Reviews (page 9 of 15)
Pretty good, as far as White Stripes albums go.
Here we go. Another seminal record for me. When I was a kid and into my teen years, I would’ve told you that, “No good music has been made after 1996.” I refused to believe that this “indie rock/garage revival” scene could even compare to timeless acts such as Led Zeppelin. We’re funny when we’re young aren’t we? Then one night (I’ve already told this story on another WS album from this list), a friend of mine started his car, and Ball and Biscuit was on the radio. I heard that crunchy riff and asked, “Dude, who is this?” He tells me it’s The White Stripes. I go, “You mean that brother/sister band with the bad drummer and whiny singer?” He goes, “Exactly.” Then the first solo kicked in. I went home that night and downloaded every one of their albums. I was hooked. Jack and Meg have had a major impact on my life, and many others’. I could gush over them all day. As for Elephant, the record is great, like truly great. There no bad songs in the crop, and even after years of hearing them, they’re still fresh and cool. My one gripe with the record is the pacing. It starts out with banger upon banger, then it slows down very quickly and for quite a while before it picks back up. I love the slow tracks, I just wish they were spread across the track listing better.
I don't hold White or his Stripes in the same reverence as much of my generation; for all its tusks, this record is rather toothless.
Lot of great tracks here! Love how stripped back this is, but sounds so huge at the same time.
Phenomenal
I would give this album 6 stars if I could. The first time I ever heard a White Stripes song was Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground on the radio. Had never really heard of them before. And the second I heard that song I was hooked. And Elephant is my favorite of their albums. Phenomenal from start to finish...with one of the most iconic rock songs ever written (Seven Nation Army) that transcends music into the sports world to boot.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Jack White’s guitar work is truly impressive.
the ratio of stone-cold 5-star songs vs. filler is honestly 1:1
Took me by surprise. Grew up hearing all the big tracks from the album over and over on TV music channels and disregarded them. As an album it had great variety keeping me interested throughout.
Great album. Loved it during that time. On relistening, some of the twinkly songs have lost some of their luster or else would be a 5
- Just not very good. It's mostly a pastiche of blooze rock and not bringing much new to the table. The writing is atrocious for the most part; so very boring/unimaginative. Jack White sounds like he sometimes has ideas but they never really go anywhere. He's also made a great career out some of the shittiest guitar tone ever put down. I was going to give it a 2.5 rounded up to 3 but I'm rounding down because of the song "Little Acorns" .... -
most songs are good but they lack something
Hell fucking yeah brother!!! Favourite tracks: In the Cold, Cold Night; Ball and Biscuit; The Hardest Button to Button Least fav track: I Want to be the Boy to Warm Your Mother’s Heart
Pretty good. Mixed about the whole thing, but there's definitely a lot to like here.
Sans aucun doute l'album des Stripes que j'ai le préféré jusqu'à maintenant. Je l'ai trouvé moins redondant que les autres. J'ai certainement un biais négatif vis-à-vis du garage rock, mais je peux très bien comprendre pourquoi cet album est tant adulé. 7/10
more like the RED stripes ehehehheh ehhe
Not bad at all
I'm really tired of early 2000s alt rock albums, but this was a treat! Surprisingly still fresh today, with fun lo-fi experiments and distinct songwriting. Maybe one of the slow songs could've been trimmed, but overall it's coherent and enjoyable, will definitely check out more of the band's albums!
This was one of my favorite albums as a teenager. 5/5 already, to be sure. Damn good stripped-down garage rock. Jack White is a guitar god.
So crunchy. Great album.
Já não aguento mais ouvir a primeira música (Seven Nation Army), mas o resto do álbum vale a pena. Rock legal e com umas batidas e mudanças de ritmo interessantes na bateria.
Album was okay. The lead single was my favorite one on the album and honestly a lot of the songs sounded too similar for my taste.
I've only really heard the hits from this album before, never sat and listened to the whole album. Really enjoyed it.
Good record from The White Stripes. Their best record, IMHO.
I haven’t listened to this front to back in over a decade and I had forgotten how good and cohesive it is. Great album no weak links
Oooooooh Jeremy Beadle
There's some really good stuff on here: Seven Nation Army, Black Math(s), Hardest Button to Button. There's also a couple of absolute stinkers, It's True That We Love One Another in particular - which stops me from giving this a five.
Good album, highlights are the big singles but Ball & Biscuit is also sick.
If white blood cells was a four, it is because of this one. Idiosyncratic in the very best of it. A great record, despite the obvious mass appeal. Shows you can be completely different but nonetheless for everyone.
Let me start by saying Jack White’s newest album “No Name” is incredible and I’m amazed at how much creative output he has had even after all these years. Elephant is the album that turned The White Stripes from a heavily talked about band to legends. There’s nothing I can add to the discussions of “Seven Nation Army” with out sounding like I’m telling someone how good “Stairway To Heaven” is. The whole album does what Jack does best, bring raw, energetic, quirky, fearless and relentless rock and roll. Easy 5 for me.
Ugh.. another White Stripes album. I like the guitars fine, but my dislikes would be the vocals and drums. That hasn't changed since the last couple of times we listened to Jack White Stripes. This gets a 3. Should be a 2 for fucking up my Spotify algorithm.
Some classic tracks here. I never got super into the White Stripes/Jack White other than what filtered out to me through radio play, but this project is giving me a chance to listen to a lot from them, and I am becoming more and more of a fan. Their stripped down raucous sound is on full display here.
Someone needs to make a Jack Black and Jack White song happen.
Crude, irreverent and with a sound that mostly sounds 30 years old. Quite interesting. 7/10
20+ years later, just try to go to a sporting event without singing the chorus of Seven Nation Army. Can't do it.
This rocks. My mom had this CD and was a big fan of The White Stripes, so growing up, I naturally was a fan as well. I got this on 1001albumsgenerator.com and was surprised how many songs I remembered. While somewhat simple, and very bluesy, a genre I don’t typically enjoy, this record has some great tracks on it. Jack White’s guitar tone is instantly identifiable.
I like that there's some parts on Ball & Biscuit that go for the weird disorienting rumbly thing of a Lightnin Hopkins song. There are a bunch of songs on here I dislike. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Really hard to assess this one, too much nostalgia tied up in it. Will just lean into it I guess. Great album for when you’re 15, walking around in the winter smoking cigs and listening on a mini disc player. Probably the best White Stripes album, the end of the line for the Jack White self-limitations REALLY working. I think I like De Stijl more, but I can clear-eyed say that this one is better.
Fine album. Some interesting songs. Simple. I like the playfulness/ self-awareness.
Eh
Started off super strong, and throughout reminded me of Scott Pilgrim's iconic songs. But mostly underwhelmed on the back half unfortch.
An epic in garage rock power. Opening with a tour de force (which may have reached levels beyond their control at stadiums) and continuing with hard hitting rock that elevates the soul.
Some nice guitar riffs. Listened in the car so wasn't giving it full attention.
A couple good tracks, just not my jam.
Den senaste gången allmänna folket var exalterade över rock var nog 2003, med denna skiva i bilen. En cool look och hits. Inget mer behövdes för rocken var fortfarande i full fart efter "Is This It" och fansen var nu redo för det mer bluesiga bandet The White Stripes. I bandet var Jack och Meg White, som redan var uppkommande stjärnor efter deras första succé "Fell In Love With a Girl", den skulle i stort sett garantera deras nästa skiva storhet, och den skivan blev "Elephant". Att de kunde göra den till deras bästa var helt oväntat med tanke på föregångarna Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis m.m.. Men det gjorde de. Denna skiva är energi i ren form, återupplevande av Led Zepplin om man ska likna det till något men fortfarande ny-låtande, tillräckligt för att de unga att skaka huvudet i alla fall. Inte en tveksam låt på skivan vilket skapar ett driv i skivan som är helt oemotståndligt. Den största frågan detta album skapar är varför detta i princip blev den sista i den nya(och t.o.m. senaste) rock rörelsen, detta album är så djupt engagerande och jag skulle inte säga det är tillräckligt komplext för intimidera blivande stjärnor. Jag tror svaret kan ligga i att detta är ett festalbum, något de unga sätter på i epan och dricker Tsprit till. Varför ska vi bry oss om att skapa något nytt när detta är så tidlöst i sin funktion. Med detta album hade vi helt enkelt tagit oss till gränden av denna form av rock, som är synd men vi hittade i alla fall guld där.
Very good start, drops off a bit as it goes on.
Just as good as I remember it being
Unfortunately the opening track makes the others look worse by comparison. Found it less engaging than Get Behind Me Satan
Enjoyed much more than I thought I would
Great album. Although in recent years I've seen some re-appraisals by various music journalists saying it was never as good as people originally made out. I agree it was probably over hyped at the time, but it's still a classic
Такое се
This is a great album, and one of a bunch of good albums, but is it White Stripes' best? It's very derivative of blues rock albums of the 60s and 70s, but I think the simplicity of the band makes this pretty great.
3.5/5 A lot of mid tempo boring tracks, White Stripes are at their best when they get LOUD
YAAW harmonies beatles cool cool cool
So, this is the second album of this band that I’ve listened to in as many days. I just have to say I REALLY like them! Yesterday I heard white blood cells, and today elephant is even better. For me, this is just good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll! Too bad that I’m 20 years late discovering the band, but better late than never. A very solid four stars.
My favorite white stripes album
From bluesy and sexy guitar-driven songs, to sweet and calming acoustic ballads, all the way to anxious, paranoid fuzzy riffs - This album has a little something for everyone.
Meh
… It’s all alright…. …just kidding. It’s hard not to listen to Seven Nation Army and just realize how freaking amazing that song and this was/is. It truly is probably the greatest anthem of the 21st-century so far. I gotta say I really did enjoy I Just Don’t Know What To Do with Myself as it was weird and quirky and the strangest cover ever. I also really liked in the Cold, Cold Night because it’s easy to remember the Jack White was the charismatic front man, but Meg pulled her part too. It’s even more amazing knowing there was that much sound from only two people. I a world of NSync and Brittney, this album was the antithesis. Today, it still stands out as a classic!
Random thoughts review: * What is your favorite track from this album and why is it Seven Nation Army? * Is Seven Nation Army the last great rock anthem? I can't really think of any newer rock anthems that are regularly played at sporting events, etc. I may just not be remembering anything. Fall Out Boy's "Centuries" comes to mind but I think I might be stretching to call that a true rock anthem. * I read somewhere that Seven Nation Army was inspired because Jack White misheard Salvation Army. That's so great! * What is your second favorite track from this album? It's a close race between "There's No Home For You Here", "Ball and Biscuit", "The Hardest Button", "Little Acorns", and "Girl You Have No Faith in Medicine" but I'm going to say "Little Acorns" for today. * Is Third Man Records from the line in "Ball and Biscuit" line "I may be your third man but it's a fact I'm the seventh son"? (Wiki tells me that is not the name origin but Jack White has a fondness for 3 and there are other "third man' references.) * I had to get out the CD to listen to Hypnotize. My old single Bose CD radio could not handle Seven Nation Army. I had to stop at volume level 60/100. LOL. * Who is Holly on the last track, "Well It's True That We Love One Another"? Just weird I don't know or never really cared to look it up. (Liner notes and wiki tell me this is Miss Holly Golightly, who is a British singer-songwriter and named after the character in a Truman Capote book.) * The slow tracks are great on this record and are a nice change of pace to all the awesome rockers. * Jack White is clearly the artist of the 2000s between White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather. Amazingly, he didn't start doing solo stuff until 2012.
Of course I enjoyed Seven Nation Army, but the rest of the tracks I could do without
3.5
Amazing
Sounds similar to the cure or synth style 80's bands.
This is the White Stripes at their best for me. Letting it rip (“Ball and Biscuit, “You have no faith in medicine”) and giving me a port in the storm of their gigantic sound with little diddies (“It’s true that we love one another”). Jack white is fierce and Meg matches him perfectly.
They’re good, just never a band I set out to listen to
I love the White Stripes. This album was somewhat familiar. The only struggle is whether to go with 4 or 5. I'll hold back on this one, but it's a close call.
There was just something so lightning-in-a-bottle about the White Stripes. And this is one of their best, if not the best, of their albums.
Listened to 'Seven Nation Army' maybe 4 times today alone. But there's so much to enjoy besides that relentless single - whether bluesy, straight rock, or some mix of the two.
Insbesondere Seven Nation Army ist für mich ein unglaublich emotionaler Song weil ich das Riff als Kind auf jeder Gitarre gespielt habe. Das Album steht für mich sinnbildlich für Studioaufnahmen bei denen die gesamte Band gleichzeitig aufgenommen wird. Das bedeutet manchmal klingen die Gitarren etwas dreckig aber insgesamt einfach super ehrlich. Diese Simplizität aus klassischen E-Gitarren Riffs und simplen Rhytmen auf den Drums kann man nur mögen.
Sehr interessant zu hören in welchem Album Kontext einer der bekanntesten Songs aller Zeiten ursprünglich stattfand. Muss man vermutlich auch live gesehen haben
Halt die fresse Punk, jetzt gibts heckmeck. Bin ich ein Punk geworden? Schön dreckig, laut und echte Emotionen. Ja ne ist halt echt nicht meins, sind Banger dabei klar. Für Punk-Fans bestimmt top 5 beste Alben jemals. Ich mag aber die Gefühlswechsel, die kommen von Lied zu Lied gut durch. Würde ich fürs Genre eine 8/10 geben
With The Hardest Button to Button and Seven Nation Army it's definitely one of their best albums. Not many 2 person bands reach the originality and skill we see the The White Stripes, but they've sure influenced a lot of bands repeating the formula. 4/5
Pretty fun. I enjoyed Jack's unorthodox guitar work. His over-the-top singing style with the slapback echo started to get a bit annoying, but overall a good album.
This wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" Can't forgive them for butchering that.
- Mit Icky Thumb mein Lieblingsalbum der Whitestripes - Geile Hits drauf - Raw und minimalistisch - Die beiden sind einfach geile Motherfucker - Wie immer bei den Whitestripes klare Handschrift - Wobei ich ehrlich sagen muss, dass mir die Whitestripes früher n Ticken besser gefallen haben Rating: 4/5
- Mega Platte, die mich von vorne bis hinten gut unterhalten hat - haben einfach ihren eigenen Sound, den man wahrscheinlich liebt oder hasst - catcht einen, ohne zu viel zu sein, schöner Ruhepol dazwischen mit z.B. "In The Cold, Cold Night"
Ok as far as White Stripes albums go...probably better than their debut. But nothing I would every go to. Jack White is an enigma for me. 3/5
3.5 imo - crazy good in some respects but just mid in others
It's a good album with some bluesy elements of a duo that works really well together. Rock music that deserved the attention it got back in the days.
I mean it unreasonable to hope the rest of the album could be Seven Nation Army level, but man can’t help but feel a little let down. It’s not bad and little acorns is a cool song but yeah truly started of w a banger
9/10. I think that I need to sit with this album for more than a few days to form a fuller opinion, but it made a strong first impression. I may regret not giving it a full five stars.
❤️🤍🖤❤️🤍🖤❤️🤍🖤
Garage rock has always been hit or miss for me, but The White Stripes really do a fantastic job of it.
Incredible guitar playing mixed with infectious vocal melodies proves to be all that is needed to create a classic.
Excellent
Sure, Seven Nation Army is overplayed but Jack's songwriting and guitar playing is top tier on this record. Meg providing a thumping ass heart beat keeping everything on track without Jack getting too carried away. Their most cohesive record. This shit rules.
jag gillar detta.
They have better albums 3.5
Day332 - this doesn’t really change my opinion of the white stripes, i like them when i hear them but i don’t go out of my way to do it
great; reaaalllyyyyy love the cover, masterpiece; album added, no particular song though (yet)
Damn near perfect album, taking big swings with very catchy, simplified riffs and playing them with real fervor. Over the years I've noticed a lot of knowledgeable musicians are afraid of hooks that are too approachable, in that maybe they aren't clever enough or something.. Not Jack White who understands that it's what you do with it, to say nothing of completely committing to the bit.
Surprisingly not good, Seven Nation Army carries
Ohhhhhh oh whoa oh oh ohhhhhh whoaaaa
Except for seven nation army non of the songs catch me or even seem very good. The style of the album just isn't something I enjoyed.
Alright
They just aren't my thing. Instrumentals can be decent but the vocals aren't it for me.
Love the white stripes. I ended up listening to this album twice because I got so engrossed in cleaning.
So many great ditties
I'm not a white stripes guy (and perhaps never will be), but at least I can say I gave them a chance. I think the songwriting is somewhat creative, but the songs themselves are extremely middle-of-the-road rock. The singles have proven to be pretty good, and I think the energy on No Faith in Medicine would've sold me on the album if all the riffs sounded more like that, but I feel as though Elephant is mostly boring and bland. I feel a little like a stick in the mud because its seemingly well-received by many people, so maybe I need to relax a little.
Classic 2000s rock if such thing exists! Their best album in my opinion. Starts with the world’s most annoying track that has been ruined by drunk crowds singing it in request for encores at every single concert out there! It is actually a good track though 🤣
Good one!
Rock and roll BABY
"Otro disco sobrevalorado" era lo que iba a escribir, pero supongo que los años me han suavizado. Seven Nation Army es un gran clásico, inescapable en su tiempo, pero con justa razón aplaudido hasta ahora. El resto del disco se mantiene en la misma línea, aunque no alcanza las mismas alturas.
There's a reason Seven Nation Army is the preferred sports arena jam now...because it rocks. Great song. It's a shame Meg didn't have more opportunities to sing. Ball and Biscuit is so stripped down and amazing, another great song, one of the all time great album tracks and one of my all-time favorites by The White Stripes. And then The Hardest Button to Button? It's like Ruth and Gehrig hitting back-to-back. Maybe only Fell In Love With A Girl has such great lyrics in their catalog.
own
"Seven Nation Army" dominates this, it's the alpha, the omega, there's no way around it, it has more plays on Spotify than Pi has digits... And it's not even the best song on this album... Because that would be "In The Cold, Cold Night" as Meg steps out from the drum kit and lays down the haunting tenderness as if to say "I'M Karen Carpenter, bitch" , and "The Hardest Button To Button" would go before it too. Stripped back even more from White Blood Cells, this was White Stripes at their peak, the king and queen of the alt rock garage scene.
Highlights: Black Math, The Hardest Button to Button, Hypnotise, Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine In a nutshell: Jack and Meg at their peak The album where The White Stripes perfected their formula of catchy riffs and hypnotic drum beats. Not flawless, also not bad. Overall: 7/10
Again, one that I was really interested to listen to. It kicked off with seven nation army, but then went severely down hill. Until she sang one after that it improved quite a lot. The version that came up for me was the 'deluxe' one, and has a lot of live tracks which were quite simply painful. But as I don't believe that they were part of the original album I'm not taking them into account when giving it a 3.
Love this album. It rocks. It’s quirky. It has attitude.
A great album which should be played more often. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. Love the production, even the ballads are pretty good. 4
I know this album well so it was nice to revisit it after so many years. A little inconsistent and a little too on the nose with vintage inspiration, but still a great listen and a lovely reprieve from mainstream music at that time.
This is actually my least-listened to WS album, which may be surprising. It's great, but any given time I feel like some WS I'm gonna put on White Blood Cells 99.9% of the time. It's science. My standouts: In The Cold Cold Night, The Hardest Button to Button, The Air Near My Fingers
Jolly good album. Way better than I expected having only heard their hits before. It reminded me of a more rocky velvet underground with a bit of bluesy licks. There weren't any songs that were weak, many were absolute bangers. Overall an unexpectedly strong album. Favorite songs were: 4. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself 5. In The Cold, Cold Night 14. It's True That We Love One Another 10/10
As I said to Stijn earlier, this is a rock solid meat and potatoes type of rock album. Its a simple meal, perfectly executed by chefs that could make you something way fancier, but know that you don't need anything fancy right now. They do a good job of drawing on a range of early rock influences and styles. You can tell they're real students of the medium. A plain old good time of an album. Also, though it's one of the worst victims of "overplayed at stadiums syndrome", Seven Nation Army is truly an all time great riff. Album cover: (A) Thats a really nice photo.
"Seven Nation Army" is one of the most overplayed songs I have ever known. When I was nine years old it started to appear in every online video, at every party, and at every sports event. Despite having been made to hear it non-consensually thousands of times, I still fuck with it. This song fucking rocks. I really like the vocals on "There's No Home For You Here". This song is great. "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" is good too. I like that Meg is singing on "In The Cold Cold Night". "Ball and Biscuit" rocks. This is the sound I associate with The White Stripes. It's the kind of music that plays over a modern western. "The Hardest Button to Button" is probably my favorite song since "Seven Nation Army". "Little Acorns" has The Racounteur's energy. "Hypnotize" probably goes so hard live. It's definitely the highest energy track yet. This album is pretty fucking sick. I'm going back and forth between an 8 and a 9, but I feel like I just need to ride the hype and give it the 9. I enjoyed this the entire time. 9/10
Absolute classic Detroit garage rock album. This is the album that got me tuned into Jack White as a guitarist and musical talent.
Absolute classic Detroit garage rock album. This is the album that got me tuned into Jack White as a guitarist and musical talent.
I always wrote the White Stripes off when I was in high school and this was current because I was one of those “le wrong generation” kids. How wrong I was! This is bluesy and not like anything else out there in 2003. Wonderful!
It's still a fun album. It's a real shame seven nation army is on here though because I never want to hear it again.
This is one of the greatest rock albums of the 21 century. It actually goes incredibly hard. I remember Jenny Nixon burnt a copy of this for me in Year 11 on one of those cds that looked like a vinyl record. I listened to it so many times in my Sony disc man I wore it out. I went to see them play later that year in Sydney at the Livid festival and it was peak Stripes. Mute bowler hat wearing roadies and all. Meg even sang Cold Night and I think they played Seven Nation Army twice! What a memorable concert.
This is an awesome album. The sound is insanely recognisable and I just love the riffs and the drum work!!
Seven Nation Army is obviously an all-time great, so huge and anthemic that it really feels out of place on this quirky album. There are some real bangers on this but some of it is nonsense. A mixed bag but the highs are high enough for 4*
Simplistically original album.
It was actually pretty cool to revisit this album. I was into The White Stripes before Elephant came out, and I loved “Seven Nation Army” at first, but after it got overplayed, I quickly burned out on it. So, I didn’t pay much attention to this album back then and lost interest in the band. Now, 20 years later, with all the hype behind us, I can appreciate that this is actually a solid album. While they still keep that distorted garage rock sound, this one feels way more refined than their earlier records.
One of my faves/. Stripes really clicking in gear, before they split
Oh boy. If White Blood Cells got thinking Jack White is the greatest guitarist of all time, this album cemented that belief. Let's have a ball, girl, and take our sweet little time about it. Ball and Biscuit is one of my favorite guitar and vocal tracks of all time. Hardest button, got her in yr pocket, air near my fingers, black math, no faith in medicine, just don't know what to do with myself. One of my favorite albums of all time.
An album that I never thought to listen to because I figured Seven Nation Army was the one trick this pony could pull. I was wrong. It's a cool album that definitely shows their influences in 70s rock and blues. I can also see the influence of the White Stripes in bands from later on in the 2000s. Very cool.
way better than anticipated. a very good album. 8/10
i like it
8/10. Right off the bat, the album starts with "Seven Nation Army", which is arguably one of the best album openers that one can pick. It really sets the mood for the rest of the album, which also rocks, and features various dope tracks. Although, there are a couple of dull ones here and there. I find the history behind The White Stripes really intriguing.
Some of the softer songs didn't click with me, but the rest did. Definitely a lot of 60s/70s influences, but nothing too obvious to spoil the songs. Feels like a four star effort.
I’ll say it, Seven Nation Army is overhyped. It’s a good song, but not better than the best of White Blood Cells or Destijl. The rest of this album, fortunately, is really good too. It’s perhaps their most consistent album, which makes it rank highly for me
Simply amazing a great album all songs are diferent influences from troggs, beatles, joan jett and punk and rock from all eras before him extremely well produced. Probably top 5 album from this era. A masterpiece.
A couple of good songs, but I ultimately couldn’t wait for it to end
2 sterne
Such a great rock album! 4/5
i was gonna give this 4 because, you know, 5 is a lot, but this is a really great record and a very fine example of itself
Yesterday I got an album which I said contained one of the most instantly recognisable guitar rifts ever. That was Smoke On The Water but the big track on this album, Seven Nation Army arguably trancends that. I was a late convert to White Stripes and only got into them by seeing them perform on television. I was intrigued on how a duo managed to make such a big sound. I own this album having bought it on the strength of seeing them on TV and wanting to investigate further. I now love the White Stripes and this album is perhaps my favourite. Only caveat is that I need to be in a loud music mood to listen to them. But when the mood hits this is a fine album to spin. 4/5 2/11/24
Fav song: Hardest Button to Button Jack White is one of the most forward thinking and unique sounding guitarists of his generation. Listening to him play is an enlightening experience. Meg White’s performance on this album made me audibly laugh a few times though bless her.
Shoutout Pat McAfee 🫡
Enjoyed this entire album from start to finish. Great opening with 7 Nation Army. Also really enjoyed Black Math and Girl You Have No Faith in Medicine. There is a lot of heavy drumming here that I love. 5
01) Seven Nation Army - 10,0 02) Black Math - 9,0 03) There's No Home for You Here - 9,5 04) I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself - 10,0 05) In the Cold, Cold Night - 9,5 06) I Want to Be the Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart - 9,5 07) You've Got Her in Your Pocket - 8,5 08) Ball and Biscuit - 9,0 09) The Hardest Button to Button - 9,5 10) Little Acorns - 8,0 11) Hypnotize - 8,5 12) The Air Near My Fingers - 9,0 13) Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine - 8,5 14) Well It's True That We Love One Another - 9,5 TOTAL: 9,14 (91/100) Current ranking: 25/354
Fun album. The White Stripes do blues rock, while also being very original. I really like how Jack White plays with dissonance with his guitar and vocal work.
I missed this album when it came out because I was in the depts of being a musical theater nerd, but this album is phenomenal. Every song is interesting lyrically and musically, there are some excellent instrumental moments with exceptional talent, and the album as a whole works beautifully.
The White Stripes' best, and one of the best rock records of the 00's. Riffs upon riffs upon riffs. Great balance of immediate catchy tunes and experimentation. This is how you take sounds from old american rock traditions a successfully bring them into the 21st century to make a modern classic album. Jack White proves how genius he is as songwriter, even within his self-imposed limitations, and he also sounds a lot like Robert Plant sometimes. Weird. Key tracks: Seven Nation Army Black Math There's No Home for You Here Ball and Biscuit The Hardest Button to Button The Air Near My Fingers Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine Well It's True That We Love One Another
вот этот альбомчик мне понравился, грязный блюзец вполне
Great album
Pretty cool album. Iconic Seven Nation Army is on it.
the strongest of strong starts, then tails off
5/5
Liked this album more than the others. Songs were better quality overall.
Seven Nation Army is a good but not amazing song. It is also overplayed. I think that Jack White sounds better solo
Solid, solid rock album. The Whit Stripes had such good chemistry. Songwriting was great, funny in spots, guitar was great, drums great. “Seven Nation Army” is one of the most famous songs of all time. Really solid album overall.
when your opening track is Seven Nation Army, it's really hard for the rest of the tracks to measure up to that driving beat. did enjoy the raw sound. also liked Meg's vocals on Cold Night.
whoah😎🤯
Interesante
I liked this. It gives a vibe of stripped-down Beatles.
The White Stripes are kind of an anomaly to me. Apparently they're an acclaimed act and apparently this is one of the best albums of the 2000s, yet I never run into anyone who claims to be a huge fan of the band, and I've never been recommended any of their music. I'll chalk it up to them simply being outside my sphere of interest. Pretty unremarkable stuff all around, but it's at the very least listenable. The gimmicky nature of the band makes for some pretty banging music videos, at the very least. Update: I somehow appreciate this much less on my second listen than I did on my first lol
I mean it really just bangs
Seven Nation Army obviously fucking slaps, followed up nicely with Black Math Love Meg's vocals on Cold, Cold Night These slower songs just don't really cut it. Seven Nation Army sets such a high standard that most of the songs can't live up to, especially the slower ones. I don't think his voice is suited to them. Simplicity=good, sometimes. I think this one is too simple too often. Little Acorns and Hypnotize are quite good. It's just, meh. I can listen through it fine enough I'm just rather bored doing it. Except that last song. What the fuck was that.
Good maybe I’ll like more on relistenes
I have such a soft spot for the white strips; love the fast bluesy songs as well as the more stripped down folky ballads. I'm not a completion-ist so it was nice to hear some songs I didn't know from this album; really liked girl you have no faith in medicine.
9/10
Seven Nation Army, Black Math, Ball and Biscuit: these songs rule. Little Acorns rips, as does Hypnotize. A rare vocal take from Meg on In The Cold, Cold Night…underrated tune. And yet this isn’t even the best Stripes album (that’d be RBC). It might not even be the second best (arguably De Stijl). What a great fucking band.
Pretty damn good. It's only some of the slower songs I find issue with, and I think the album ends on the worst possible note with a song I really don't like, but other than that I found a lot to enjoy. Best song: Seven Nation Army Worst song: It's True That We Love One Another
Good project, I enjoyed the rawness it. Best song: Ball And Biscuit Worst song: Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine
A pretty decent album if I do say so myself.
wasn't feeling another WS album so I'm skipping and I'll go back to it over the wknd..
I like this one! Full of energy, Black Math...Ball and Biscuit hooks me from the start: the guitar, the drums, his raging vocals. I also like how the songs have a lot of range in the sound. Keeps me on my toes.
Not really benefitting form this being the third album from TWS. Liked it more than I expected. You can't argue with the talent these guys possess. In moments it comes off as a more rockin Exile on Main Street and strains of Jimmy Page. I like it but still can't love it. It's a 3+
They should never have opened this album with Seven Nation Army. It's such a banger and they had no chance of ever matching the vibe.
I see the appeal
Good
Good Album
I like Seven Nation Army, I kind of like Black Math, There’s No Home for You Here, The Hardest Button to Button, Little Acorns, Hypnotize
Very goog. Seven Nation Army is the obvious standout but the rest is also great.
Basically perfect. I've loved this since it came out. They took risks trying jazz and folk stuff and it totally paid off. No skips!
Personally, I think it's absolutely
This album slaps. Just like white blood cells but with more attitude more fun and more angst. Buncha metal buncha blues buncha grunge buncha buncha
Solid rock. Started to drag at the end
7,57
It was actually pretty cool to revisit this album. I was into The White Stripes before Elephant came out, and I loved “Seven Nation Army” at first, but after it got overplayed, I quickly burned out on it. So, I didn’t pay much attention to this album back then and lost interest in the band. Now, 20 years later, with all the hype behind us, I can appreciate that this is actually a solid album. While they still keep that distorted garage rock sound, this one feels way more refined than their earlier records.
The surprising thing about this album to me is that the singles I was familiar with (namely, "Seven Nation Army" and "The Hardest Button to Button") are by far the most creative and interesting parts of the album. The rest of the album is mostly just rehashed 60s pop and, in those cases, I'd rather just listen to the people they're doing impressions of. 3.5
They built upon their one hit nicely enough but never really caught that lightning in a bottle again. 3/5
Heard it tons, love it
That opening riff of "Seven Nation Army" shoulda been a sign of things to come! The garage rock revival was fully in effect here, and the duo of Jack & Meg White were among those at the front of this movement. Probably their biggest album, I would argue that "Elephant" didn't really tread new ground, but rather refined an already existing sound that the White Stripes had been cooking up for a few years at this point. Typically a bare bones approach to garage rock (where do you think the "garage" from garage rock comes from?) the duo blends that raw, energetic rock with some tenderness here and it all hardly feels out of place. A fun listen where you can't help but lose track of time throughout.
The music is good, but it all sounds the same with the same riffs, same chords, same drums. I forgot and Jack White's voice alright, but a little tiring by the end of the album. Lyrics feel like they're tryna ng a bit too hard at times.
Fantastic album loved it for years
gritty and fun rocka
Classic.
Good sounding album with a few popular tunes. I already had this in my personal library
great album. some fantastic stuff
Great album.
I played this album to death when it was first released and I still love it now. Jack White is an extraordinary talent and I enjoy listening to just about everything he produces. Seven nation army still gets lots of radio play but for me the best track on Elephant is Ball and Biscuit, just brilliant
I am groot
For me this sound is the essence of rock.🎙🎸🥁🎹 No song like the other. The 50 minutes of the album fly by. A perfect workout for your speakers 🔊 and a chance to get to know all your neighbors.😉
No private session used for Spotify. I like this album a lot, it's around here somewhere. Oddly, "Seven Nation Army" hasn't fallen into the category of songs I never need to hear again, maybe because it's only old enough to drink, I will see how it feel once it starts getting AARP mail. Anyway, the albums rocks.
Considering Seven Nation Army - beloved by European football fans and Michael Van Gerwen - is the huge behemoth hit from this album, the rest is woefully overlooked. A great album, masterfully created by just the duo. Liked it at the time and loved it nostalgically.
Good, bluesy rock, stands up well but think I prefer White Blood Cells.
Definitely listenable. Would probably return to it.
It’s a pretty good album. Probably not worthy of its legendary status but a good album nonetheless, I really hadn’t heard much previously other than Seven Nation Army.
Actual 5/5 EASY. I never listened to the full album before but I literally had it on repeat the whole day. What a great listen, the biggest stand out (outside of the obvious, Seven Nation Army and The Hardest Button to Button) was honestly the song Its True We Love One Another. I LOVED this song, I thought it was the cutest way to end this album. I really dug it as a nice garnish or cherry on top. It was cute bantery song that I 1000% did NOT expect on a White Stripes album. Also, Little Acorns!!! I mean there is so much to say but really this album I think basically because an instant classic in the music scene and has stood the test of time.
Solid album, I've heard seven Nation army a million times, but did not expect the ballads that the album put out towards the end
Excellent album! Of course I had known 'Seven Nation Army's previously, but not much else by White Stripes. I didn't even realize they were a duo! I liked the first song (of course) then I felt like the album dipped a little over the next few songs, and I resigned myself to thinking the first song was going to blow everything else out of the water. Not true, I actually enjoyed the album more the longer it went, and I felt it grew in strength after that dip for sure. And although Jack has a very distinct voice (which I enjoy), I have to say I really enjoyed Meg's voice for the couple of songs that she sang. I would definitely listen to this one again.
Liked Song Seven Nation Army
a couple okay tracks but honestly most of this album is absolute ass
Liked it a lot, lots of bangers
I was backpacking through Greece when this album came out. The 1st time I vividly renumber hearing it was at a place called the "Orange Bar" on the Island of Ios. How many albums do you remember where you were the 1st time you heard them? I have no idea but I know this is one of them.
Not super coherent as an album, but a lot of fun: Jack White is at his best when working with less resources
The comment 'massive' describes the album best! Rock 4 ever!
put bibble to sleep
Banger after banger
It's actually rude to start an album with one of the most iconic pieces of music ever and then have it be so mediocre.
I remember disliking The White Stripes because I thought Jack White couldn't play guitar, and Meg White couldn't play drums. It wasn't until later I realized that not only was Jack White a brilliant songwriter and phenomenal guitarist, he and Meg were focused on a kind of raw expression I couldn't conceive of at the time — one that far outstripped any concept I'd had of technical perfection.
The first song is a bit too omnipresent, of course. Still... On first listen after ages, it's a great album.
Didn't really like most of the songs 😕 I only liked Seven Nation Army and 1 more other song
great album. Brings me back to the early 2000s
I really like this record.
great driving album
The riff on Seven Nation Army feels like it shouldn't have needed to be written, like it's existed for decades already and we've always been able to sing along.
Bit mid. Have listened before but one or two decent songs I haven't heard before
Very interesting. I kind of liked it, well especially the one song I recognized.
Maybe the most boring band in all rock music. I absolutely cannot stand them. Just an awful awful band.
The White Stripes are always a good listen. Lots of familiar songs and sounds here. The last song, “It’s true that we love one another” was a real treat.
Jack White is a Emo/Punk/Blues/Goth guitar god. That is all. Album rocks.
Arguably the last truly great album by a great band. Their later stuff had interesting stuff but never quite raised the ante the way the early stuff did. There is no way anyone should have been able to write Ball and Biscuit in this era - a brilliant song that had to be written 60 or 70 years earlier.
Day 46 - September 22nd, 2024 2000s rock at its peak. Phenomenal. 4/5
4st
I liked it.
I'm happy to report I still love this as much as I did when it was released. I enjoy the simplicity of the sound, the catchiness of the songs, the sing-a-long-ability of the whole thing. It puts me in a good mood, the effect almost everything Jack White has done has on me. It would score five but I know some of their other albums are even better.
comecei pulando seven nation army porque ngm aguenta mais essa porra ainda assim, garage rock (blues garage rock???) belíssimo (não supera o white blood cells)
Não gostei,dobro e passo pro próximo. Parece que tem uma pitada de blues e punk, quem mistura sas merdas veio. As vezes parece que tem um grunge também, o que não ajuda nessa mistura na minha humilde opinião.
tem umas guitarradas boas, mas não curti mto não. é um disco bem sólido, só num é pra mim. aprecio o fato de ter sido gravado sem computadores e sem BAIXOS. agora eu posso falar com precisão: a única deles que eu gosto é Fell in Love with a Girl. o resto, eu deixo pra quem gosta.
Good album overall, with a couple of absolute bangers
This really is one of the great rock albums from the 00’s, really should be seen as a classic, that can compete with the best from the 60/70s. Yeah seven nation army has been played to death, but haven’t all great songs.
This one takes me back to my middle school years. I was surprised I didn't enjoy it as much as I did years ago. Overall though still quite a solid album that still has it's influences heard today.
Yeah, this album freakin rocks. I had forgotten how great this band was. Love the stripped down and raw drums and guitar. Jack White's vocals ain't bad either. Off topic, Jack was my #1 rocker crush when I lived in Nashville and I waited tables. I'd see him every now and then and once ate one of his onion rings cause I'm gross like that. He's also a natural blonde and once saw him dressed in a head to toe crushed purple velvet pimp suit with matching hat and a cane. Early 2000s were a great time for Jack White. 5 stars.
Own it
Hard to beat for straight up rock, including a top five all time guitar riff.
A masterpiece. That’s all. Just a masterpiece.
Love this album. I liked White Blood Cells a lot as well, but I was obsessed with this one for a bit when it came out. Great stuff.
I think the actual quality of many albums get a little exaggerated due to cultural significance. This is one of them. It is a solid rock album that dropped in an era that desperately needed solid rock albums. There are a few true classic songs on it, but outside of those it's just solid.
Generational talent
This is their best album by far. But the pacing of the album is bad, the first 2 songs are great and then the tempo comes to a screeching halt until basically the end.
Ok so this album has one of the greatest songs of the 21st century in Seven Nation Army. But even after that, this album is pretty good. It's rock built on guitar riffs, drums, and vocals. I enjoyed listening to it and would come back to it.
Loved seven nation army, also got to read about the history of the White stripes. Very interesting take, I did not realize this is what people meant when they listened to aleternative. Little acorns kinda spoke to me. Hilarious yet very clear on the message. It’s true we love another was also hilarious. I also like in the cold cold night instrumental. Very much vibe with the minimalist instrumentals and vocals.
I wasn't in the best headspace this day. I liked the album, but I think I would like it better on a different day. Enjoyable overall. Felt very experimental, lots of different sounds and styles. Can't exactly place the genre, but it was pleasant. Apparently themes of losing your sweetheart, but I didn't pick up on that. Fav songs: I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself, Little Acorns, It's True That We Love Over Another
Listening now
Seven Nation Army 4.5 Black Math 4.3 There's No Home for You Here 4 I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself 4.3 In the Cold, Cold Night 3.8 I Want to Be the Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart 4.2 You've Got Her in Your Pocket 3.6 Ball and Biscuit 4.4 The Hardest Button to Button 4.4 Little Acorns 4 Hypnotize 4 The Air Near My Fingers 4.1 Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine 4 Well It's True That We Love One Another 3.5 Score: 4.078571429
The album opens up with arguably the most recognizable guitar riff of all time. The rest of the album has a mixed bag of early 2000s nostalgia, taking me back to my middle school days as a dorky teenager at a Catholic School, and somehow, it turns out to be a masterpiece. Favorite Track: "Seven Nation Army".
it’s good.
Fantastic. Liked many songs more than the big hits and the album gave a sort of queen vibe.
Love rock and roll but this sound is grating to me, mostly the guitar, and it doesn’t let up. Some songs I enjoy but wont play this front to back.
The last gasp of American three chord garage rock. Went down kicking and screaming.
Love this album. Been a huge fan for a long time and really appreciate the second half of it. Youve got her in your pocket is one of my favorites
Really love just about anything Jack White touches. Great song writer, guitarist, and singer. One of my favorite guitar tones today and so recognizable. Probably prefer Raconteurs stuff out of all of it, as I like the more Americana southern rock stuff, and also has a more interesting rhythm section than just Meg, but it’s just all so so good across the board. With how much Jack was influenced by, and maybe even ripped off Zep/Plant, now feels like the appropriate time to publicly walk by my low rating of Physical Graffiti, after many more listens. That album is really damn good, and I clearly need to listen to more of them.
A lot of times in this list I forget what a great album is supposed to be, and then something comes along to remind me. Just a great album, strong arrangements, focused and creative songwriting, emotion, and a cohesive and strong tracklist. All that done with a "less is more" approach, which I really appreciate after hearing so much bloated and meandering music. Seven Nation Army is up there as THE song of the early 2000s to the point where today you hear it as a ubiquitous chant at almost any crowd gathering.
It was ok
Definitely good. I get a bit tired of it about 7 songs in.
Peak White Stripes. I often found their albums hit and miss but this one is filled with cracking tracks and even the ‘fillers’ are of good quality - aside from the last track which is a bit naff. Still, a well deserved 4 stars.
I never followed up on this album when it was released, after having spent quite a lot of time with their previous album. Seven Nation Army is such a standout track on this one, nothing else matching the energy.
yeah that's the good stuff. this is what made the white stripes the white stripes and they never fully recaptured it across a full album in followup efforts. almost all of this is really good and no frills in an authentic way instead of feeling like it was a gimmick (a lot of the rest of their catalogue and jack white's solo career)
This was pretty good! I especially enjoyed the last song for some reason. Until rather recently, "Seven Nation Army" was one of those songs I knew but had no idea what it was called. Jack White is a musical genius, but I wasn't in love with this whole album.
mehhhhhhHHHH
I feel like describing Elephant as a Oreo cookie feels like a weird analogy for such a well-regarded album, but my stupid brain feels like it fits. It has a hard opening structure, a soft part in the middle, and ends as hard as it started. Everyone knows about it and has heard it (Seven Nation Army specifically), but you’ll be hard-pressed to find much of anyone who hates it. And after listening to it, I finally get the hype. This is such a collection of bangers from just two people. It feels like this bizarre classic rock album that stays modern enough to not feel like it panders to nostalgia. And Jack White is so talented, carrying the electricity through songs like Seven Nation Army and There’s No Home For You Here, while toning it down for You Got Her In Your Pocket. And Meg’s great too in In The Cold, Cold Night. I’m very glad this album is now a little more than just the Seven Nation Army album to me. Favorite Track: Seven Nation Army (I know, basic bitch pick, but it’s infectious) Other hits: Black Math, There’s No Home For You Here, You Got Her in Your Pocket, In the Cold, Cold Night, The Hardest Button to Button, Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine, Well It's True That We Love One Another
This album kicks ass. It rocks throughout, and I love the retro vibe it's going for. Nothing really even approaches Seven Nation Army as a single song, but there aren't any stinkers in here.
A great listen - provides one of the greatest tunes ever in seven nation army
Absolute fire
First listen. Ok.
Great album. Heard some tunes I never listed to before cementing my love for Jack White. Strong 4.
A really good album, loved Seven Nation Army. I also liked I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself.
Not my jam.
9/2/24. Thanks 1001 albums for assigning one of my all time favorite albums on Labor Day! Love the simplicity and folk-style songwriting, backed with that lovely 2000s garage rock sound. Will always revisit this one.
Their biggest sound and a well crafted album all the way around.
I was watching the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics this summer and as the athletes were walking into the stadium, some of them started to chant the opening notes from "Seven Nation Army." It quickly caught on as all these people from all over the world chanted it along with each other. Kind of an amazing moment. This is White Stripes album I've been waiting for and it's terrific!
I am liking The White Stripes more and more and more.
Really great. One of my faves.
Near the beginning of this project we had the White Stripes’ White Blood Cells from 2001, then midway through the project their very different album Get Behind Me Satan from 2005. Now as this project draws to a close I get the album that originally made me aware of the White Stripes Elephant. I’ve listened to this around the time it debuted, and 7 Nation Army has been a part of my life ever since. Truly a great song. I would never have imagined the White Stripes would cover a Burt Bacharach song, but I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself is an amazing rock rendition that gives the song a whole new dimension. To me this is the White Stripes-iest album of all, at their peak where they appeared on mainstream radar. Then they dive into some experimenting on Get Behind Me Satan - something I really loved but apparently it “divided the critics”. These three albums really are the perfect White Stripes selections and deserve their places on this list.
I once read a quote, which I'm paraphrasing: "Knowledge is knowing Meg White is a bad drummer. Wisdom is knowing Meg White is an amazing drummer." Having listened to this album in full, not to mention performing "Seven Nation Army" countless times on drums, I'm inclined to admit that wisdom wins out. The drumming is stupid simple, but it just works.
You know within 3 notes when it is Jack White on guitar. Love his sound. This is a very solid rock n roll album.
Hit song but some question marks on the others. Could have been better.
Based on what Jack is capable of I gotta go with a 3 here. Album is fairly incohesive overall. A few absolute rockers.
I like the White Stripes. Other than the one big hit though, this album doesnt hold together strongly for me.
QUE ÁLBUM MÁS BUENOOOOOO INCREIBLEEEE ASOMBROSO ESTE DÚO LA ROMPE PAPÁ 10/10
9/10
Overall good, Seven Nation Army and Hardest Button to Button reigns supreme
yuh
Feel the same way about this one as the other White Stripes album on the list - enjoyable enough listen, but not something that grabbed me enough to come back to often.
A 2000s classic!! Got some good memories with Seven Nation Army from the time I was learning how to play guitar. Good Album!
The pretend sibling thing will always be weird to me, but it's such a good album. Good blues rock that's often intentionally just a but off in the best way. Jack White helped ignite a bit of a pop culture Renaissance for rock guitar, and we should be forever grateful.
Good album! I remember all their singles from this one but never got round to listening to the album.
how dull and bland and bland and dull one hit wonder through and through NNN
I might have a generation too late to truly appreciate this album, reaping the fruits of all the other artists that went on to get inspired by the White Stripes. As such, I admire the album's high octane rebelliousness, anthemic even through the small two-instrument scale. I also cannot unhear the moderately dated fuzziness in the mix and sound, accentuating the 00s obsession with shrieking guitars for riffs.
The rest of the album forms a nice listening experience around Seven Nation Army and In the Cold, Cold Night, but in order to be that it became a slightly weaker White Stripes album, especially when compared to some earlier efforts.
Great album! A little bit noise rock while still being stripped down. In my mind, this album started a trend of channeling "classic" rock in a contemporary era. It's like artists time traveled from the 60s and 70s, skipping right over the 80s and 90s. Wolfmother, Black Keys, all came after this pair of time travelers.
I think I probably like "Icky Thump" more as an album, but "Seven Nation Army" is easily their most popular song so I get why this album is on the list. A few songs on here feel like filler, but the good songs are enough to get this to a 5. Whether you like their music or not, it's hard to argue with Jack White as a singular talent when it comes to writing guitar riffs. Is he a straight up weirdo? Seems like it. Is he a great guitarist? Definitely yes. 4.5
A banger from start to finish. It is always good to revisit this one.
I keep coming back to rate this because I keep thinking I don’t love it, yet I can’t stop listening, so it must be good! Each song keeps you guessing and Jack whites voice is so interesting. Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: yes Favourite Song:
Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.