Blunderbuss is the debut solo studio album by American musician Jack White. It was released in digital and physical formats beginning April 23, 2012, through Third Man Records, in association with XL Recordings and Columbia Records. Written almost entirely by White, the album was recorded and produced by him at Third Man Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Various musical styles appear throughout, including blues rock, folk, and country soul. The album received positive reviews from music critics, who praised White's ambitious songwriting and often compared the record favorably to his work for the White Stripes. It debuted at number one in five countries and reached the top 10 in ten other countries. It was certified platinum in Canada and gold by record industry trade groups internationally. The album was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, while the single "Freedom at 21" was nominated for Best Rock Song. In addition, the single "I'm Shakin'" received a nomination for Best Rock Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. The lead single from Blunderbuss, "Love Interruption", was released on January 30, 2012 via White's website. The single "Sixteen Saltines" was uploaded to White's YouTube channel on March 13, and seven days later, the song was released as the second single via 7-inch vinyl with a cover of U2's "Love Is Blindness" as its B-side. On April 1, Third Man Records released the album's third single, "Freedom at 21", by attaching flexi disc copies of the song to 1000 helium balloons. A music video for the fourth and final single, a cover of Little Willie John's "I'm Shakin'", was released on October 10, and twenty days later, the single was released digitally and via 7-inch vinyl with the B-side "Blues on Two Trees".
This is my first time listening to solo Jack White and it's great and it's more White Stripesy music, but it made me realise how important Meg White was for him. It's missing that little piece that made the White Stripes so good. Still great music since Jack White is so talented.
Typical 2010s noises
A remember there being buzz for this album back when it was released as the first Jack White solo album. Other than that, it’s not too remarkable. Even then I thought it was just fine. You do not have to listen to this before you die and it does not deserve a place on this list. There are three good songs. I most like the drum and bass line that opens “freedom at 21.” “hip, poor boy“ and “shaken” are nice songs too, but none of them compares to the work Mr. White did with white stripes or any of his other side bands.
J’ai vraiment aime ca je vais reecoute assure ent, du bon rock blues 5
4.5. Absolutely love this album. Pillar during my last jr high/ early high school days
Easy 5. Great album, easygoing and groovy.
The beginning of his Blue Period. Every bit as exciting as what he was doing creatively with The White Stripes.
Very cool. Nice piano parts too.
this album is fantastic Jack White kills it
Outstanding. I've never heard this album before yesterday. It really blew me away. It will get repeated listening from me. Road trip music for sure.
If you don't have this on so loud that it is actively giving you tinnitus then you didn't have the volume up high enough.
Cool as hell, really moody stuff at times but has so much depth and variety. Brilliant stuff
I vow.
Guitar god. Goof.
I'm starting to think this site is run by Jack White, given the frequency we see his stuff at. Anyway, good stuff as usual from Mr. W. I particularly like the skittering guitar solo (duo?) in Weep Themselves to Sleep
I really like Jack White, but I'm not sure I ever listened to an entire album front to back. I was missing out. This is an impressive debut album where he builds on the new(ish) sound of the White Stripes but also solidifies himself as a solo talent, visionary, and perfectionist. It's really, really good.
I was pleasently surprised with this one. When the iconic Sixteen Saltines came on I thought I was on a ride through a White Stripes album but as it played further I was left with a bunch of really good Folk/Country/Rock songs wotch was a nice switch of pace. Jack White is criminally underated. I might even dare say it's a White Stripes album if Elton John produces it. And that's a compliment. Weep Themselves to Sleep express this feeling the best. The mix of all those different genres are amazing. Truly a record that everybody jeeds to hear at least once.
It's more interesting than most blues rock. It's a conundrum... Workingbwith lots of different musicians means this has a far greater sonic pallette than the White Stripes. However, it loses some of that monomaniacal drive that made the White Stripes so good. It's different, and it has both benefits and issues. It is a good album though, maybe two tracks too long
Some surprisingly cool songs on here. Nice!
Ik vind vooral de stukken waar de dames meezingen leuk. De rest eigenlijk ook.
This album was great jack white has an awesome voice
Really good, more than just a one band wonder with White Stripes.
Actually brilliantly enjoyable album. Not listen to any of his work before but I was on the line to giving this 5. So much variety in the songs but all them hit so well. Great voice great sound
Much better than white stripes?
A slicker, beefier, and better White Stripes. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Sixteen Saltines Date listened: 09/05/23
Sorry Meg this is my favorite Jack white project
"Blunderbluss" is the debut solo album by American musician Jack White. The album was written, recorded and produced by Jack at Third Man Studio in Nashville. He started the songs with musicians who became available at Third Man when RZA's recording was canceled. Jack used various production styles, an all male band and an all female band and recorded different versions of the songs. The musical styles are blues rock, folk, jazz and country soul. Lyrics deal with death, loss and collapsing relationships...lots on relationships. The album was mostly well received by critics. An piano and a jazzy beat starts off "Missing Pieces." Of couse, there's guitar. Interesting lyrics as he compares loss of body parts to the give and take of a relationship. No, we did not go totally away from The White Stripes as Jack crunches those chords in "Sixteen Salines." The struggles of a former lover. Hey, there's a weird drum pattern and Jack rapping in "21 Freedom." He's got kind of a 60's melodic guitar which goes harder. The first single. "Love Interuption" has an acoustic guitar, a wurlitzer electronic piano and great backing vocals. A mid-tempo soulful song. Violent acts of love as a form of self-discipline? Jack kind of lighten things up with his cover of "Shakin.'" He goes R&B and kind of groovy. The album ends with "Take Me With You When You Go." Funky, jazzy. Overlayered rhythm and lead guitars. This is a real good album; it's been a few years since I had listen to this. Probably, the way you want to go solo after a successful band: No garage rock, a lot of songs not guitar led or at least in combo with some other instruments and variety of styles. This is my favorite of his solo albums.
This album makes me think that maybe Meg tends to rein him in a bit. Great stuff overall. Best track: Love Interruption
Like his stuff in the white stripes more but still good. Extra star for being from Michigan
I vaguely remember listening to this when it came out as I didn't mind the white stripes (not my fav band but hey). But I also vaguely remember being bored. Some of it is white stripes goodness, but some of it is artsy-fartsy, indulgent nonsense. I guess I could say it's experimental - Jack White is a fucking talented guy and when he's on, he's really ON. If I ignore the meandering indulgent bits towards the end, it's a pretty damn good album. 4/5.
listened to again it's impossible to not love jack white, i credit him and annie clark for making the guitar cool again
Decent
This is a COOL album. Jack White I’ve always found to be a little odd but what a cool vibe that put a modern spin on some classic 70s rock.
What a weird but also surprisingly good album. There was a lot of variety which sometimes turns me off to an album but these songs all seemed to work well together.
Every Jack White album that's come up, I've enjoyed! Impressive variety that he nails each time despite the range of styles
he seems fun
Jack's playing and melodies incredible. One of the best musicians ever, and this album does not disappoint.
Rento ja tyylikäs. Oli uus levytuttavuus. 3,5 tähtee… melkein pakko ylöspäin pyöristää
I did not know this was the white stripes guy! I was super impressed with the guitar sound and the keys were amazing as well. As a piano player I definitely smiled when I heard the keys come in mostly on the second half of the album.
Decent stuff, though it feels a bit behind the curve considering this came out in 2012. 7/10
8/10. Always skeptical when this list throws me a 2010's album from an artist past their peak, but every once in a while they turn out to be pretty good.
4.0
ok
An artist I like playing songs of a style I like should be perfect. However, it's not, and I don't know why. It's very good, but not perfect as I was expecting.
Good, although it lacks something that Jack nailed in the White Stripes typically.
Jack White always brings a certain style and swagger that just works for me, and hearing a more free expression of sound compared to White Stripes was nice (even if it did drag a tad by the end).
Strong solo debut. DNA of The White Stripes here of course, but a bit more stripped down. Heard many of the hits but nice to hear the others.
This is a very good, well written album. I am a huge Jack White fan, and this is one of the vinyl records in my small collection. What keeps me from thinking of this as a "great" album is simply the comparison between this and many of his other excellent records with the White Stripes, the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather. There are several albums of his that I return to before this one, even including his subsequent solo albums which continue to get better. But I do enjoy this album, and there are no duds, which is always an impressive feat for any artist.
Jack White’s output since the White Stripes ended has been a number of things; prolific, eccentric, inconsistent. But this album captures lightening in a bottle to some extent and finds White at a personal and professional turning point where he demonstrates so many of the talents that he uniquely possesses without Meg White at his side. He is a fantastic songwriter, band leader, and guitar virtuoso - all on display on this album. I had almost forgotten, and couldn’t believe this album is 10+ years old, that this album was this good. Part of me feels an odd comfort knowing that Jack White is out there in the musicsphere continuing to make music even if it’s just for himself to enjoy.
Vet album van Jack White, maar niet per se onmisbaar in de lijst, naast The White Stripes.
I'm a big White Stripes fan but strangely enough I've never gotten into Jack White's solo work or his work with other bands. I remember listening to a couple of Raconteurs albums but they didn't connect with me like the White Stripes did. However, I don't believe I've ever listened to any of his solo albums, so I'm really glad to have this album come up today. The sound of this album is more similar to the White Stripes than his Raconteurs work. Definitely will listen to this more and also his other solo work. 4 stars. Just an interesting little side note. Reading about Jack White on his Wikipedia page I learned that his first rock band experience was as the drummer for a group called Goober and the Peas. I actually saw Goober and the Peas at least a couple of times back in the day. They were pretty big in the local Detroit area music scene for a while. I had no idea until today that he was in that band.
Excellent indie rock album. Jack White is a hook machine. Though is uniqueness does become a bit repetitive.
I like the style, a slightly heavier alternative maybe with some blues influence. But the mood created by the vocals and the lyrics is a bit too dreary.
3.5
Good
Love it! Hooks for days.
This is another case of an artist who I like the vibe of, but the songs all kinds blur together. Also Blunderbuss the song really wants to be Isis by Dylan. Still it's a pretty good jam in the whole.
Meer piano dan ik verwachtte. Wel een goed album
Honkey-tonkey-punky-rockin-and-rollin-singin the blues. Great fun, upbeat album.
Solid rock album.
Actually thought this was pretty cool. I haven’t really gone deep into Jack White but it had a good energy, and you gotta respect a good fuzz guitar.
Very good
really cool instrumentation, if the lyrics were even a little bit better this would be a 5, but they’re just not particularly good
Very strong melodies and instrumentation. Lyrics are a little pretentious and goofy at times, but nothing too damning.
his best solo
I don't have a lot to say about this album, but it was really good overall. Lots of different musical influences coming together, but it works more like a soup than a salad 4/5
I enjoyed practically the whole album :D
I'm Shakin'. Exmiembro de White Stripes.
Didn't really want to like this album but it was a really pleasant surprise. Not really into Jack White or White Stripes, but this was an enjoyable listen. I'm between a 3 and a 4, see how I feel in the morning
Appreciate the music, but not for me.
This was okay! Not as rocky as The White Stripes but enjoyable all the same. Happy to hear more from Jack in whatever form it comes.
Not my favorite album of his, but still good.
Listen - you and I both know I love Jack White. This is my least favorite of his solo albums and I rarely pick it up but it was nice to revisit. You can hear a lot of the musical themes he uses again and again in later work, fun.
Gets better as the album progresses. Solid album with a Beatles influence.
Funny that this was one of my missed album. Amanda sent me a white stripes song while I was out. I do like this style.
One thing I’ve learned over these 609 albums is that Jack White is a musical savant. I’d love to pick his brain about music in general and guitar playing. Once again I’m digging his distorted, bluesy rock sound.
Jack White is an amazing musician and steward of music history. Nothing quite touches the brilliance of early White Stripes, but every endeavor he has pursued since have delivered terrific music. I haven't listened to his more recent stuff, but from the first decade post-White Stripes I would rate "Blunderbuss" and the solo work above The Dead Weather, but below The Raconteurs.
I didn't expect to like this album very much, but the whole album is keyboard heavy which adds a tone and texture I didn't know that Jack White used. Worth extra listenings. Missing Pieces (cool keyboards) Weep Themselves To Sleep I'm Shakin' Trash Tongue Talker Hip Poor Boy Guess I Should Go To Sleep On and On and On
Liked it!
better than the two white stripes albums we've had, i think. more broadly enjoyable.
More timey-twisty than typical White, for the best. The late addition of prog - question mark - seals this one as a strong not-really-debut.
Very good. Want to listen some more
It’s interesting to hear a great musician that wrote songs contemporarily to your current life - there a certain better understanding and comfort - after all this exercise is twitchy and all over the place in that respect - it’s an erratic time capsule that can leave a little dizzy 600+ albums in. This record is short, concise, fun, well paced with Jack White’s usual highly strung gusto - almost every song stands out - and despite Jack’s penchant for hipster retro cool - the songs sound like they are written at this time by someone who is experiencing the world almost in the same manner, well at least in the same timeline. I missed that feeling - that the music I’m listening to feels like it’s written for me as an audience - and that gives me pleasure.
Typical Jack white album. I liked a couple of the songs. It was overall alright
Massa
I think Jack's less popular songs get way overshadowed by the mainstream ones but this album is solid Track highlight: Trash Tongue Talker
4.5 stars. Jack White's solo debut showcases his well-rounded musical prowess. Blues rock that incorporates jazz, hip-hop, folk/country, piano ballad, and more. Standouts are "Take Me With You When You Go", "Freedom At 21", and "Sixteen Saltines".
Rock
Hidden gem here, at least for me. Was willing to listen back to back if it wasn't for that darned work
It was ok
Enjoyable for me, but didn't reach the next level.
HOO nostalgia blunderbu$$¥ surprisingly good for what i remember. i remember this fondly but always find jack white and music like it to be comparible to eating food without seasoning or coffee without caffeine - it leaves something to be desired - you are still left hungry new production will always be terrible, but jack a disciple of john bonham has learned some feeling for actual rythm and his version of "im shaking" is superb. "spiked heels make a hole in a lifeboat" new ways to make amusing digs at the opposite gender will always tickle me falls off at the end. not bad wee record
Good album, but uncertain why it's in the list.
Solid album all around. I must admit I prefer the White Stripes albums I’ve heard to this-it was technically quite good and some of the songs stuck out (I wasn’t paying attention to titles) but there weren’t any moments that really blew me away, although nothing awful either. Definitely a recommend for people into that 2000s type rock music, since it executes that vision well. Just not enough of an evolution from TWS music for me to be floored in any way by it.
Creatieve muzikant die Jack. Maar het doet me meestal te weinig om echt door gegrepen te worden.
Dit vind ik toch echt stukken beter dan dat gedoe met zijn 'zus'
Ben een Fervente-Jack-Fan, maar dit is niet mijn favoriete album.
jack white leans i to white stripe fuzz and furor, makes a bad cover (read: not good), and gets us ready for stupid voice affects in future releases. listening to this after listening to what hes released in the late teens and early 20’s of this century makes this album seem alright. he can still rock for sure, but he is letting the cheese out.
Very curious to release a misogynistic album at the height of the #metoo movement. It’s a good thing that Sixteen Saltines slaps like it do.
Didn't enjoy this album as much as I thought I would. Jack White doing saloon rock. I mean, it's enjoyable, but I feel like it's lacking alot of the punch that The White Stripes has.