Reviews (page 9 of 14)
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
There's a few clunkers but the hits are all absolute monsters. Not my favorite White Stripes record but undeniably great.
The softer tracks are kinda forgettable but boy when this hits it really hits
„Seven Nation Army“ ist schon ein ganz geiler Song. Von vorne bis hinten ganz geil. Kann man nix sagen.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Very good, not special
Seven Nation Army is not the only good song! They are not one hit wonders!!!
Great guitar riffs, driving drums, and lively vocals. Not sure what Jack White is saying on some of the songs, but it also doesn't really bother me all that much. The duo brings garage-rock energy on some tracks, folk/country on others, and consistently good instrumentals across the board. Oh, and the last track was a surprising treat. Fav Track(s): Seven Nation Army, Black Math, Ball and Biscuit, Hypnotize
Definitely my favorite so far. Fun guitars, made me want to dance more than Aftermath. Obviously, started off strong with Seven Nation Army but unlike the albums from the last 2 days, individual songs on this one stood out to me as I was listening, even if I was distracted doing other things. Highlight would have to be a fun and different song to end the album with that didn't blend in with the rest, even if it wasn't my favorite track on the album, it was a unique song that stood out on its own and marked the end. Favorite song: There's No Home For You Here
Begin haperde wat Minder goede mixing, maar heeft z'n charme wel in meer simpele nummers zoals I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself Goeie rockmelodieën, spoken word nummers gaan goed Leuk einde
Simple rock in the best way.
Not my cup of tea
One of the few rock albums from the 2000s that feels timeless. Meg and Jack White captured lightning in a bottle with this album. The sheer fuzzy tone of the guitars and thunderous drums make it a great album, but the actual songs are amazing. Apart from the "newest folk song in the canon "Seven Nation Army", the hypnotic "The Hardest Button to Button", the mesmerizing "Black Math", and one of the rawest recordings of the white man's blues "Ball and Biscuit", this album has lots of hidden gems for everyone. The only reason why I give it only four stars is because it lacks a proper closer that makes justice to the overall album experience.
Solid album. Nice to revisit
Really bloody liked it. Pleasantly surprised
Pretty cool album, I only knew 7 Nation Army :)
November 29, 2023 One of the greats. Riffs for days, Meg on mic, this one goes.
Key album
Like it more definitely than the other album they have
Going into this album I didn't think it would be for me. Starts out with an all time classic and it had me on the rocks for the next few songs but once I settled in and understood the ride it wanted to take me on I got so much more out of it then I thought I would. I found myself tapping my feet and nodding my head. My favourite thing about this album is the variety across it and the way instruments are panned.
Good album
Two White Stripes albums within the first 50 albums we’ve listened to. I was much less familiar with this album vs White Blood Cells, but very familiar with the powerhouse opener “Seven Nation Army.” That alone elevates this album, as I think it’s one of the greatest songs of the 2000s, but overall this is a darker brooding album that seems more introspective than White Blood Cells. And “Ball and Biscuit” was the sleeper hit for me, a song I don’t think I’ve ever heard before but was really bluesy and excellent. Might not be as good as White Blood Cells, but that could be the nostalgia talking. Either way, it’s splitting hairs over another great album.
Good album, a little played out at this point. I can't listen to it often due to that, but there are some bangers.
some good songs
Phenomenal bass lines and a super clean mix. One song was unavailable on Spotify which was weird, would love to sit down and learn some of these bass lines. Added 3, skipped 1.
Just so solid.
A true classic
Brilliant album
Great album. First time a woman appeared in my feed, given that, does Jack White really need to have two albums on this list. No. He’s a great guitarist but this is so much better than his solo effort.
Ball and Biscuit is a super sludgy, bluesy number. I didn't think anything could topple Seven Nation Army from the top spot of my favourite song on the record, but this song is fantastic. Favourite songs: Ball and Biscuit, Seven Nation Army, The Hardest Button to Button, Black Math, I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself, You've Got Her In Your Pocket, "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine", Hypnotise Least favourite songs: Little Acorns, "In The Cold, Cold Night" 4/5
Very guitar and drum heavy. Gives mysterious. I know the first song! It's played at every football game ever. I liked the monolog at the beginning of Little Acorns. Last song was different, and a good close to the album.
Known before: album Standouts: 08. Ball and a biscuit 09. The Hardest button to button 7.0
Known Before: Band/Lot of the songs Standouts: Seven Nation Army, I just Don't Know what to Do With Myself 8.0
are they related or married though fr.
Cohesive & fun!
This album had pretty much everything you can ask for: it was sonically varied yet cohesive, and every song was good. Nothing to take it to the next level, though.
White Stripesin se levy. Oli kyllä hyvää semmosta perus vähän simppelimpää rockia. You've got her in your pocket kiinnitti melodiallaan huomion, kun se kuullosti samalta kuin Rushin 2112 yks osa. Mutta hyvä biisi oli
Fuck yeah. The white stripes take fundamental blues rock ideas and make them totally their own through unique drumming and guitar playing in the weirdo dimension
Seven Nation Army - Timeless classic, extremely simple song with great flow and powerful Instruments, Maybe a little overplayed but that doesn't mean is any less good, very solid start for the album. Black Math - Now i go into uncharted territory and I'm pleasantly surprised, i really like the muddy feel of the instruments and how powerful the song is i liked the changes in beat a lot too, it gave the song lots of spice. There's No Home For You Here - Great start of the song setting up the mood and the scene, although the song is on the softer side on the verses it gives great buildup to every chorus, with great guitars and bass al the way. Really like this song, lyrics are nothing to brag about tho and i believe most of the album will be the same. -- "Now that i have a little bit of feel of the first few songs i can say i will like this album, the lyrics are really not that profound, but that is not always bad, instruments are very well put in each song" -- I just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - Conveys the vibes it wants very well, the instruments match the lyrics perfectly, just a loud song to scream and complain. In the Cold, Cold Night - Sudden change of pace with a slower tempo and softer quieter song, its refreshing, also very good rhythm, its a bop. I Want To Be The Boy... - Desperate love song from a boy with keyboard base, great guitar solo not much too say about this one, its good but kinda seems out of place. You've Got Her In Your Pocket - Soft acoustic guitar song, I like the lyrics and how they talk about to appreciate your partner, also seems kinda out place but its better because of the last song setting the mood. Ball And Biscuit - Great Song with amazing guitar intervention, not much to say if you like blues and rock you will like this song. The hardest button to button - We come back again to a more classic rock style song with this one but is not really that flashy as the other ones. Little Acorns - Another rock heavy song leaning more to the heavy and dirty side, Good intro and good pacing overall.
Really good. I've learned that I like Jack White.
I havent listened to another of their albums all the way through but I have to imagine that this is their masterpiece. solid throughout.
Banger. It impresses me how much can be done with so little.
a classic album, really enjoy when an album has a nice flow to it and i felt like this one did. would happily listen to again.
Lekker voor op de achtergrond, paar gare nummertjes maar generally wel vermakelijk.
classic.
Pretty much peak Stripes, listening again reminded me how much they wrought out of so little. But how much was Meg? That we will never know.
Very good. Will listen to again. Great stripped down rock.
Really enjoyed listening to this and pleased to discover that there is a lot more to White Stripes than (the admittedly great) Seven Man Army. It's an album that carries lots of influences, including Stones, Small Faces and late 60s psych-pop. The riffs and soloing are both fantastic
Wow I really liked this one. The first few tracks are really excellent. And the album is a fun ride through. Surprised it’s been this long before I’ve listened to it
Det er sgu ret godt
Between this and “White Blood Cells”, I preferred this more.
The album had nice riffs and drums and vocals. But some of them became repetitive. The songs with just the guitar or piano were boring and weighed the album down a ton. But overall a great listen.
"Seven Nations Army" all timer
Hardest Button to Button rules. I wasn't really into this 'bare' sound when it came out, but it holds up. Thing is, I'm never really in the mood to do a whole White Stripes album in one go.
I remember listening to this when I was in college many moons ago. Believe it or not, there was once a time when Seven Nation Army wasn’t a football chant. I’m quite looking forward to coming back to it again today. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: all of them to some degree Favourites: I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, In The Cold Cold Night There are a good few songs that are exceptional, but there are also a some songs that just don’t hold as strongly. I do unfortunately think that Seven Nation Army has long some of its magic over time. It’s certainly no fault of this album, but when a song because that overplayed it starts to grate a little. As a whole album, I did still enjoy this a lot, it just isn’t as great now as it once was.
Balls and biscuits baby Ben like a squirl baby
10/5/23
Better than I expected, actually. Only having listened to the radio stuff
Great album, but my one gripe with TWS (and this is probably just Jack's writing) is that they will take the same chord progression and re-use it on 3 or 4 tracks. A little bit of creativity to write different songs with the same music, but ultimately they aren't different enough. Better than Get Behind Me Satan, but still no White Blood Cells.
Pretty good
I did not appreciate The White Stripes at all during their heyday, but I sure do love them now. They've stood the test of time as a fantastically talented and offbeat duo who are worthy of all my long overdue praise and appreciation. It’s a great listen, I’m into it.
Solid project. I feel like my favourite ones are the one that "explodes" in sense where it starts pretty relaxed and goes to this enormous energy of pure rock. I didnt enjoy many songs in the first half or maybe they are just more forgettable but the second half was perfect. Jack White has something special.
iconic blusey indie grunge with a few legendary songs. Nostalgic scenes from my hipster high school friends. Maybe a bit... same-y at times
7/10
Quite the rocker here from the Stripes with enough variety to make it interesting.
Solid. Toss up between this and White Blood Cells for my favorite White Stripes.
I want to love this more but I think the only musician better than Jack White is the musician Jack White thinks he is. There's so much pretentiousness on the album creeping through that it rubs me the wrong way.
Have it
This Jack White guy is good at playing guitar.
Blij verrast echt leuk album would listen again
Really felt like an improvement in front of their previous album. Less repetitive but maintaining what makes their music so catchy: drums, guitar and something?
Seven Nation Army is one of the greatest rock songs ever that still sounds amazing despite 20 years of being played everywhere. How does the rest of it hold up? Pretty bloody well is the answer! The opening four tracks in particular are blistering. The quieter tracks don’t land with the same punch as the rockier ones so it does somewhat lose its way after the Dusty cover. But Button to Button and Hypnotize are great in the later part of the album
Though maybe not as charismatic as their earlier work, it turns out White Blood Cells was just a warm up. This is an epic, maximalist statement which turns everything up to 11. There are gargantuan blues "Ball and Biscuit", unsettling, moody ballads "In The Cold, Cold Night" and Stadium sized rock anthems with and instrumental chorus. One of the essential rock albums of the century.
I remember buying this CD at 12 years old when it first came out. I didn't "get" it then. I get it now, though. STRONG 4/5.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Seven nation army, Black math, I just don’t know what to do with myself, Little acorns
One of the finest opening songs of any album within the rock genre. Seven Nation Army is however a song that had that unique ability to transcend not only genres but generations. Having been stood in a festival field watching this ring out I witnessed the euphoric reaction to this song, and it was a real highlight. Over the course of a whole album I generally tire of the sound. But this is a great record and worthy on inclusion here.
I enjoyed this album, I like the dynamic between the two members, and Jack White’s guitar tones really shine. I feel like my problem with 2 piece bands is that they can only go so far without that extra harmonic layer of another member. I really liked the heavier tracks like ‘Girl you have no faith in medicine’, where I’m sure the echoey ‘woo!’ at the beginning was later copied by The Oh sees/Ty Segall / King Gizzard. Overall it’s a great album by a great band who have their own trademark sound.
First listen left me feeling this album was pretty overrated, second listen I liked it much more. They don’t really do anything new, but i think they did kind of repopularize the heavy bluesy rock type sound. Not the biggest Jack white or bluesy rock fan but still liked this one, feel like they mix the guitar and vocals well: the guitar is loud and up front but it doesn’t cover up the softer vocals
good
Quelle ambiance sur cet album ! La folie a gagné la soirée, et tout le monde s'est mis à chanter popolopopopopo jusqu'au bout de la nuit.
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Probably won't listen to any more of their stuff as it doesn't quite draw me in, but I see the value in it.
Great album. Right up my alley. Another album with an all-star track 1. Even three songs in, you can capture a lot of the essence of Jack White's projects. Fortunately for me, I love Jack White's other projects.
Seven Nation Army will stand as one of the most recognizable songs ever. Overall album was excellent with the exception of the acoustic songs which personally did not enjoy.
Classic album. Seven Nation and Hardest Button are hits. Nice sounding album as well. Does seem like some filler, though. 4/5
4/5 I loved Jack White's lyrics. I went on a lyrical journey. Some are fantastical and absurd, but some had really proud meanings and all had a raw kind of emotion I connected with. The music is simple enough to allow the lyrics to stand out. It's really fun, (albeit pretty predictable rock chord progressions), that gave me old rock vibes like Beatles in some songs and the old punk bands in others. (The Pixies came on after the album was over). I was surprised that I enjoyed Jack's voice more than Holly's. That's rare for me. Stand outs for me were, You've Got Her In Your Pocket, Little Acorns, I Want To Be The Boy, There's No Home For You Here, The Hardest Button To Button and of course Seven Nation Army. So, basically I really liked the whole album.
In many other weeks this one may have taken the top spot, HOWEVER... A great start, some real foot tapping stuff, but, thanks to the deliberately spartan style, it did become a little repetitive as the repeated chord progression was rather obvious. One I'll happily revisit but not an all time favourite.
Low 4
There's only so much Jack White I can take in one sitting, but if this were playing in a bar I wouldn't complain.
7 Nation army 🥰 Bin uf dä Reschte gspannt. Punk. Aber singe chönds! Ich mags. 4 Stern
Never listened to this album outside of the singles. It’s pretty wacky. I like it. And I think… I love it. But jack white clearly knows how to get the most out of two people.
A favourite
4.25
This is a modern classic type album from the white stripes. Jack white is a Detroit et which makes him a little bit cooler too. You can’t go to one sporting event without hearing seven nation army. A song that will be heard for years. This whole album is solid too. Jack and Meg white had a good hold on alt music in the early 2000s and for good reason. They rocked hard. This is a good album. 7.8/10
This rocking, energetic, and influential rock album from 2003 starts with a bang: Seven Nation Army! Yes! It continues to keep my body parts tapping and/or playing air drums and air guitar. This is my first full listen to this record. It's got some great songs and some decent ones. Overall I did add a couple of tunes to my library, but not the whole album.
The White Stripes have always been one of those bands that I SHOULD really love, but they have never quite clicked for me. Elephant is good! Seven Nation Army is a classic! It just doesn't quite resonate with me like it does for a lot of people.
For whatever reason (young kids I suppose) I never paid this album that much attention when it was released, though Seven Nation Army was hard to escape of course. I missed something - it's a great collection. For the record, I love the drumming on this album.
Good album, Seven Nation Army is a powerful song, I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself is a great cover and The Hardest Button to Button stood out too.
Норм
Honestly expected it to hold up worse. Once upon a time I listened to this a ton, but even then I feel like I remember thinking it was very uneven. Not how I feel now! So many bangers and I love the weird stuff.
Solid album, start to finish. Fav track: Hardest Button to Button.
Ooh, Jeremy Corbyn …
The White Stripes is een van de grote bands uit de zeroes. Ik heb ze zelf 1x gezien op Lowlands. Toen een van de eerste of enige bands die met 2 muzikanten een compleet geluid kon laten horen. Of althans, compleet, Jack White gooit er wat minimale scheurende gitaren in en Meg White doet boem-taka-boem-taka en mept ondertussen zo vaak als ze kan op de high hats. Als je daar al een nominatie voor beste 100 drummers aller tijden mee kan verdienen, dan zijn er heel veel beste drummers aller tijden. Maar het album is voor mij dus een feest der herkenning. Ooit nog eens een hele vakantie lang geluisterd in het zuiden van Spanje. Verder was daar ook geen fluit te doen, in het dorpje waar mi padre destijds vertoefde. Er was een Ierse pub, een zwembadje, en een snackbar waar je tapas Holandesi kon krijgen, oftewel een frikandel en een kroket. Nostalgie dus. En voor de nostalgie krijgt het 4 sterren. Want het is toch best wel minimalistisch en hunkert zelf ook iets teveel naar nostalgie uit vervlogen tijden. En tegenwoordig zijn er betere bands bestaande uit 2 muzikanten, ik noem een Royal Blood.
Really cool album. Impressive how they manage to get such a big sounds from just a pair of drums and a guitar. Each song feels unique as well, overall really how bar. Definitely seeing this being something that could become a 5 for me if I listen to it more.
The most early 00s album of the early 00s, from the aesthetics of the album cover, the singing style and music style. I think they really spearheaded the 00s garage rock revival. I remember reading the The white stripes mostly wanted to play blues in the begging and I think their blues roots shine through on some of the tracks. There are a lot of classics on here, Seven Nation army, the Hardest button to Button and Black Math to name a few. I really enjoyed the mix of fast paced Black Math compared to slower songs like the bluesy Ball and Biscuit. The ending song "It's True that we love one Another" feels more like a Moldy Peaches song and was a nice surprise and depature from the rest of the album. All in all it might not be my favorite White Stripes album but I think it is their most significant.
Great fun, good riffs. Nicely paying homage to 50s/60s rock and blues. Good link to Raconteurs and Brendan Benson's power pop work.
A great album with very familiar songs. All in all, enjoyed!
One of the first albums I bought. Great stuff.
Love love love this album. Just good, fun music.
listened to again bonafide classic and rock royalty
Wow one I'm actually familiar with. No complaints, catchy.
Très proche de 5 étoiles pour moi. Il y a certains moments plus proches du cabotinage ou du remplissage, mais sinon j'aime le minimalisme et l'efficacité, qui ne sacrifie rien à la présence et à la densité.
som massa
😌👍
Very cool guitar and throwback sound. Listened to this album quite a bit as I had it on CD on my car. I prefer their debut album to this, but this is still like a 3.5/5 for me
Ok
Not too into garage rock/ blues revival records, but this is one of the seminal records of the era.
First half was slow (with some notable exceptions) but second half rocked
4.5/5. Wanted to rate this using 🐘 but you can’t cut an elephant in half. Oh well 🐘
Not really a White Stripes fan but this album is amazing. So mamy great songs
Definitely their best work. Really inventive but also rootsy.
I honestly don't understand how anybody can have super strong opinions on The White Stripes one way or the other. Maybe I just had to be there.
Jack White kills on guitar on this and the songs slap
Rock, seven nation army, ind til benet, solide riffs, en anelse punket
Their best album, the rest seemed to.fade away, never recreate Seven Nation Army moment
Seven Nation Army is modern classic. The whole album is good and very listenable, but I'd struggle to give it a 5.
Referência do som dos anos 2000, carregado de hits.
The White Stripes is mainly "Seven Nation Army" for me and I wasn't surprised to find that it's the opening song on the album. One other song that's also terrific from the album is "The Hardest Button to Button". They really manage to create a big sound with a minimalistic approach and there's nothing that feels like it's missing. Extremely well done. The downside is that not all the songs are that great bringing down the album a notch on the rating. It is however still an impressive album that I think most people should give a listen to.
Liked this new-to-me album quite a bit
Great grunge-rock album to play all the way through
Suffering from restless leg syndrome. Could anyone sit still through this duets album? Not me.
Kuff really doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Great album.
A solid 4. I love the 'slightly more unhinged' version of Jack White on this record. Seven Nation Army, Black Math, The Hardest Button To Button -> all totally awesome tracks I could listen to every day.
This one largely passed me by back in the day. I feel that Jack listened to a lot of Cream, Led Zepp and Rolling Stones before recording this. Really very good.
This was pretty good. Beginning better than the end, but overall good. Would say 3.5 so giving it benefit of the doubt.
Good, sometimes great. Best songs: Seven Nation Army, The Hardest Button to Button, In The Cold, Cold Night.
Pretty diverse album. I listened to this when I was younger and liked seven nation army, but none of the other songs really did it for me. This time around, my music tastes have expanded and I now have a greater appreciation for it. Was particularly struck by "In the Cold, Cold Night" which reminded me of "Train Song" by Vashti Bunyan.
Good album I really like Jack White and I like how they genre bend and throw odd tracks in there
really fun and creative. jack white being able to create such an engaging album while being restricted to megs drum playing is really insane. love it
A surprising number of bangers on this one. But a lot of wasted time too. In general, I like The Whit Stripes and White himself is doing amazing things. Not sure this is one I would play over and over but I liked it.
CD
In the same way that I am enthralled by the intricacy of a great prog-rock album, I absolutely love stripped down this album is.
Didn’t realize before how influenced the black keys were by the white stripes. Pretty crazy this came out in ‘03! Jack White is obviously one of the greats when it comes to guitar. His songwriting I can take or leave but overall this is a really solid album with more than a few flashes of greatness. I enjoy the fuzzy sound.
"Elephant" is the fourth album by American rock duo The White Stripes. It received critical acclaim and was a big commercial success hitting #1 in the UK and #6 in the US. I liked the genre descriptions of garage rock revival, blues rock and punk blues. Who makes these descriptions up? I want to be involved! The music added rhythm guitar and a bass. The album was produced by Jack White and mostly recorded in London with antiquated equipment including an 8-track tape machine and pre-60's recording equipment. I didn't mind the lo-fi approach that much; I guess Jack isn't a fan today of how it was done. Well, he did it. This album did win the 2004 Grammy for Best Alternative Album. That bass line which is actually a guitar kicks off the anthemic "Seven Nation Army" and album. A song still heard at literally every sporting event. The soft-loud-soft dynamic that I'm always a fan of. The title based on a younger Jack mis-hearing Salvation Army. An autobiographical song about gossip. The fourth and last single released has a rapping Jack in "There's No Home for You Here." A stomping fast-slow-fast song. Jack croons and does a decent job making the Burt Bacharach/Dusty Springfield "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" sound garage. It works. "Ball and Biscuit" has a slow stomping blues riff and beat. A few searing guitar solos. Supposedly, about a guy trying to impress a girl and the folklore of being the seventh son of a seventh son having supernatural powers. One of my favorite songs on the record. A good example of rhythm guitar is "The Hardest Button to Button." More in the hard rock category and an album highlight. "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine" was originally written for an early album. More hard drving guitar. A screaming Jack White. This album has a number of the bigger White Stripe songs. In their catalogue, I like their earlier albums "De Stijl" and "White Blood Cells" slightly better. There are some filler and unnecessary songs but mostly there's a lot here to like.
Those siblings sure can rock. Instant classic!
la première chanson aurait vraiment pu être un bop je pense dommage qu'on l'entende pas plus à la radio ou dans des reprises par exemple
4.5 stunning
Fun, eclectic.
A very unique band that triggered a wave of imitators. Very cool.
This is rather good, Jack White is exceptionally talented, although seven nation army is the most overplayed song
I did not love this as much as I expected to if I'm being honest. I really like Jack White but this album feels pretty scattered. I really liked all three of the songs listed on my fav tracks (guitar on "Ball and a Biscuit" is scortching!) but I didn't love most of the others. While Jack White brings grerat energy to the table and gave a us a riff for the ages to open this album, there was no one to balance him out like Brendan Benson does with The Raconteurs (my favorite project of Jack White's). I really hated Meg's singing and felt like some of the songs on this album could have been cut to give it punky and "in your face" brevity. At the same time, it's hard to think of a rock song more influential than Seven Nation Army since 2003 and I have to give credit for that. I also am now curious to go back and listen to more White Stripes so my interest was certainly piqued.
I'm more partial to De Stijl, but this one isn't far behind. "You have no faith in medicine" is one of my favorite White Stripes tracks, and it really does showcase some of the best of what this band is about. Such a big sound from a two-piece band!
Great album.
Nice
goeie
Seven Nation Army
Listened Before? N I'm going to put this out there and its going to sound edgy but I'm serious. I wish 7-Nation Army didn't exist. Or, if it has to, I wish it wasn't on this album. It's too polished and it disrupts the flow of the album which, in the rest of it's entirety, is awesome. I love that they let Meg have some singing parts this time. Pretty good effort overall. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: In the Cold Cold Night
Can’t believe I’d never listened to this before. Now that I have, I get it!
3.5/5
Good album. A decent lofi experience with some rockin’ tunes. But the lack of bass gives me the wiggins sometimes.
This was good. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. There were two tracks that stood out but the rest was good enough for 4*
Spacebar.is.not.working! Enjoyed.bits.of.this.album.a.lot.but.there.were.also.a.couple.of.stinkers. I'll.be.generous...
One 5 song, the others 3 or 4s
Jack White is a goddamn treasure. I am usually not a bluesy sound guy, but this album is like a marriage of blues and harder rock. Seven Nation Army still gets people going after 20 years so they must have done something right. Unique sound for their time and just didn't care what everyone else was doing. Great album, need this on vinyl
In terms of image, is there a more contradictory band? This is a band, and an album, that advertises itself on its authenticity. The White Stripes purposefully recorded Elephant using 1950s equipment. And as I mentioned in my review of their previous album White Blood Cells, the White Stripes seem almost frightened, in the manner of a teacher's pet, to go beyond their declared influences of blues, country, rock and punk. Yet what band has ever seemed more artificial? Them hawking themselves on their authenticity brings the postmodern conundrum of faking sincerity in a fake way, since they were sincere all along. There's the quirkiness of the Michel Gondry videos. We have the siblings-then-lovers-then-neither business which I don't think anyone sensible cared about. Their colour scheme of white, red and black (the colours of a swastika flag, coincidentally) reminds one of the sartorial rigmarole of glam. And don't pretend that recording on 50s equipment is in any way less an affectation as a declaration that no synthesisers were used on this album. But the White Stripes always had one shield against these intellectualised jabs: they have the songs to back up the pretence. The White Stripes have continually made fantastic songs. Seven Nation Army and The Hardest Button to Button are fantastic songs. They've made enough fantastic songs to produce a corker of a greatest hits. It's cock-obvious what their best songs are. Their best songs are the ones that rock the hardest. Elephant is the White Stripes album that rocks the hardest. So yes, this is the best White Stripes album. For all the pretence of their image (is anyone else vaguely reminded of new romanticism?), the White Stripes work best as a simple, dick-in-vag rock band. Which leads us to the aptest test: how does this work as an album alongside, for instance, Back in Black or Appetite for Destruction? Well, neither of those albums had any sense of irony (it's a mistake to assume those albums are stupid, though intelligent is in no way the word to use; I'd say they're streetwise). The White Stripes, as the convolutions of their image indicate, cannot operate without a sense of irony, As I was typing this, Jack White sang "it's a fact that I'm a seventh son". That, my leviathans, is a serendipitous moment that proved to me why I felt a significant inch of distance betwixt the White Stripes and me. When I reviewed White Blood Cells, I was dissuaded by a lack of nonchalance, by Jack White the rock geek and not the rock god. Listening to this, I clocked that this prissiness extended to their use of irony. Irony should be a wonderful tool that unleashes the imagination. The White Stripes's irony is workmanlike. It's the irony of a band that's too scared to be too ironic. They could do a top-notch cover of a classic synthpop track (let's say Soft Cell's Say Hello, Wave Goodbye), but they would simply be too frightened when it came time to record. Changing avenue, the lyrics to the White Stripes are, if you're looking deeply, bollocks. But that's hardly an uncommon occurrence in the best rock albums. For instance, Noel Gallagher has never denied his lyrics try to indicate a mood rather than a meaning (which means they're semantically bollocks). But with our Noel, we all knew that, because that was part of the deal of enjoying Oasis. They make you feel good rather than philosophise. The White Stripes' lyrics are equally tonal rather than meaningful, but does Jack White know that? Horrifically, I think he thinks that, due to his diligence, everything he writes must be meaningful somehow, even though he knows rock 'n' roll needs no intellectual justification. Combining those two points is what breaks my heart about the White Stripes. They got trapped in a postmodern web of authenticity twisted with artifice, and so their brilliant songs became stuck with that whiff of untrustworthiness. Irony is like a cheap toy: if you play with it carelessly, it'll break, and your mum won't buy you another. NoRadio, signing off.
Surprisingly heavy, this thing just rips.
não esperava que fosse gostar. lembra rolling stones ou the who
Day 1
Some classic tracks that are both of a particular time, but still sound relatively fresh. Could be paired down a bit. 4/5
Diver
The White Stripes are always good for some consistently fun garage rock.
It's nice to remember that rock and roll did not, in fact, die in the early 2000s.
I took a while to warm up to the album Elephant, much like I did with the band. The White Stripes is not an every day listen for me, but I was happy to see this album come up as a recommendation. I've listened to this album at least once before. "Seven Nation Army" is in my 'definitely re-play' list, and several other tracks ("There's No Home for You Here", "You've Got Her in Your Pocket", "Ball and Biscuit", "The Hardest Button to Button") are tracks that I will probably listen to again. This album is an odd mix of hard, grinding rock and quiet folk-leaning tunes. I can accept the changes in pace. I'd listen to this album again.
Good!
Seven Nation Army a classic, everything else feels like a guy having fun jamming on the blues and having fun. Great, but not the most exciting to me. Rounding up to a 4.
In which Jack and Meg accomplish plenty with little more than a drum set, guitar and effects pedal. The songs seem to burst out of Jack fully formed with an impulsive energy which carries the listener along. And greatness achieved with Seven Nation Army and The Hardest Button to Button. There’s a decent cover (I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself) and a silly trio song to close out which you don’t really need to hear again.
Seven Nation Army always gets my head nodding, is it a great song or just a great riff?
Oh you know this. It's good, it's well known, and it slaps. White Stripes are a phenomenon, happy to have them recommended.
yep bem massa
Given the musical landscape into which the White Stripes emerged at the turn of the millennium, their nuts and bolts approach to the delta blues really was something quite radical. This album perhaps isn’t the best representation of what made this group so important, and it arguably overstays its welcome by a track or two. But the singles are modern rock classics and the production (though samey in parts) really focuses the band’s back-to-basics approach.
Seven Nation Army the biggest rock song of the 21st century?
Hyvä! Tykkäsin kuunnella eikä tullut tylsää. Suosikit Seven Nation Army, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself ja In The Cold, Cold Night.
Probably Jack White's best work to date. It demonstrates his eclectic take on rock to great effect. Starting off with one of the best known riffs in music, but moving on from there to some fairly sparse blues, some highly memorable songs and a touch of prog here and there. Overall a very good album and highly recommended for those just starting with Jack.
I love the driving guitars on this. Jack White has such a distinctive tone and style.
It is just good stuff
It's cool
Great
Singles: -------------------------------------------------- Seven Nation Army I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself The Hardest Button to Button There's No Home for You Here Standouts: Seven Nation Army, The Hardest Button to Button, I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself, Little Acorns, Hypnotize, Well It's True That We Love One Another Others: Black Math, There's No Home For You Here, In the Cold Cold Night, You've Got Her in Your Pocket
Love me some White Stripes, and not just because they are my Detroit homies. This is a great album. Great guest vocals by legendary Detroit anchorman Mort Crim, not to mention Holly Golightly's contribution on the closing track. I love Meg's highlight song In the Cold, Cold Night too. It's just a great album (did I say that already?) 4 stars.
The White Stripes do a good job of building on their rock inspiration and previous work without just copying. They found ways to still create original sounds in a dying genre. Very enjoyable and fun to listen to. 4/5
Interesting songs
Surprisingly more fun than I thought it would be.
The White Stripes never made an <4* album. At the time I thought of this album as a way of perfecting their sound. Nowadays I am a little less impressed and believe White Blood Cells, and possibly De Stijl are the better WS albums. Still it is a very good album of course.
This was my entry album to the White Stripes, and I loved it at the time. Still a good album today, but for me the wow factor has faded a bit.
Very good album although it lacks a certain rawness compared to its predecessors. And seven nation army has been spun to pieces.
First album I got on this was White Blood Cells. Lovely to have them back, even if it has got their obvious song on there, as sung by every coked up football hooligan and magic grandpa loving political losers. But also has the best Dusty Springfield cover ever, an amazing Holly Golightly duet (triet?) And The Hardest Button to Button. There's a bit of filler, but overall a cracking album.
Primeiro álbum do desafio e já é um que conheço desde a época do lançamento (ainda tenho o cd fisíco), mas fazia muito tempo que não ouvia. Continua sendo ótimo do jeito que eu lembrava (Seven Nation Army clássico atemporal)
The album is pretty good overall. Some song were really good, my favorites are "Seven Nation Army", "Hypnotize" and "In The Cold, Cold Night". But there were a couple of boring songs to that I kinda had to force myself to sit through. Glad I listened to it.
Gotta love an album that's here to remind us that rock music will always be around in some way, shape or form. Love the bluesy guitars, the catchiness, and the overall simplicity and effortlessness of the record. Opening with Seven Nation Army certainly ups expectations for the rest of the album, but Jack and Meg hit the mark especially in the first half. It falters a bit after Ball and Biscuit, so that back half could be trimmed down somewhat. Besides the two I mentioned above, standout tracks are In the Cold, Cold Night & I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself.
Pretty amazing album I really enjoyed it
What I knew and like from Elephant arrives closer to the end. That makes sense, since Jack seems to start with a limited palette and move gradually and generally into more complex sound spaces. Song lengths and styles are nicely varied, and while there's no obvious binding conceit, it's a strong meat-and-potatoes rock record, occasionally remarkable for just how stripped-down it is.
Pretty solid if a little long
After three thrilling records, Elephant always felt flat to me. Senior Slump? I don't know but there are still enough stand out tracks that they pass. Listening to it again mostly confirms this for me. The good songs are really good and the ones that didn't grab me before haven't really appreciated over time.
Buen disco, fusiona el blues y el rock, suena minimalista y poderoso.
Surprise! The white stripes isn't only "Seven nation army", there's a whole top-tier class album behind
I've always wanted to listen to this album fully because I like what I've heard from the white stripes beyond the usual seven nation army and I think we're going to be friends. That's not to say that 7 nation army isn't a killer way to start an album that keeps you amped pretty much through the entire tracklist. The song still makes you want to run through any wall you see even after being overplayed for 20 years. Otherwise, I also liked the more (relatively) mellow closing song
7.3
I really enjoy the minimalist style. True rock and roll.
Rockin and cool, some epic reach that still feels rootsy in grasp.
Enjoyed the album. Surprised it 19 years to listen to the entire album!
A nice fusion of Led Zeppelin and John Spencer Blues Explosion with both driving a punk-ish feel to the songs. (7/10) FT: Seven Nation Army, The Hardest Button To Button, Ball and Biscuit
All it takes is one guitar riff to turn a band into rock royalty and that's what The White Stripes became with Elephant. A searing, boisterous collection of 21st Century blues and pure rock and roll, Elephant sees the Stripes approach the peak of their powers with the aura of a confident tag team ready to take home the championships. Perhaps if one needs a proper introduction to Meg and Jack, this is the best bet for a good choice; a moment in time where they became the best American rock band in the world. Favorites: Seven Nation Army, Black Math, There's No Home for You, Here, I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself, In the Cold, Cold Night, You've Got Her in Your Pocket, Ball and Biscuit,The Hardest Button to Button, Little Acorns, Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine.
The album was good. Seven Nation Army is the most recognizable song. I still like that song even though it has been way over played. I do not care for it when fans "sing" the the main tune. I did not care the last song on the album.
I'd forgotten just how much I listened to this when it came out. It's a stomper, if a little too silly for its own good at times. Was fun to revisit.
Aside from "Seven Nation Army," which I could be ecstatic to never hear again, I did enjoy this album. <Bass guitar? Where's the bass guitar??> Meg White's vocals were a bit... ingratiating after a while, though. Maybe as backing vocals it could have worked, but... yeah. "The Hardest Button To Button" I always liked. The video is pretty simple, but effective. So, it's a pretty good album, I enjoy the album as a whole: simple, but effective.
I have to admit that I never jumped on the White Stripes bandwagon when they were around. Garage rock isn’t usually my thing so I kind of just ignored them as they kept putting out albums. First (and second) impression is that this is a solid album. I can’t believe it’s only the two of them except for some minimal guest vocals. There’s such a full sound on every track. Looking at the album cover Meg looks sad. I can only imagine that she stepped on some of those peanuts on the floor with her bare feet and it hurts like a mother. This album is a very strong rocking 4 for me, especially since I feel bad for poor Meg’s feet. The music kicked ass too.
Big nostalgia album! "Seven Nation Army" owns bones, the rest of this is distinctly worse, but pretty good still
Jack White is no guitar virtuoso, and Meg White may be the most unimpressive drummer to ever have been in a famous rock band. BUT, I really enjoy this album. The songwriting is great and it oozes style. Favorite tracks: Ball and Biscuit, Hypnotise (which probably had the best drums of the album), I just don’t know what to do with myself
A very good album, one I've spent a lot of time with, particularly in high school. I've always felt it's a little too long, overstays its welcome just slightly. Ball and Biscuit it one of my all-time faves.
Wish I could go back and give 5* to White Blood Cells since I like that one more. Seven Nation Army became an anthem, for better or for worse. Still plenty of bangers and The White Stripes doing what they do best.
Haven’t listened to this one in a while as my Dad lost my CD, but it’s actually better than I remember. I probably bought it off the back of hearing Seven Nation Army, which has now reached such a level of ubiquity that I almost discount it completely, but I don’t think the album is defined by it anyway. The rockers are full of raw but controlled energy and the slower numbers like You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket are well-written. Plus, I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself is a really great, underrated cover. I don’t feel the same affection towards The White Stripes/Jack White as I do towards other bands but I do have a lot of respect for them/him, and this album might just be their/his best.
Punk but they actually do fun stuff with it. Crazy guitar simple raw drums super loud for a duo. And actually got melodies
Love it
Lyssnade på tåget in till Paris.
Do as the squirrel do.
I like
Man nav vardu
What a blast! Drums hit hard, guitar rips. Great to hear more than just the biggest hits
Fantastic
Simple but very very effective
Liked it a lot. Had heard most of it before.
Always love the white stripes.
"Seven Nation Army" is one of the best / coolest / anthemic songs ever written by a rock band. It sounds oxymoronic, but I love how the sound is straightforward and approachable yet also unconventional and unique. It's one of my favorite qualities of this record / the band. It's a high 4 for me.
front to back this album is exceptionall great guitar playing
That's a whole lot of bangers
HEAAVVVYYYY LICKS! This album was so much more than just "Seven Nation Army" and I gotta say, I'm impressed. Straight to the point. That was a weird way to end your album though.
This is great. 4/5. Seven Nation Army has been done to death and beyond, but it's still an amazing song, and what a way to open an album! The energy is really high right through (even though the pace changes a bit). Falls away a little towards the end (no need for the little monologue about squirrels or the weird last track), but a proper banger. Well worth the listen, will revisit for sure.
Rockin out with this one. Just a great sound, Jack White's guitar playing is excellent, one monster hit to open the album but lots of bluesy but not tired tunes.
I love this album. It so simple, so primal but at the same time so accessible and skilled. It took me ages to fully appreciate this band. I always thought they were a bit pretentious (and I still do) but Jack White's passion give the music and honest edge that is rare.
When an album opens with Seven Nation Army, you have to hope that the rest of the album holds up, and whilst it's a great album, the rest of the tracks have a hard act to follow. I'm not sure any can match the opening track, but they all give it a decent go.
The strokes i white stripes su ranih 2000ih spasili rock'n'roll i tako su i ujedno spasili cijeli svijet.
Starts off with the brilliant 'Seven nation army' and maintains the momentum for a lot of the album. Gets a bit samey to the end, but is well worth listening to.
This album is pure garage rock 'n' roll. Rhythmically all over the place, with some killer riffs. With just a guitar and drums. I don't think you need to look deeper into it than that. Hardest Button To Button might be my favourite White Stripes song. 4*
Yeah, belter.
Listened to on 6/17/22 3.5 Favorite song: Seven Nation Army, Fell In Love with a Girl 00s angst at its finest - ideal for bopping your head chaotically in the car with your friends
First album that made me aware of White Stripes with Seven Nation Army and Hardest Button to Button but also quite liked In the Cold, Cold night.
This record reminds me of my infamous darts career. It was 2008, I was carrying a handbag full of toast to my mother in law's house when darts legend Tony 'Softface' Mclair, approached me wearing nothing more than an erect penis. He said "hey Nigel, if you can carry a bag of toast as compentenly as that, then you can sure as hell throw a dart at a board". I too now had an erect penis and immediately started hurling darts at things. A successful one year darts career was born. Unfortunately, it all ended after I killed that young boy, but that's a story for another day.
I could never really get on the White Stripes hype train and Jack White always struck me as a bit of a bell whiff. I probably didn't give this album much time upon its release because I was already well and truly over the colour coded sister shagging shtick but listening to it now, it is really strong. It has a timeless quality to it that a lot of early '00s indie certainly does not. Jack White obviously has a deep passion for the blues and it is ever present as an influence but, for the most part, it never feels like a straight up homage/rip-off (delete as appropriate). Yer man's own 21st century twist is always present. It's certainly a million miles away from the Black Keys and their ilk who seemingly listened to one Howlin' Wolf best of album and regurgitated it ad infinitum. And let's face it, no matter how many times you hear it, and we've all heard it A LOT, Seven Nation Army is an absolute monster. Still I stand by my gut instinct that Jack White is probably an ass-hat.
Damn this is a good album I have always been partial to White Blood Cells but Elephant stock is on the rise. It also helps that it opens with The Strips greatest anthem....and it really is an anthem; Seven Nation Army. And there's not much let up; There's no Home For You Here, Ball and Buscuit, The Hardest Button to Button to name just three. And the slower songs too all uniformly strong. Ever time I listen to thus album my esteem for it grows. 4.5 🌟
SOLIDE Prefs: Black Math, There's No Home For You Here, I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart, You've Got Her In Your Pocket, Ball And Biscuit, The Hardest Button To Button, Hypnotize, The Air Near My Fingers, Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine Moins pref: Well It's True That We Love One Another
While low fidelity garage grunge isn't usually my thing, I really enjoyed this album a lot. Seven Nation Army is the obvious single, but the whole album is filled with emotional and powerful lyrics that grind against the grain.
This was a really good album. I haven't listened to a lot of White Stripes but really enjoyed the whole feel of this ablum.
Original, drums and bass are amazing, catchy songs.
Love the garage rock revival that the White Stripes helped to popularize. These guys are phenomenal
Estaven en ratxa. Després del formidable 'White Blood Cells', que semblava insuperable, presenten aquest 'Elephant' que comença ni més ni menys que amb un dels himnes incontestables dels 00s, 'Seven Nation Army'. Rock de garatge de primer nivell, amb els dos White en el punt culminant de la seva carrera. Molt a prop de les 5*
Very gud
It's a good album. It just doesn't live up to the promise of Seven Nation Army.
Actually wound up liking this rather more than I expected to, given I wasn't a big fan of them at the time and "Seven Nation Army" is one of the most overplayed songs of the oughts. But, nearly 20 years later, I've finally heard the album in full, and I actually got into it. Much more fun than I thought it would be.
I mean, "Seven Nation Army". And I like that it isn't just noise as it was in white Bloodcells. Not bad at all. 4
This album is a high 4, for sure. Probaby would've gotten a 5 just for how much cultural significance it had, particularly where in Michigan, but boy that last song was so weird LMAO.
The White Stripes are so weird, and I love that. This album had a lot of songs that were very fun to listen to, and several that will make it to my playlist. If I weren't listening to so much new music rn I would probably listen to a few other white stripes albums.
Ja gut, Jack White halt. Hat ein paar Schwächen. Aber trotzdem großes Album.
Another fab fab White Stripes album. Love their cover of I just don't know what to do with myself, love In the Cold, cold night, Love little acorns. Some really cool unusual stuff going on on this album which is interesting and fun. I hadn't heard all these tracks before. Seven Nation Army is a banger and a classic which reminds me of everyone in school Music lessons trying to learn to play the keyboard hehe.
I well loved listening to this. White Stripes aren't a band I've ever been hugely into, and not for lack of liking them! I just never really pursued it for some reason. But I have to say I enjoyed this more than the last album we had on the list - a really entertaining mix of just fun catchy bangers, heavier stuff and some more gentle songs. Really loved the variety!
Classic from my teens. Still as good
Great album with a couple of standout classics. Still not their best effort, with that honour going to De Stijl, which best captures their down-and-dirty take on classic blues.
Red, white and blues.
if the jaws theme had a groove on it
Some bangers but a little all over the place, with the low point being the line, “be like the squirrel, girl.”
This album is so good. Just wonderfully quirky with incredible guitar parts.
Ca commence par 7 nation army. Je connaissais pas l'artiste en fait. Intéressant
It's deceptively dirty roots rock while being beautifully poppy around the edges. This is the White Stripes at or nearing their peak.
duh
I love these American alternative rock bands- no matter how derivative they still sound fresh and lively. I like all the quirky bits inbetween and they really know how to go for it when they do. So much noise generated I have to whack the volume up.
I mean, Seven Nation Army will always be a classic. I love the white stripes! Such a unique sound.
Rough and chaotic, such a unique sound for the time frame
Finísimo.
New age Rock and Roll
Not on the level of White Blood Cells, and I think it comes down to some pretty weak deep cuts. The hits really hit though, and not all the B-Sides are bad, so still worth a listen
Rock, punk
I want to give this album the praise it deserves but am at a loss for words. This was a really enjoyable and unique listen. Seven Nation Army, while definitely good, is sitting among the greats with these other songs. There's nothing here that I would skip, but might need another run through before I declare it a 5.
Name the last time divorcees-posing-as-siblings sounded so formidable. I'll immediately shout over you with the "Seven Nation Army" riff until my throat is raw and the earth is scorched beneath my feet. "Elephant" is that kind of album. Hearing it one week after Green Day's pristine, sugar-coated "American Idiot" (from one year later) makes its strength all the more pronounced: approaching early noughties rock from a different side of the same coin, "Elephant" is primal, savage, rough-around-the-edges... and it's brilliant. Nearly 20 years after release, almost every track on here doesn't feel like it has aged much at all. This is testament in part to "Elephant"'s raw, lean format: there are no production effects pigeon-holing it, no fanciful concepts or noodling instrumentation. But the album's true power comes from the sheer musical talent on show- mostly from a guitarist's standpoint. Jack White's exceptional performance is rooted in blues licks and scales, but every note is mined for sonic possibilities, whether using pitch-shift pedals or distinctive tone and expression. Listen to his blistering turn towards the end of "Black Math", the fills in "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine", the entirety of "Ball and Biscuit". It's frenzied and chaotic without being over-flashy, precise while still coming over spontaneous... in short, it's uniquely expressive playing. Guitar playing aside, the songs forming the bones of this album are excellent. "There's No Home For You Here"'s stop-start riff and layered vocals scream Led Zeppelin. "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" is an inspired cover that seems to reinvent the original while retaining its essence. "Hypnotize", "The Air Near My Fingers" and "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine" form a stunning run of high-octane, catchy songs, driven by their simplicity. The slower acoustic numbers ("You've Got Her In Your Pocket", "Well It's True That We Love One Another") add a nice bit of variation to the album, if being rather lacklustre in isolation. Because it doesn't quite end as emphatically as I'd hoped, and for the occasional dips in pace and impact, I'm being harsh and giving this a 4*- but could easily see it growing in future. To hear "Elephant" is to experience the guitar becoming rough, raw and sexual again.
The worst thing about this album is it gave the English something to chant at football matches.
Very nice
Holds up
Elephant is the fourth album by the rock duo the White Stripes. The album was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. It won Best Alternative Music Album at the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004. In recent years, this album has been cited as the White Stripes' best and one of the best albums of the 2000s. Critics have stated this album is one of the few that started a garage rock revival in the 2000's. It has some amazing punk rock style songs with a lot of bass - which I really like personally. This album solidified the White Stripes as a duo that knows what they're doing in this genre's space.
Dit was wel een welkome afwisseling van de middelmatige dingen van de afgelopen weken. Nooit een enorme White Stripes fan geweest maar vond dit een prima album!
Lekker rocken!
8/10
Such a fun album. Wish I had listened to White Stripes more when they were together