White Blood Cells

A perfect example of how to get a whole lot out of very little. This has super basic instrumentation but the songs still all completely kick the llamas ass. This is absolutely stacked with classic songs that have been with me for over 20 years now. It's been awhile, though, since I listened to the full album start to finish, and I found myself loving the songs that I had forgotten about. An excellent listening experience start to finish.

It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to the White Stripes. And I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever listened to a whole album all the way through. This has been great!! And it had that great song We’re going to be friends! 5 stars for this one.

So good! Unique and different each track is so special and yet goes well with the album as a whole!

I'm old enough to remember this being a big thing. Rough and ready and lo-fi, but Jack White is a great songwriter and they still stand up.

Outstanding. This album has a little bit of everything for everyone, and it cooks. 5/5

Gets an extra star for the memories.

This album marked an end of an era. There are no more popular garage rock bands and there hasn't been in a long time. White Blood Cells is a perfect mix of the indie, rock, and folk scene. The most amazing thing about this album, though, is the simplicity. It feels like anyone could've made this album, but The White Stripes got to it first and absolutely rocked it. Favorite Tracks: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Hotel Yorba, Fell In Love With a Girl, The Union Forever, We're Going to Be Friends, and I Think I Smell a Rat

01) Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground - 10,0 02) Hotel Yorba - 10,0 03) I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman - 9,0 04) Fell in Love with a Girl - 10,0 05) Expecting - 9,0 06) Little Room - 8,5 07) The Union Forever - 9,0 08) The Same Boy You've Always Known - 9,0 09) We're Going to Be Friends - 9,5 10) Offend in Every Way - 9,0 11) I Think I Smell a Rat - 9,0 12) Aluminum 9,0 13) I Can't Wait - 9,5 14) Now Mary - 8,5 15) I Can Learn - 8,5 16) This Protector - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,13 (91/100)

Songs i knew all of em Songs i like most of em I remember buying this from CD zone without even knowing who or what it was, a chance meeting based on the cover. Class album, such a raw sound and I'd heard nothing like it at the time. Always one in happy to go back to, low 5.

An absolute blues rock classic. While they may interest some people zero percent as a live act, their albums are generally pretty great and this is their best. It reminds me of the days of Napster, Limewire (Bearshare if you were a weirdo) and burning cd’s. Finding out the internet in Cambridge Halls was proper rapid and absolutely rinsing it with illegal downloads. Great times. As well as all the hard garage/blues rock, there’s some properly pretty stuff on here as well such as We Are Gonna Be Friends. I like how unpretentious some of the lyrics are - We Are Gonna Be Friends is literally just about a couple of kids making friends. I’m trying to find reasons not to give this 5/5 but I can’t, soz Pooie. Great riffs, great musicianship (Meg White is decent, actually) and great lyrics. Best Tracks: All the singles plus We Are Gonna Be Friends, Offend In Every Way, I Think I Smell a Rat

Two people should not be able to make this much noise. This band was so great. Perfect blend of punk, blues and rock. 5/5

A classic. Felt like revisiting my early teens.

can't underestimate the impact of when this came out. there was absolutely nothing else that sounded like it and it was brilliant

didn't think The White Stripes are THAT COOL

I forgot how stacked the first half of this album is, a lot of great garage rock / bluesy songs. This is my favorite White Stripes album out of the ones I've heard. Some of the later White Stripes albums kind of lose that raw bluesy feel that makes this album sound so great. I love how simple these songs are, but are all still really unique and never gets repetitive. There are a lot of great vocal melodies too. Low 5.

“I never said I wouldn't throw my jacket in the mud for you / But my father gave it to me so maybe I should carry you / Then you said ‘You almost dropped me’ so then I did / And I got mud on my shoes” So badass. Also this album made want to play guitar like Jack White. Among White Stripes’ best.

Im always impressed with how Meg and Jack always find a way to make complete sounds with their tiny arrangements…. And short song ideas. I think I liked the other white stripes album that we had already more There were a few times throughout the album that I found myself saying “OO that sounds like nirvana” or “that harmony mustve been inspired by alice in chains”. Favorites: Now Mary - beautiful vocals This Protector - love Jack on the piano Dead Leaves On The Dirty Ground - great riff and has that classic white stripes drum feel. Hotel Yorba - fun track

Fuck yes forever and ever

No skips

"If you can hear a piano fall, you can hear me coming down the hall" is such a cool line from an awesome song on a fantastic album. I don't know if this is my favorite White Stripes record, but I love it and I don't know if there are any others on the list, so 5 stars it is.

Undeniably one of the best rock bands of the 2000s, if not the best. 6 albums and only 1 i would say is a little less than excellent (and that 1 is on this list for some reason, and De Stijl isn't!). Such a fun and easy listen, the riffs and production are so raw and bluesy you can't help but love it. 'Fell in Love With a Girl' is an all time classic tune.

I’ve had this album since roughly around the time it was released. I was a HUGE White Stripes fan in high school but haven’t kept up with them (or really, Jack White) ever since. I loved this album and still do.

I really enjoyed this a lot. Every track is something different than the last. Jack and Meg just know how to write a great song. Some blues, some folk, some loud alternative garage rock bangers. Jack's vocals, though they may be a bit nasally, are awesome. The way he snarla the chorus on 'I Think I Smell A Rat', he just sounds cool as fuck, as does his harsh sounding, back to basics, stripped down guitar. 'Aluminium' is a perfect example, it's a loud and heavy hitting instrumental. I know people slate Meg's drumming. It's fine. It's simple yet effective and works in the context of the music. 'Union Forever' was my favourite. Really heavy in places, trippy sounding that turns almost into a creepy nursery rhyme in the middle. 40 minutes of music would be a good length if there's 8-10 tracks, but there's actually 16 here which works out to two and a half minutes per song on average. They clearly wanted to pack as many ideas in here as possible. Great album and I hope there is more.

Was going to give it a four since it isn't my usual taste but it was so good so 5. I love We're going to be friends, I'm listening to it again after finishing the album. My favorite of all for sure. I can't remember where I first heard it, tried figuring it out it feels soooo familar.

Very good

A favourite.

Knew this one and love this one! This really has been an iconic duo and had great influence on a whole genre imo.

I like them so this will be a pleasant listening experience

Hotel Yorba ....tears

Garage rock with a waning blues influence. Just guitar, drums, vocals, and some piano. Big rock n roll energy. Simple, catchy songs with some fuzzy riffs slapped on it. Feels somewhat haphazard and thrown together, which is the way it needed to sound. Not always consistent (first half is a good deal stronger than the second half), but the best songs are great and the worst songs are still fun.

This is the one. My favorite White Stripes album. The album that introduced me to one of my all time favorite artists/bands beyond just the big hits. I can never get tired of listening to this album. Something about it just hits so perfectly and I’ve been obsessed ever since my first listen. One of my favorite albums of all time.

Nice.

The White Stripes rule. From the first chords, you know it's going to be an experience. Everything has the same stripped down sound, in less talented hands every song might have sounded the same, not here though. Fell In Love With a Girl was the hit and the video was awesome. Fell In Love With a Girl is one of my favorite rock songs of all time, Joss Stone's cover of it is great too. There's a stripped down metal sound to this, like a garage band Black Sabbath feel. The lyrical conceit of The Union Forever is corny, but the music is cool. We're Going to Be Friends is a great song too. This album has everything: hits, sleeper singles, great album cuts.

Jack and Meg killing it again.

machtig...

Dead leaves and the dirty ground is a bloody amazing opening for an album!

Best white stripes album. Favorite track: We’re going to be friends other picks: dead leaves, hotel yorba, fell in love with a girl, offend in every way, i can’t wait

The White Stripes at the debut is the peak 2000's indie rock. It would change forms a few times after 2000. But its raw, barebones, simple, distorted, authentic. So good.

Love it! 5/5

THIS IS SO GOOD!

Rating: 9.5/10 One of the best albums of the 2000s and my favorite White Stripes album. The guitar riffs are infectious, the songwriting is consistently excellent, the dynamics are amazing, and the production is so raw. The definition of power in simplicity. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Least favorite song: Union Forever.

My favorite version of White Stripes.

classic. Every song was something novel and cool. None of the individual songs were ear worms, but the whole was amazing.

Great rock album

good rock album with lots of catchy sings

eles sao o momento mesmo, puta que pariu me lembra arctic monkeys (fell in love with a girl) n gostei de the same boy... A MUSICA DO TIKTOK (we're gonna be friends) i think i smell a rat fav se voce gosta de indie e rock voce definitivamente vai almoçar esse álbum.

Meg White is my generation's Ringo Starr

5/5

Un pugno in faccia, un esercizio di stile senza regole, libero e splendido.

I remember listening to this a long while ago. Throughout school, one of my closest friends was a bit obsessed with the White Stripes, which naturally made me extremely dismissive of them. Then I watched Napoleon Dynamite and fell in love with We’re Going To Be Friends, so decided to give it a listen. I love how big they can make the sound with minimal instruments. There are so many fantastic songs to be found here that I think this may be my favourite album of their’s. That’s a tough call though. Also, if you like this, try out The Inspector Cluzo too. They are also a duo on drums and guitar and are fantastic.

Lightning in a bottle!

Wow

4/5 but gets an extra star because I’ve actually listened to this one before lots of times. And since this is my list I’m allowed to show partiality

This is the best one

I love the raw emotion of this album. They do a lot with mostly two instruments. I actually like the way Meg White plays drums. I think she adds lots of emotion in her playing. Jack's a master! Liked songs added: - Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground - Hotel Yorba - Fell In Love With A Girl - We're Going To Be Friends

What a great album. So many fun, eclectic hooky songs. Didn't appreciate it when it first came, I'm sorry to say.

Already listened, bangin

Remember, it’s just two people doing this….

It’s just relentlessly rocking, amazing stuff. I could listen to these guys again and again.

Yaaaaaas

Still my favourite white stripes album

Probably haven't listened to this one in 15-20 years. This was *huge* in 2001 and while I loved it back in the day, I'm surprised at how well it holds up versus, say, The Black Keys. More polished than De Stijl, perhaps not quite as triumphant as Elephant, but the beginning of their reign as Garage king and queen. A diverse and well rounded album with not single a bad track.

This is my favorite White Stripes album, and Same Boy You’ve Always Known is one of my all-time favorite songs. Some tracks come across as a bit of a novelty now, but it’s still a really solid punk album.

Ugh, loud and boring. Are they married or brother and sister? Who knows, who cares. Black Keys wanna be, I know that!

I love this chunky sound. A perfect album all around in my opinion. Accomplishes everything it wanted to. Great production, not that the production itself is necessarily quality across the board, but that this is the perfect style of production for this album. The whole project feels original and uniquely loose and messy in the best way possible. Jacks voice is fantastic, especially when juxtaposed against his guitar and Megs blaring drums. The writing and lyrics are everything they need to be. There’s enough range on an album with sixteen songs. Even though they aren’t incredibly long, they each have their own personality that sets them apart from each other. Great work, Whites. 5/5

Dynamic, rough, varied and one that's in my vinyl collection

I burned this album UP in high school

good and feels kind of timeless

I really liked this. There's some variety and a wide range of emotions. A very strong album overall.

Every once in a while in this album project, I loudly exclaim “fuck yeah!” to myself when the album is revealed. That definitely happened with this one. Along with Elephant, this is one the Stripes’ two masterpieces. It’s some of the best rock and roll produced this century. I Fell In Love With A Girl is one of the all time bangers. Hotel Yorba is a man earworm, and who doesn’t love We Are Gonna Be Friends. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground is a perfect opener. Amazing.

Very good and exactly what I like. You can hear the instruments clearly and everything hits hard. Best song: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

Fantastic record. The White Stripes are one of my favorite bands! This is 6 stars out of five!

I’m very biased towards anything Jack White does. 5 stars.

The White Stripes reeled off an impressive run in their all-too-brief tenure, but this is their best. It's cohesive, but without compromise. Play it loud and stand back.

One of my all time favorite albums. I was going to say "I'll spare you most of the rhapsodizing" - but who am I kidding? I've sang along to "Fell In Love With a Girl" and "Hotel Yorba" and "We're Going to Be Friends" and "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" hundreds and hundreds of times and never get sick of them - the perfect marriage of economical songwriting and playing demanded either by limitation, circumstance, choice, or maybe all 3.

Before listening to this I was all "auto 5 star." But in revisiting it, there's a few songs I'm less fond of, and I was tempted to go 4 star. Still, I really love this crunchy, fuzzy blues rock album overall.

Excellent

What an excellent album. I had no idea so many iconic songs came from this album, with a couple that I didn't even realize were the Stripes. Excellent all the way through. Love Jack White's fuzz. Everything is simple and rockin'.

Simple stripped down rock n roll with a blues flair from the ground up. I could listen to this album multiple times in a row and not get bored with it.

white stripes - they haven't done one bad album...

❤️🤍❤️

Formative.

Total classic for my taste. I remember being taken completely off guard by 'We're Going to Be Friends', possibly the most unique and best song on this already great album. Also, look up the video for 'Fell In Love With a Girl'. It might seem quaint in today's age of CGI and AI, but at the time, it was really something, especially for a then more or less indie band.

Love Jack and his sister! Appreciate their genius in melody/writing. Unfamiliar with this album and I enjoyed listening/getting to know it.

Own

love it

Great! Just great!

I live in the Detroit area so the White Stripes were a huge deal here. This was the album that put them over the top. It was great when it came out and still sounds fresh today.

I mean, obviously.

I love The White Stripes, even though this isn't my favourite album of theirs I'd give it 5 stars for Fell in Love With a Girl alone (which has an awesome Music clip directed by Michel Gondry). Some other great tracks on here too (and some slightly meh ones) but I've always enjoyed their pared back approach to rock. Their red/white/black aesthetic particular appealed to me when I first started listening to them while in design school in the early 00s. I know lots of people love to hate Jack White, but I've always enjoyed the twangy raw grittiness he brought to the White Stripes music and Meg's solid yet sparse drumming. Uncomplicated and fun music

Discazo

Simple bluesy rock that works on so many levels.

Classic

This one influenced me a lot as a new guitarist in high school. Simple, raw, catchy.

Now this is the best white stripes' record. This was easily the best record of 2001. Grunge/alternative had slid all the way over to Nu Metal (;｀0´)═゜。 Jack black got us all back on track, just a beat up old drum kit and one kick ass guitar. I love this record.

increíble vale que rico rock

Powerful Duet

I was a little late to this when it came out and I wish my brain had latched onto it in the way that makes you lock yourself in your room with a guitar an amp and headphones but I guess I went the Sims and IMDb path instead.

right banger

While Elephant was the album that fostered my obsession with the White Stripes, White Blood Cells introduced me to their genius. It is a really great album.

That this whole album was recorded in just three days is absurd.

Guitars YEAH!! It's pretty incredible how much they get out of just a couple of instruments, plus the odd piano part. What's also notable is the variety on this album, White Stripes have a lot more going on than just crunching riffs. You never get bored with something different around the corner.

Had no clue this album was on here... glad it is. Well deserved.

Is this still brilliant or did I happen to have it when I was 16? I'm second guessing myself but I think brilliant

My kind of music. Jack white, such a creative weirdo.

Quintessential album that along with the Strokes helped spark the garage rock revolution of the early 2000s. The beginning of Jack White's impressive career.

3/26/24. Been on a hot streak with good albums as this is another all time favorite of mine and can play at any moment in any situation. Jack White is amazing, and the White Stripes will always bring me happiness. Yes, this is an extremely subjective review.

"fell in love with a girl" is probably one of the first songs i downloaded

What an album. Everything in this album worked for me. There's the hits I've heard a ton, like Dead Leaves, Hotel Yorba, and We're Gonna Be Friends. But I was really focusing more on the deeper cuts that I haven't really listened to before. Standouts for me are The Union Forever, Offend in Every Way, I Can't Wait, and This Protector. Nostalgic, hard rocking, and just flat out an awesome album that I really gravitate towards.

A beautiful banger

I bought this while driving around the Great Lakes with my now wife. This will always have a special place in my heart. And it’s awesome!

Good

Tonally raw and minimalistic, these songs and the duo's personality really shine through in this stark collection. White hit his stride on this album and it stands as a manifesto of putting in the work on songwriting and guitar-playing. Meg is the perfect drummer for this whose simplicity and personality elevates White perfectly. I can't imagine this album coming from anyone else, and that's why this is such a unique output.

I do not like Jack White by himself, but it's great when he's tempered by others (White Stripes, Raconteurs).

I want to inject this album into my veins

The OG record. Somehow never really listened to this one but loved their following records. So raw. Simple at times but punchy and fun. Grungy and I don’t care who reads this I like Meg White’s drumming

Easily 5 stars. This is one raw record, with a beautiful analog crunch and cave man beats. Definitely blues inspired. The honesty and imperfections make this an unsuitable record for mainstream, yet it's so damn good, it became mainstream anyway. Once in a great while an album is released and it changes everything. White Bloods Cells is one of those albums.

I've alredy mentioned that this is probably my favourite album, by probably my favourite band. At least my favourite lo-fi noise making band. This is probably the peak of the classic White Stripes sound. Just Jack and Meg. Just Guitar and Drums. There is 'Hotel Yorba'. There is 'Fell in Love with a Girl'. There is 'We're going to be friends'. And loads of other great tracks. Some later albums maybe had more flavours ... but the raw simplicity of these tracks is what makes me love them.

Amazing album . Big deal for me as a teenager Pretty much front to back great songs Hotel Yorba !

I think I’ve done a full listen before, but I don’t remember it very well. The hits are hits and the others are too!

SO GOOD

I can tell that we are gonna be friends. Nostalgia 5/5

I loveddd this. Hun stem, de sound, zelfs dat het almost lijkt of ze van genre wisselen binnen het album

Absolute magic.

This really is a jam packed album. "Dead Leaves" is a fantastic opener, and "Hotel Yorba" is an equally good chaser that sets up the breadth of song styling that will be featured. "Fell in Love With a Girl" is one of those songs where it's easy to forget how good it is. Great short little rocker. The only thing that might keep me from giving this a full 5 is some dead spots. "The Union Forever" and "I Think I smell a Rat" really drag with their tempo changes and wandering lyrics. I do not get the sudden shift into "A Certain Man" from Citizen Kane. But then you have "Same Boy You've Always Known" and "We're Going to Be Friends" which are 2 of my favorite White Stripes songs. I think the tie breaker is that I really can just sit down and devour this album without thinking. I only do that with albums that deserve 5 stars, so here it is: First Five Star Album. It has most of my favorite White Stripes songs, it's a fairly seminal album for its time, and it has almost as many standout tracks as "Revolver." It has great variety and it moves through even the frustrating patches.

It was a great album

One of their best. A+.

Excellent!

Great music all throughout album. 5/5

Geil

Awesome record. Handmade minimalistic rock!

i want to marry meg white

White Stripes are always enjoyable. Can be listened to over and over again.

Should listen to it again but I am rating it from memory because I've heard it plenty

the white stripes! YAY! So glad they made it to the 1001 best! They so deserve this!

A collection of exclusively very good songs with a high level of dynamism and coherence around them = a great album.

I'm partial two their first two records the most but this is another perfect album from the band. Still sees them experimenting and putting out interesting but simple blues/garage rock fusions. Outside of the general single stand outs (fell in love, dead leaves, hotel yorba, and friends). I'd reccomend "I think I smell a rat", "Offend in every way", "Little room" "expecting", "I'm finding it harder to be a gentelman every day", "I can learn." as other white stripes staples.

This is one of the most influential albums of my musical journey so it was interesting to see how it holds up after 20 odd years. Turns out it holds up bloody well! They haven't quite polished their sound yet but the rawness gives it a different quality to Elephants.

I remember when this came out and just how it took over the world. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing the white stripes

Really really great music. And they most likely took inspiration from Nick Drake, just try listening to Which Will and Hotel Yorba back to back. Would listen again.

These are some really good songs. I underestimated the songwriting when I heard this the first few times.

Still a classic...some of the shorter, more simple stuff doesn't hit like it used to, but I continue to dig it

I have so much respect for Jack White as a musician and guitarist, but other than seven nation army, I hadn't really ever listened to any of his other music. Listening to this album, I don't understand how anyone can even say Meg White is a bad drummer. She may not be the flashiest drummer but her parts fit all the songs extremely well.

Great album

Oh hell yes! Two people should not be able to make this much noise. This band was so great. Perfect blend of punk, blues and rock. Everything about this was a revolution when it came out, even the videos. So much of what came after is just a cheap imitation. The next album is even better, but this still worth a 5

Jack White rocks

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety on this album and I fell in love with a girl is a very good song

the beats are simple, but the song writing is deep/excellently written. Easy album for focused work... has an old school rock album vibe for me. I always liked the White Stripes but never listened to a full album. There are some gems on there better than the radio releases. I can't wait and We're going to be friends stick out to me.

Meg is one of my favorite drummers and I can never get enough of Jack White

Solid great album, good beats, original garage rock sound.

Start to finish a fabulous album. Rock. Simple, driving, boot stomping rock.

Love.

The White Stripes’ stuff is great! Fun to hear it again.

Fun, I have never listened to the full album.

Ushered in an era of lo-fi blues posers. That in itself is both unforgivable and welcome. Unusual, heavy, bare-bones, intense, and satisfying. Actual songs that don't overstay their welcome. Some raw emotion down at the end that sounds more bitter 20 years on. Great genre-defining album with one of the most interesting drummers ever.

Awesome album, i warmed up to it quick. Cool alt rock

I can still sing along with every one of these songs. Im dating myself here but I remember seeing the Fell In Love With A Girl video on MTV when it came out. Absolutely a perfect album to me.

Awesome af. Will listen many MANY more times 😝

I vividly remember the first time I played this album and heard the opening notes of "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground." It hooked me right away. A classic.

Close your eyes and imagine it's the year 2000, the radio is filled with Matchbox 20, Creed and Carlos Santana - and then "Fell in Love With a Girl" comes through the speakers and it feels like a meteor crashing into earth. Jack and Meg were a revolution. Both a throwback to the old stripped-down sounds of Delta Blues and Garage Rock, and simultaneously sounding like the future of rock music. Loved this

I remember being blown away by this album. I had never heard anything like it before and loved every minute. Relistening for the first time in a while brought back some great memories but also reaffirmed that this is a great album.

Iconic album. Came on the scene and just took over.

i am of the age where the white stripes were very popular during my formative years, so of course, i have listened to them a lot in my life, this album included. ultimately, i don't think this is my favorite white stripes album, but it's still pretty great. as fresh as ever, but being nitpicky, i think the songwriting on this one is not as strong as on others. i still love this album a lot!

Fantastic Rock’Roll record. Love the dirty distorted guitar and heavy drums mixed in with groovy blues. 9/10.

Loved this. Made me think of the early 2000s movies

Favorite Tracks: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Hotel Yorba, I'm Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman, Fell In Love With a Girl, Expecting, Little Room, Union Forever, We're Going to Be Friends, I Think I Smell a Rat, Aluminum, I Can Learn

One of my faves growing up. Still is.

Their first or second beat album

When the first White Stripes album was released, it was like nothing else on the radio or in music stores (which is how we got our music then). The minimalist rock harkened to an earlier of understated underground and punk yet felt fresh and not the least retro. Still, there were no breakout songs for the mainstream to hang on to. The same was true for the followup De Stijl. This changed with White Blood Cells. Not only had The White Stripes refined their sound, and made it bigger and bolder, they had a hit single in Fell in Love with a Girl to drive it into the mainstream. The next album was even bigger, but White Blood Cells transformed the band from an interesting cult band to a sensation.

perfect

Easy 5

4.7/5

Awesome album, has been one of my favorites for a long time. Raw.

Musical Style and Innovation: "White Blood Cells" is characterized by its raw, minimalistic sound, and its innovative approach to rock music. The White Stripes, comprised of Jack White (vocals, guitar, and piano) and Meg White (drums), create a powerful, garage-rock sound that combines bluesy influences with a punk sensibility. Their stripped-down approach to instrumentation was distinctive at the time, and it allowed Jack White's distinctive guitar work and Meg White's primal drumming to shine. Lyrics and Themes: The album's lyrics are often introspective, heartfelt, and sometimes cryptic. Jack White's songwriting is a key feature, and the lyrics touch on themes such as love, alienation, and personal struggles. Songs like "Fell in Love with a Girl" and "We're Going to Be Friends" showcase their ability to tell relatable and emotionally charged stories. Key Tracks: "Fell in Love with a Girl": This high-energy, two-minute burst of punk-infused rock is a standout track. It's a catchy and infectious anthem that remains one of their most iconic songs. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground": The album's opening track sets the tone with its heavy, bluesy guitar riff and emotionally charged lyrics. "Hotel Yorba": A more acoustic and folk-infused track, it adds a bit of variety to the album's sonic palette. "We're Going to Be Friends": A simple, charming acoustic song that reflects the album's overall charm and warmth. Production and Sound Quality: The album's production is intentionally lo-fi, which enhances the raw and unpolished nature of The White Stripes' sound. This gives the album an authentic and genuine feel, making the listener feel like they are in a garage jamming with the band. Impact and Influence: "White Blood Cells" played a significant role in the resurgence of garage rock and alternative music in the early 2000s. Its impact was felt across the rock music scene, and The White Stripes gained widespread recognition as a result. Jack White's guitar work and Meg White's distinctive drumming style inspired many aspiring musicians. Critics and Awards: The album received critical acclaim and was included in numerous year-end and decade-end best album lists. It was also nominated for Grammy Awards and eventually went platinum. Critics praised its authenticity and the band's ability to make a powerful impact with a minimalistic approach. In conclusion, "White Blood Cells" by The White Stripes is a landmark album in the early 21st-century rock music landscape. Its raw and minimalist sound, combined with emotionally charged lyrics, created a distinctive and influential work of art. The album's impact on the music world, its innovative approach, and the enduring popularity of its key tracks cement its status as a classic in the rock genre.

Great album. Hadn't heard it in forever!

Easy 5, classic hits. Napoleon Dynamite is responsible for me discovering this band and album. I'll never forget the day Jack White told me to "fuck off" after I saw him live. I kinda deserved it for bringing this album to a Solo (Jack White) show and waited outside the venue, and didn't buy VIP meet n Greet, and security already told me to leave but it was on the sidewalk in public...

Love this band

This is a very fun album

YES this album just kills from front to back. So many of their most iconic songs and zero filler. Love it.

Un 5/5 sans même y réfléchir. Album écouté un nombre incalculable de fois, et qui mérite tout à fait sa place dans la liste (comme tous les autres des White Stripes). A la réécoute, zéro recul critique, c'est toujours excellent, et c'est si bien et si punchy que ça met de bonne humeur.

One of my all time faves

cet album est incr, Dead leaves & Offend in every way, giga bangers

Fabulous

Their 3rd album but this was their big break through. Was in heavy rotation in the early 2000's for me and still holds up all these years later. Shout out to Citizen Kane! Highlight: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground Fell In Love With a Girl We're Going to Be Friends I Think I Smell a Rat

JUST : YES YES YES

A great album. Love the garage band vibes. Kept my energy up while working.

I was never really sure of the White Stripes back in the early 2000s but listening with 20-odd years of experience gives an interesting perspective. Lots of catchy guitar hooks and Meg's at times frenetic drumming maintain interest throughout. A great album!

Jack White is eternally cool. I will throw on an album by the White Stripes, from his solo career, or the majority of his side projects at the drop of a hat. Despite not being a fan of most blues music, Jack brings an edge to it. The way his guitar snarls will never not be badass to me. White Blood Cells once stood as my favourite WS album. The second half of the album blends together a little more for me, but that first half...wow. While their first two albums were promising, WBC really shows just how strong just a guitar and drums can sound. This is a 4.5 star album, but there's no way in hell I'm rounding down.

2 Music of lindo bardo

I love this album so much lol

Best album ever!!!

upbeat 🔥🔥

I genuinely think I've listened to this 200 times. A seminal album for my middle / high school experience. 4.5/5

I really enjoyed it! Lots of fun and definitely worth the listen for me. 4.5

loved it

The best and most consistent album by the white stripes!

I’m a simple man. I see The White Stripes I give 5 stars.

Yeah!!! The one that put them on the map, solid record front to back, I do find myself going back to the first two more often but this one right here is a stone cold classic!

Thump thump, perfect

I think Elephant might be their best single album, but this is a damn close second. Dead Leaves, Fell in Love with a Girl (and one of Gondry's best music videos, natch), We're Going to be Friends... White Stripes is one of my go-to examples for constraints yielding creativity. Jack and Meg make the absolute most of what they got. Jack goes on with his raconteurs, and it's not the same. More instruments, to be sure, but that project looses the primal vitality of the White Stripes. Anyone who piles on Meg for sub-par drumming doesn't understand the point of a drummer. Does she keep the beat? Yes. Does her contribution add musically to the composition. Hell yes. Meg white is a great drummer. Weird Al covers (pastiches) Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground with his CNR song. That's some high praise no matter how you slice it.

Garage rock with depth. Not a bad combo. The White Stripes perfected their formula on this one. The sound may be sparse, but it is cranked up to 11 in the best ways. This is particularly true for Meg's drumming, while simplistic at times, put the shake in the shake, rattle and roll. And I am a big fan of putting the sweet We're Going to Be Friends smack in the middle of all of the ruckus. I will hold off the if The White Stripes get one slot is it this or Elephant for a later date.

What a banger! Jack white is a genius and proves it again with this record

Own on Vinyl

This is the best White Stripes album, and one of the greatest of the 2000's. Fight me.

This is the sound of a grimy but friendly alleyway in middle America. Full of life, love, and soul but with a little bit of grit. I love it.

You could listen to this and Is This It and you’d have a pretty good understanding of the basis of all guitar music for the last 20 years. It’s crazy that those two albums came out in the same year cuz they are both so innovative. You can name a variety of influences on Jack White but there really isn’t a clear predecessor to this album. It’s where they found their sound and it was totally unique to them. I love the roughness and energy to this album so much and how it combines two totally different genres of blues and punk. The drumming and lack of bass is what makes it so unique too cuz it’s very sparse instrumentally but that forces them to hit everything so much harder. Little room is also one of my favorites of theirs cuz I think it perfectly sums up the goal of the white stripes. It’s about as stripped back as you can be and is singing about making music just for yourself. But I think the important point that it makes is that you don’t need the best gear, studio, or even a full band to make good music you just need to play it hard and mean it. 👍:fell in love, dead leaves, we’re gonna be friends

The White Stripes are amazing, and this album is peak White Stripes (although all of their work is great). It's loose, raw, and hard-hitting. The space between the notes is just as important as the notes themselves. Classic. 5 stars.

Love this album

in the wise words of lady gaga- "talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before"

Sorry

Pretty fantastic album.

Been a fan of this one for like 30 years.

Favorite Song(s): Fell in Love With a Girl, I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman Not only was the rock sound great, I loved the lyricism! "These two sides of my brain need to have a meeting" (Fell in Love With a Girl), "What a season/To be beautiful/Without a reason" (Now Mary), and "I'm coming through the door/But they're expecting more/Of an interesting man" (Offend in Every Way) are all fantastic. I will definitely listen to this album again!

EPIC

I think definitely the best White Stripes album of all time, perfect mixture of fat riffs and a little bit of tendernes. The man can fkn shred.

Flawless

Fantastic album.

Another catchy garage rock album that takes me back to early adulthood. I cant remember how many times I've listened to this album and now I can add one more play to my list. I don't think I will ever not love this album and will enjoy it every time it's on.

Easily my favorite WS album. At the turn of the century, they were the stripped down simplicity that the aging 90s “alternative scene needed! If you agree, I can tell we are gonna be friends…

I love this album. Perfect timing when it was released to get on the raw rock wave of the early 00s

Bombin' classic

10/10 I really couldn’t tell you which one I like for, this or Elephant they’re both so fun and iconic, with bangers throughout The White Stripes are such a talented band, I love those two with all my heart ❤️

Wow, I just listened to this on my own last week. One of my favorites in my lifetime, this is the album that introduced me to the White Stripes. After a critical re-listen I'll resign to call this a soft 5. It's a real solid album overall, but there's a few stinkers mixed in there. The White Stripes have better albums as well. But I'll lean it to the 5 because of the impact it had at the time.

Dejligt. Lækkert. Fedt at kunne både holde det oppe og nede med så korte mellemrum.

Fantastic album from start to finish. Really engaging and listenable. A brilliant length that felt like half the time. A new band on my radar, time to listen to their back catalogue!!

Best White Stripes album. Is there even an argument?

Yep

Superb

Love, love, love. The White Stripes manage to be such an obvious amalgamation of instantly recognisable sounds - the harsh growl of Creedence swamp rock and Muddy Waters meeting The Cramps via Paul McCartney - but it’s always unmistakably their sound. This was exactly the shot in the arm that indie music needed at the turn of the millennium and nobody has equalled the raft of great songs they produced, though many have tried. A bit like Motörhead in that they don’t deviate too much from their formula, but it is a really great formula. I gave Elephant a 4 for its slightly off production, but this is the best White Stripes album, and deserving of a 5 in my book.

<3

Good music and lyrics.

love the whole album

A classic album that brought garage rock back to the mainstream. Every song is good, and many are paragons of the genre.

The performances are honestly not great. Not that it matters. This duo were on a mission to save rock music from the dire condition it was left in at the turn of the millennium.

A Tom Certified®️Classic

Maybe their best album? Meg rocks so hard on this.

Done it before (in fact it was my first album!) so repeat review. Already loved it. Saw them at Glastonbury and it blew my mind how much of a racket 2 people could make, and the stage presence. The Union Forever is a tune.

Very punky early 2000s vibes love love love it

Fuck yeah to the whole damn thing.

I can't be neutral with White Stripes. I love his sound. This one isn't my favourite but I loved it anyway

Great album. Had no idea they played " i can tell that we are going to be friends." Doesnt sound like their style

Top 10 essentials of the 2000s First heard of White Stripes from the Fell In Love With a Girl video. While I think I do like Elephant a bit better than this, this one is incredible for the energy and arrangements. I watched a couple of videos breaking down Meg Whites drumming style and had a greater appreciation for her contributions to White Stripes sound. And I think it’s why I just haven’t connected with any other of Jack Whites projects.

прослушано

When The White Stripes were at their apex, I couldn't see their appeal. I thought their "retro-rock" was a regression, nothing more. Seeing them live made me understand a little better what they were all about. Now, decades later, I *do* get how important they were. Rock kept moving forward, no matter what. It's just that looking into the past is *also* actually important if you want to move forward. This band represents the best of that transition the early aughts needed to go through. Some of the acts representing that transition were not as skilled as the White Stripes were when it came to leave an imprint in listeners' minds, that's all. Those lesser bands are the ones that just signified a fad, nothing more. In comparison, Jack and Meg White had a distinct sound, as well as timeless songs. You just can't beat that. That's why they deserve their place in this list... Number of albums left to review: 709 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 146 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 70 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 81

Perfect album

A straight up 5, no doubt - three of the first four tracks are absolute bangers, and more than 75% of the remainder album had me going "oh yeah, I love this one too". Fave track - "Fell In Love With A Girl" and "Hotel Yorba"

p878. 2001. 5 stars Gorgeous, stripped down guitar rock with quality tunes. There is a direct line from this back to 50s Sun Records Elvis. What's not to like?

The White Stripes is one of my favorite bands that I forget to listen to for months...However, I am surprisingly amazed by some songs when I return to them. I know that sometimes their rawness is not so well digested by our ears, but I can't dislike them.

Short sharp songs...this album always makes me happy. I would say the best White Stripes album.

Banger! Peak early aughts indie rock

Brilliantly original and distinctive.

Great rock album!

Will always remember this as my first favorite album. Excellent! A classic that I always love revisiting!

Front to back, this album hits in all the right ways. You can see why The White Stripes are held in such high regard.

Unbelievable.

J'ai vraiment souvent écouté cet album dans les années 2005ish... Pour moi, s'écoute toujours aussi bien. Ç'a toujours été ma préférence, les trucs rythmés et "sales"

A true classic and a great debut

I genuinely think I’ve listened to “Fell In Love With a Girl” more times in my life than any other song in existence. The rest of the album is just as up to snuff, a genuine rock masterpiece.

“Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” “I’m Finding it Harder to Be a Gentleman” and “Fell in Love With a Girl” are classics. “Little Room” is such a great quick one. The a way Meg White smashes the cymbals relentlessly captures what’s so great about her as a drummer - simple, direct, hard hits. She keeps time with an attitude. “We’re Going to Be Friends” is a wonderful little ditty. Jack White is such a gifted songwriter - he can write big rock anthems, blues songs and pleasant melodies like this. And all of them will get stuck in your head for years. There are a lot of songs packed into 40 minutes here so we also get some oddball numbers like “I Think I Smell a Rat” and experimental stuff like “Aluminum.” Eclectic album that rocks hard!

"Fell In Love With A Girl" is my favorite White Stripes song, and is one of my favorite rock songs. So much crazy energy and excitement on top of a flat out simple and incredible song with just the melody and harmony. I love "Hotel Yorba" as a second track. Acoustic guitar driven but still full of movement and upbeat kick drum pedaling that doesn't stray too far from their sound while also giving some contrast. "We're Going To Be Friends" (which I've been misremembering as "I Can Tell That We Are Gonna Be Friends") is amazing. Love this album cover too. What are the people in black doing? This was their last record that was independently released- is there something here with the record industry?

Who hasn’t heard of The White Stripes? Even if you can’t name them directly, you have 100% heard their music. What’s fascinating though, is that this album predates a lot of the big radio hits that stick in the zeitgeist like Seven Nation Army. But digging down a bit more, I love hearing the core blues and folk influence that Jack White carries with him; the acoustic track We’re Going to Be Friends or even the lighter mood of I’m Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman stand out from the headbangers they’re known for. Top song pick upon first full listen is We’re Going to Be Friends. I heard it for the first time live recently and it’s just stuck with me. It’s a lovely acoustic ballad that leaves you longing for the innocent days of school.

I can hear a lot of the songs in later albums foreshadowed in this one.

Obviously everyone knows The White Stripes because of Seven Nation Army, and I'd heard some of their other stuff like I Fell in Love With a Girl. However, this album was not what I was expecting. The mix of genres or just feels was reminiscent of why I fell in love with another band, Gorillaz. I also had no idea that We're Gonna Be Friends was by them, so that was quite a surprise.

"White Blood Cells" is the third album from the Detroit duo The White Stripes consisting of Jack and Meg White. This album was recorded in essentially four days with songs purposely unorganized and propelled them to commercial success. This is strip-down raw, garage rock using only guitars, drums and sometimes also a piano/organ. It was a change from their two previous albums which had more blues influences. 16 songs each clocking in between one to three minutes. This is a fantastic album sounding a lot like the MC5 and other 60's bands but definitely The White Stripes. The lyrics are about love, hope, betrayal and paranoia. The album title and cover parody mainstream popularity and the media by being attacked photographers (cover) symbolized by white blood cells in the title. The album starts with my two favorite White Stripes' songs. Guitar feedback leads off "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" which then continues with that raw guitar and Meg's drums. Excellent use of the loud-soft-loud dynamic. Great lyrics about the ending of a relationship. The fun continues with "Hotel Yorba" and acoustic guitar and rolling, rollicking beat. The title based an actual hotel a few block away from where Jack White grew up. A love song. A great raw (used a lot here) and 60's guitar starts and continues their biggest song "Fell in Love with a Girl." At 1:50, it ends before you knew what hit you. The second half continues the great songs. Really no bad songs here. "The Same Boy You've Always Know" begins with a slower pace. Great guitar melody. Another song about the ending of a relationship. "We're Going To Be Friends" is a slower song with an acoustic guitar. Almost ballad territory. A simple song about school and friends. Playful lyrics. Another personal favorite is "Aluminum" with distorted guitars, feedback and screaming. Just when you thought it's time for them to let up, it's not. "White Blood Cells" is high up on many of the best albums of the 2000's and rightfully so. This simmers from start to finish. I think it's probably their best but I like a few others quite a bit too. A very high recommendation.

I love this album

Jack White to the Rescue! I am a moderate White Stripes and Jack White's fan. I used to listen to the more famous songs and I was never interested in looking into their older stuff. But what a pleasure it was to listen to 'White Blood Cells'! It was like a more garage version of their pampered popular songs like 'Seven Nation Army' and 'The Hardest Button to Button', or 'Doorbell'. I feel like this album was meant to be a white canvas for Jack White's stream of consciousness. Many short songs, interlays, stories with couple notes here and there on the guitar, piano, or as sparse drum-work as possible. Somehow it all works and makes for a great album. Is it White's confidence? Or maybe his reputability? Or maybe just his honesty, dipped with a massive amount of talent? Whatever it was, I will come back to this album again and again. It's hard to pick up any song from this album to outline it with more details. I think this is a case of a sort of concept album without a concept, and the songs should be reconised as one. And if that is the case, then it was a really good song with variety of styles, chaotic, sweet, slow, but with Jack's name all over it.

A regret in my life is that I never saw The White Stripes live. I could have seen them a few times during their career but I never did. Obviously I can go see Jack White now but it isn't the same. Him and Meg were such a special union and it's a shame that Meg suffered so much from anxiety. The energy and music these two could make always impresses me and I'm always discovering something new I like about them even after 15 years. A fantastic album through and through.

Teenage classic

Great album. Had heard several songs before but the whole album was fantastic. Would listen again.

It’s so good

This was really good; some of their best stuff is on this album. Some of the songs sound a little the same, so probably a true 4.5, but I'm continuing to round up.

An absolute classic!

Perfect indie rock. Like a roadtrip of punchy, catchy songs. Love it.

i can tell that we are gonna be friends.

Can't believe how this album must have sounded before the Jack White copycats started up. Great raw sound, a classic for sure.

Absolutely brilliant album

I do, have and always will love this band. This album features some absolute bangers. IF you’ve never listened to it in full. It is high time you do! A masterwork of early 21st century rock. One that basically lifted garage rock to the forefront.

This album made me rethink all my other ratings

this album is so good. i will keep listening to it forever and ever. the white stripes are so weird and so good.

I love the raw energy that the white stripes had on these first few albums.

Excellent

One of the albums that defibrillated guitar rock.

God damn this album’s sound is something else. And packed with great songs too.

BANGERS!

Classic. Helped revitalize the hard rock genre.

very cool

Ainda quero terminar de ouvir

Fucking hell, what an album this is. Still a regular listen. This album is fairly simplistic and by no means perfect but that is a huge part to why it is so special. if you were to re-record these songs played perfectly and extensively produced it would be a poor album. what we have here is jack white displaying the thing he has that is almost impossible to put a finger on without using the sould destroying phrase X factor.

A classic that I always love revisiting

Wow, what an introduction to The White Stripes for me. Don't know how I never listened to them sooner, but it feels criminal. The album just made me smile like I haven't smiled at an album for a long time. It was a warm, comfy rock album, and every song managed to hit all the right notes with me. Super impressed and will be checking out more by The White Stripes.

It’s easy to forget sometimes that there’s only two people on this record

Already loved this album. 5/5 I don't know if I can be objective about it. 1. I love all the songs, even the "weird" ones. Little Room, Aluminum, Expecting (less weird, but still) are all great. 2. I think I prefer the back half of the album overall, but that's because those songs are underappreciated. Favorite Songs: Same Boy You've Always Known Offend in Every Way Now Mary This Protector Hotel Yorba Finding It Hard To Be a Gentleman

It's cool to be rough around the edges and imperfect, so long as you do it with a bilge full of panache

What a great album. The opening riff hooks you and not a single song lets go. Jack White at some of his creative best.

Excellent album

Decent early naughties rock album

2021.12.17

Iconic white stripes album. love many of the songs and the whole album is on theme.

White Stripes are such a sound. The vocals, guitar and drums are all so recognisable as the White Stripes . I ruddy love it. Jack White is one of the best guitarists.

7th December 2021 Listened on the record player while working before Kate, Gareth, Ben and Nilisha came round for dinner. Just explodes into your world. Raw, reverential, tender, poetic, sublime.