven Nation Army is an absolute masterpiece. There's a lot going on in this album, but I think first and foremost the White Stripes have always been defined by a certain element of stripping back songs to just the core of what's needed to make them shine. Mary is stunning on drums throughout and absolute killing it - hitting exactly the right level of intensity while pulling back when needed to compliment everything else going on. Jack has an ear for simple melodies that turn into rocking guitar jams, rather than more difficult and technically complex playing. But I think where Jack has always stood out is his voice and lyricism, which is on prime display throughout Elephant, and the simplicity of the guitar serves to elevate these aspects. The simplicity of it all actually reminds me most of Nirvana, but obviously with Jack White's own signature twist. It's one hell of an album and, unlike Get Behind Me Satan imo, well deserving of this list.

I think it’s interesting how The White Stripes managed to get such catchy sound out of just two people. I feel the album peaked with “Seven Nation Army” but is still really solid.

Great album! Always turn up 7 nation army when it’s on the radio but this album is going on my permanent playlist! Amazing drumming and guitars in a very stripped down but perfect collection of songs!

The worst album closer I've ever heard. One of the worst songs I've ever heard. The first track is boring Middle is good. Low 3

Overall I preferred their next album, "Get Behind Me Satan", but this album contains the absolutely massive "Seven Nation Army". I also really liked "Ball and Biscuit" and "Hypnotize".

Album #3. Seems very fitting to get this album the day after "Physical Graffiti" by Led Zep, a similar blues-rock thing going on for sure. I somehow had never actually sat down and listened to any White Stripes album the whole way through, although of course I've heard a good bit of them in passing. Starting out the album with Seven Nation Army is a STATEMENT. Of course, I think any American alive who has been to a sporting event in the past 20 years has heard this song, and sure it is a bit overplayed, but like it must be an unreal feeling for Jack White to have written this riff that virtually anyone in the America can hum along to. (not sure how big it is outside this country, but I'm sure it's played at soccer matches in Britain). Good song, if a bit overdone! Following that, I didn't know what to expect, just more blues-rock along those lines, but I was actually pleasantly surprised with the variety on this album. You got an acoustic track, a piano track, even the rockers are all different enough to keep the novelty and energy going. Definitely a bit of Robert Plant worship going on, but that's not a bad thing. I like the Beatles-esque "AHHHHHHS" on "There's No Home For You Here" a lot. Reading a bit about this album, I saw that it was all recorded on equipment made before 1963, which I really respect and I feel like adds to the sound they're trying to do, which is certainly a bit of 60s/70s blues-rock/ garage-rock throwback, but there is enough fresh there to keep it interesting. Ball and Biscuit rips.

BL: the white stripes are a band I love a few select tracks from a lot but never got the chance to properly dig into their discography. Will be good to hopefully properly get into them as all of the tracks I’ve heard by them I love AL: this album left me speechless, awesome, no frills rock from start to finish. Only track I didn’t really like was the closer. Truly one of the most anthemic bands of all time FT: “Seven Nation Army”, “Black Math”, “In The Cold, Cold Night”, “You’ve Got Her in Your Pocket”, “The Air Near my Fingers” 5/5

Mad that it’s 20 years since this came out. Properly launched Jack White into the stratosphere. Its a great blues rock album, and they do a hell of a job of making up for the lack of instruments. Sounds so big and is rammed with hits. Very good.

Forgot how many great songs are on this, very few weak points on the album. The guitar tone, vocals and general sound of it is perfect for blues rock, sounds really authentic but it's still fairly tight, imagine it takes a lot of effort to get this balance. As discussed, I passed up on opportunity to see them that seems ludicrous now. Such a good album.

Good album this. Varied, coherent, highlights throughout. There's No Home For You Here, Seven Nation Army, and It's True That We Love One Another stood out.

I used to listen to this album all the time when it came out. It's great to be back after having not heard it in many years. So many great tracks and the guitar work is just sensational. Highlights: Seven Nation Army Black Math I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself Ball and Biscuit The Hardest Button to Button

Fantastic blues rock album. The fact that there's only 2 of them helps too. Remember there was always confusion to whether they were siblings or married Seven nation army was obviously the biggest hit here but it has been played to death. it's not even close to being the best song on the album, probably isn't in the top 10!... which seems crazy to say Highlights: Black math Just don't know what to do with myself In the cold cold night Little acorns Hardest button to button There's no home for you here You've got her in your pocket Girl, you have no faith in medicine Easy 5

Very good, not special