Reviews (page 6 of 15)
Paljon joko absurdeja tai "halpoja" riimejä. Särökitararoimetta - hyvää mutta kuluttavaa kuunneltavaa.
Fell in love with a girl is still great and you can see the seeds of their future greatness
not for me tbh
My introduction to the White Stripes. Tons of killer tunes on this one.
Not my favourite White Stripes record, but it’s not bad by any means. I think I just hold a higher standard for their music and nothing from here really stood out and as a whole just kind of blended together
Great straight forward garage rock n roll
This is tough to rate, my heart says 5 but my mind says low 4 so I'll split the difference with a high 4. Treasure trove of white stripes classics
3.2
ehh for a rock album it didnt really have that vibe idk. Very mid
2/5. Listened to a few tracks but it didn’t grab me.
Vocals kinda killed it for me and electric guitar solos don’t do a lot for me.
Well, it just sounds like the white stripes and it gives the impression of being one monotonous song rather than a coherent album. It’s okay but nothing special.
Some really fantastic music but just a little bit too unpolished
Musik nichts besonderes? Aber interessante Backstory der Band (habe etwas auf Wikipedia geschmökert)
For me, The White Stripes' 2001 album, "White Blood Cells", while perhaps not reaching the arbitrary status of "essential" listening, is a very good collection of songs. The defining characteristic of "White Blood Cells" is its striking simplicity and raw, guitar-driven sound. The instrumentation is intentionally sparse, yet powerfully effective. The album is dominated by Jack White's guitar work, which ranges from driving, rhythmic passages (sometimes feeling percussive in nature) to moments of thick, sonically fuzzy distortion. Meg White's drumming is a lesson in simple but effective percussion. Her playing is distinctive, providing the perfect, often rudimentary, backbone that serves the songs without ever overcomplicating them. Jack White's distinctive vocals are also central to the album's identity. His delivery is often 'strained' but this perfectly suits the music, and the vocal melodies are consistently well-crafted and engaging. The tracks pull from a compelling blend of influences, rooted firmly in garage rock but incorporating touches of country, folk, and blues. This eclectic mix gives the album a broader sonic palette than its minimal setup might suggest. A hallmark of the album is its brevity. Many of the tracks are concise, punchy statements, contributing to the album's energetic pace and reinforcing the "less is more" ethos. This structural simplicity adds to the fun, playful atmosphere that surfaces throughout, perhaps most notably in tracks like "Little Room." The individual songs on White Blood Cells vary in quality, but at their best, they reach an "Excellent" level of raw, stripped-down rock. Even the "fine/good" tracks contribute positively to the overall feel. It's an album that commands respect for its uncompromising vision and influential sound, successfully proving that musical power doesn't require complexity. It may not be essential (IMHO), but it is a fun, enjoyable listen. Four stars. Standout tracks - "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground", "Fell in Love with a Girl", "The Same Boy You've Always Known" Side one 1 "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" (5/5) 2 "Hotel Yorba" (5/5) 3 "I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman" (4/5) 4 "Fell in Love with a Girl" (5/5) 5 "Expecting" (3/5) 6 "Little Room" (3/5) 7 "The Union Forever" (4/5) 8 "The Same Boy You've Always Known" (5/5) Side two 9 "We're Going to Be Friends" (4/5) 10 "Offend in Every Way" (4/5) 11 "I Think I Smell a Rat" (4/5) 12 "Aluminum" (3/5) 13 "I Can't Wait" (3/5) 14 "Now Mary" (4/5) 15 "I Can Learn" (4/5) 16 "This Protector" (4/5) Total - 64 Average - 4 183/1001 100/183 albums reviewed were new to me.
BYD, München, Deutschland. Leckere Scheibe.
Really great gritty and bluesy guitar and drums with some of the most annoying wimpy proto-incel lyrics repeated ad nauseum. seriously the amount of songs that come across as 'weird about women ' or 'being a man is so cool and edgy' is too much for me to handle. if there is a deeper critique of masculinity then its buried too deep for me to see
No notes 10/10 Jack White is brilliant.
Great
Not an album I would gravitate towards but if it played in the background i wouldn’t be bothered
The beginning of an era.
Banger
Great album, love The White Stripes
This is the best White Stripes record but it is close. The first three - with this being the third - on Sympathy for the Record Industry, are what made White Stripes great. Here White Stripes are the embodiment of garage rock. All attitude and rock history woven through these tracks which sounds full despite their being no bass. Fell In Love With a Girl is a perfect pop song and the standout on this record. But it is close. Opener Dead Leaves and the The Dirty Ground has a great riff and Meg’s drumming is simple and perfect and is a close second to Fell In Love With a Girl for timeless performance. Hotel Yorba has endless potential as a tempo change could give the song new meaning but on this version, played as hootenanny favorite, the energy is powerful. For a record costing $4,000 to record, the production is perfect with the sounds crisp, the vocals clean and the energy between the two palpable. Sure, there are a couple of throwaway tracks but in revisiting the album, Aluminum and I Smell A Rat somehow are a bridge to the rest of the record and keep the record a little experimental- like a couple of B-sides added to fill out the experience. Some will say that Elephant is the better record, but in my not too humble opinion, this is the record that is the perfect mix of garage and pop with the rough edges on this record distinguishing it from the overproduced Elephant record. 24 years on this is the album I still play precisely because it is not all sugar. Jack and Meg together are The White Stripes and this album, recorded after their divorce, demonstrates Meg’s commitment to Jack. Listen to the Union Forever and tell me that Jack isn’t more alive with Meg a presence across the drum kit. How does Jack let his emotions run rampant with the woman he just divorced a few feet away? This record is clearly a personal record about the end of his marriage and where Jack stands in relation to Meg. In short, it’s a compelling listen. Same Boy You’ve Always Known is perhaps not quite the truth but expressive and heartfelt. We’re Going To Be Friends seems to bring resolution to the grief of a breakup to an approach to move forward. White Blood Cells is still raw after all these years and a worthy addition to a list of 1001 albums. It belongs not because it is inventive but rather because it is a masterclass in execution.
Less of a guitar hero record than I remembered, but so stacked with garage bangers that I keep going back to. Not my favorite of their records but probably my favorite vibe from the band. Rounding up from a 9/10.
i remember this one coming out!!
Nearly a perfect album. Toward the end it starts to get a little filler-y, but otherwise a great record! Once I’m done with my personal Zevon dive, The Stripes might be next!
I can still remember when the video to “Fell In Love With A Girl” premiered. All of a sudden, the kids who’d grown disenchanted with the pop schlock being pushed onto us by the very media angle, had a band- a REAL rock band- to look up to and obsess over. And they had grit, unlike The Strokes and various other NY “Neu Wave” bands making their appearance at the time. The resurgence of the Detroit Sound was a much needed breath of fresh air for us middle of nowhere kids still in love with rock n roll. We discovered so much cool music through The White Stripes, and this album was kind of the start of that era. Can’t believe how nostalgic these songs made me, or that I hadn’t listened to them in years before today. It was a nice day to time travel.
Raw, gritty, distinctive. Love it or hate it, this is true rock n roll.
Sounds way after it's years. Heavy 60s sound. Starts with a few really catchy tracks, gets a little experimental as it goes. Probably an album that takes a few listens to really get, and I'll give it that eventually. But a good album even on first listen. Surprising I've never given these guys a chance before.
Oh this was class. Some classic bangers here plus some I haven't heard that really resonated with me. Another album that I can't believe I didn't listen to earlier.
Is this the best album by the band? If you’d asked me before today, I would’ve picked Elephant or Get Behind Me Satan. But this is really a contender! The band truly found its sound here, and so many of the songs—especially the first few—are outstanding.
While this was good, it felt a little forced at times. Somewhat pretentious
There were a few nice, catchy songs on the album. But it didn't feel like it all came together as a unified album. Not terrible.
Fav: Hotel Yorba Least Fav: Aluminum The best White Stripes album
My most favourite album ever. It combines the rawness of the first 2 albums but slightly more polished
Troisième album de WS proposé par la liste. Celui-ci ne fait que confirmer mon avis : ce groupe est terriblement surcoté. Je n'en est rien retiré d'intéressant. Du rock basique sans aucune originalité, le tout sur 16 morceaux qui m'ont parus interminables. Ah si, voici un point positif : c'est enfin le dernier album de ce groupe ... =>2/5
Really enjoyed the garage rock, low sound quality and pure concentrated focus
They could never make me hate you, The White Stripes, but this album probably could have had several tracks removed. It is an excellent garage rock record overall, though, and it does experiment with a range of sounds I enjoyed.
I completely understand why this album is recommended to listen to before you die. I’ll definitely listen to it again. My favorites: - Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground - Hotel Yorba - The Same Boy You’ve Always Known - We’re Going To Be Friends - Offend In Every Way - I Can’t Wait
The White Stripes were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame a couple of weeks ago, and they’re included on this list, so clearly someone is hearing something I’m not. I get the overall idea of the band, the stripped down garagey rock n roll that seems like it’s best appreciated in a small, crowded, and sweaty room, but it never comes together for me. Jack White has some interesting lyrics from time to time here, but overall I get the feeling of pastiche that’s filtered through the idiosyncrasies of a two piece band. I appreciate that Jack White is a huge music fan and has used his platform to promote a lot of lesser-known bands, but that doesn’t make me like this any more.
Das erste was ich von denen außer 7NA höre
Fängt schwach an, wird immer besser gegen ende
eternally iconic i love the white stripes
I enjoyed this album was never into the white stripes before I prefer the longer songs with more continuity
This is a banger, I a starting to really love White Stripes
Fantastic bluesy/garage rock. Two genres I generally am not huge on, but The White Stripes knock it out of the park. Well deserved induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And I'll defend Meg White's drumming until the end of time. Sure, she's not technically the best drummer, but she is exactly what The White Stripes needed. Put any other drummer in her spot, and the band would be demonstrably worse, and it'd be worse by many factors. Hit after hit after hit with great deep cuts like The Union Forever. Great record.
I think that this is probably the perfect distillation of what The White Stripes offer at their best even though I do think the highs in _Elephant_ are high! There’s a raw energy here that they start to late from this point but the tunes are also undeniable. Probably my fave of theirs which is not something I would always have said
This band are talented and occasionally exciting but overall it's just a dull record.
Probably my favourite White Stripes album. Not got the snarl of Elephant, but a fun one to go over, and one of theirs that I find I need to be less "in the mood for" than, say, Icky Thump. Musically Jack White's doing his thing on the guitar. He's a great guitarist, but I'm always amazed by how simple most of his riffing is. Man just understands how to make the guitar sound musical (in a scuzzy, tube-amp, blues-rock way). Meg does great work with the rhythm section in a similarly sparse, amateurish way. The best of their American-Gothic-garage-rock is fully on display here. Lyrically they always remind me a lot of the Pixies. They've got a similar fascination with the Midwest, and the violence, weirdness, anger, and sexuality lurking in the suburbs. Their songs often seem to inhabit some sort of cross-over universe of "Napoleon Dynamite" and "In Cold Blood" (with maybe a bit of Texas Chainsaw mixed in for good measure). However, this one has some more innocent, wholesome moments than their later albums do. Less screeching about using voodoo dolls to make babies stop crying, and some genuinely vulnerable moments sprinkled in. Still, not a five for me because, as with all their stuff, this does have a bit of a "nice to hear it every once in a while, but not regularly" feel.
I’m the right age and have the right tastes that I should have been super into the White Stripes in the 2000s but I just wasn’t. So now, 20+ years later, I’m discovering that I really like White Stripes. This one is a bit more raw than their later stuff, but would still be at home in an iPod commercial in 2002. It’s not a bad thing, iPod commercials used to have some cool music in them.
SO GOOD!
Not their best but they're finding their sound.
Some real bangers
I like this more than Elephant. Many bangers on here. 4 Heard before? Some songs Owned: No: 29/116 (25%) Will I get?
Second half of this album is better, although I might have just gotten used to the grating vocals. Can't justify more than 3.
Forgot how good this one is
Their best album?
Far stranger than expected with a lot of half-formed experiments and peculiar songs. But when they kick out a jam, it’s a rush.
Just a great album
There is a specific type of Gen X/Millennial who never shuts up about The White Stripes or Jack White. I am not one of them and I wish these people would piss off.
Stick to seven nation army gentlemen Favorite track: Hotel Yorba
Love the distorted mic and guitar, makes them sound like The MC5 or The Animals. Also love that this was probably an album about divorce when reviews for the albums were still calling them siblings. Listened to this a few times throughout the day and was looking forward to re-listening every time.
so many fun tracks, but I love how "were going to be friends" interrupts it all so beautifully
This does not much rise above the level of garage band music to me - some good energy here and there but mostly a bore. The drumming is particularly weak. I don't get it...
I didn't get the album and why it's on this list. Boring for me, not expressive. I liked only one song, and it was with no lyrics. 2/5 —————————————— Liked: — Aluminum
Another album I already knew and loved most of. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" "Hotel Yorba" "I'm Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman" "Fell In Love With a Girl" "Offend in Every Way" and "We're Gonna Be Friends" have been in my playlist rotations for a long time now, but checking out the rest of this album I also enjoyed "Expecting" and "I Think I Smell a Rat"
A few days ago, The White Stripes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Jack White, never one to pass up a chance to be both gracious and perverse, used his speech to shout out some of the artists he’d unaccountably leapfrogged on his way in: ELP, Pavement, Minor Threat, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow. None of whom, it must be said, have much to do with White Blood Cells, the first White Stripes album anyone in the UK paid attention to. Violent Femmes aren’t in the Hall either, though you can hear them plainly in crass lead single Hotel Yorba. White also namechecked The Breeders – a sly nod to the Frank Black-like Spanglish yelping on Fell in Love with a Girl. Pixies, of course, aren’t in the Hall either. Jack White knows it’s absurd that he became a rock star. There isn’t enough in his scrappy little songs. He doesn’t want to record them well. He doesn’t want to deliberate over them. There is, quite evidently, nothing over which to deliberate. In the seventies or eighties he would have been just another compulsive, expulsive home-cassette mail-order eccentric, an R. Stevie Moore in red and white. But Jack arrived at the turn of the century, when guitar rock was desperate for anything that looked like salvation, and when the machinery of hype was willing to believe almost anything. After that, nothing was really right again. 1.5 40 minutes of the same old shtick. ‘Look at us, we’re inbred and we’ve just found half a drum kit and a distortion pedal!’ 1/5
Rock. 2,7
The timing on this was amazing considering they just got inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame, and honestly I get why. This album is wall to wall bangers. I think the Jack white solo album I listened to for this was a little more consistent, but the highs here are undeniable, and it’s just a blast. Favorites: Fell In Love With a Girl, We’re Going to Be Friends, I Think I Smell a Rat
Good stuff. I prefer The Raconteurs but this is an iconic duo and a trend setting LP.
I thought I really liked The White Stripes, I mean I love Elephant but did not really enjoy this one the same.
A curiously timely entry (the Stripes were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame over the weekend). WBC, like every Jack White release, suffers from being very committed to traditional blues and rock ’n roll. I enjoyed the more minimalist, economical approach to this on De Stijl, but even with that I rarely made it through a handful of tracks. Obviously this embrace and distillation of classic rock roots is well done and has served him well; dude really knew his stuff even in the late 90s. Unfortunately, the attention to sonic aesthetic - stripped-down, minimalist, lots of space - wasn’t the only thing Americana and roots music took from their success and so, at least in Nashville, this gifted an entire revival of blues rock to a generation of kinda OK rock and folk types, whereas whatever lackluster trends were being pursued at the time of WBC in indie rock died out and have largely been forgotten. Sidenote: impressed that this has such a high rating here and several reviews calling it perfect. It's not my thing, but cool for y'all.
Very appropriate as they were just inducted into the Rock HoF, however this ranks a little low for me in their discography. It sounds like they’re still piecing it together while having flashes of what they become
Overall alright, definitely a 3 star album for me. Nothing to exciting here but I found some snippets here I liked.
Legendary album from a 2025 Hall Of Fame Band. It's not perfect but it's damn close. Dead Leaves, Hotel Yorba, Fell in Love With A Girl, We're Going to be Friends, etc... This is a great album.
Kinda one dimensional. It was new and different at the time but not really mind blowing
3,5
We're taking it back. Back to high school. This album is made of nostalgia and good feels. I liked it because girls liked it. The Stripes had the purity to shine through the cracks of my moody metal playlists. Some of it's a little more corny than I could manage back then. Kinda still is. But Jack is an understated guitar pioneer and him and Meg together have the magic talent multiplier that makes them far greater than the sum of their parts.
I spent a lot of years not particularly liking The White Stripes. I think their whole mythos just really turned me off and I couldn’t get past it. Now I can recognize that they are extremely talented musicians. This album is drenched in Led Zeppelin influence. Meg’s drumming is bad ass. Jack’s guitar playing is crazy good. The lyrics are solid. Turns out I like this album a whole lot. These lyrics give me meat to chew on and I love it. “If I could find emotion to stimulate devotion” is pretty damn good. All of I’m Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman is so good.
White Blood Cells Im a fan of the White Stripes since high school. I loved the hits back then. I only really knew the singles from this album and watching the videos on Swedish websites with dial up internet. I blossomed into proto-hipsterdom. As an adult I’ve gone back farther and listened to the whole discography. This the album where Jack White figure “it” out. He went from a messy rock student borrowing blues riffs into cultivating his own distinct sound. From artist to auteur. This is Jack going super Sayian for the first time. There are more levels to come. Instead of saving Namek this is Jack injecting his messy blues and some Detroit grime into the zeitgeist. A howling voice, lyrics scrawled in crayon underneath upholstery, $60 Japanese guitar, and a drummer who can’t actually drum. It’s Jack finger painting with primary colors and making a master piece. I think Jack is driving things like an old school stock car racer. He knows when to hit the gas and give some volume and aggression, he tails it back and goes quiet to not skid off the road, he feathers the wheel to take maneuvers that would send lesser drivers careening off a cliff. This album fucking rips. The aesthetic rips. The music videos all rip. This is band fuckin rules. Jack White is a keeper of the flame. Hell yeah.
Good but prefer seven nation army.
So much to love about The White Stripes' stripped back sound and vocals, not to mention their general esoteric reflections on life ...
Yep. This bangs from wall to wall. I'd like to apologise to the Whites for not giving their other album a 5. We'd only just started the list so I wasn't calibrated properly.
I really loved this in a nostalgic way. I knew at least “I can tell that we are gonna be friends” before this listen but definitely came across other tracks at some point. It really has that 2000s indie rock sound.
Very good album. It kickstarted the return of blues rock and had some real bangers. Its probably not their best, but worthy of inclusion on this list.
Not great, not terrible. Just authentic to the era “alt rock sound”. This is something you’d hear in a 2000s commercial or video game.
I like that it’s minimally produced and consistently well-done guitar riffs. Easy listen.
Love love.
Genius. Two superb musicians making each other better
I still feel like this is one of the most overrated groups of all time. Jack White's work after their breakup is better imho.
Interesting album, though I'm confused on how I'm supposed to feel here. It was nice though.
Despite the lack of Seven Nation Army this is a solid album all the way through.
Solid album throughout. I would listen again and enjoy.
Not my favourite White Stripes album, but still solid
Surprisingly good. Not my style, but a solid mix of folksy and more intense sound.
A couple of great stand out tracks but the rest just isn't for me
I liked how raw this album feels. It’s easy to forget that White Stripes was two people with a wall of sounds, a shitload of creative genius, a guitar and a drum kit. Fell In Love With A Girl is the only hit I remember on this album, but the whole album is really good. The song Same Boy has an almost Zeppelin feel to it, and Hotel Yorba has a later Beatles feel. And I Can’t Wait felt very Seattle grunge. It really did feel like Jack White was playing homage to his favorite bands and music. It’s in your face but not the same way as Elephant or Icky Thump. Great listen though!
Random thoughts: * I remember "Fell in Love With a Girl" when it came out. I don't remember if I bought this album before or after Elephant. I think I probably bought it after Elephant when The White Stripes became huge. * It's great to hear and see the garage rawness of the Stripes before they added more sound and sheen to the palate. * I have several tracks that I like on this one: Dead Leaves, Hotel Yorba, Fell in Love, Little Room, We're Going to Be Friends, and I Think I Smell a Rat. * 2 really classic all-time songs on here with "Fell in Love" and "We're Going to be Friends". It's really hard to believe this track is a White Stripes track. It feels like it must have been a tough decision to put this song on this album. * Overall great album where you hear the Stripes start to move from their DIY garage days to a more polished sound that would come on later albums.
Bluesy, rocking , punky sound. Everything you’d expect from the WS’
Solid early 2000s alternative album.
Yaaasss Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground!!! I will always love The White Stripes ❤️
gillar vissa låtar mycket med det är nog det minimalistiska som gör att jag inte riktigt kan superälska det
Fun! Fave is Hotel Yorba.
Really enjoyed this album. Can’t go wrong with “we’re going to be friends”, but other songs were also lovely to listen to and such an enjoyable time all the way through. Didn’t need a break I flew right through this and listened twice just for fun.
abwechslungsreich, aber die Band ist einfach nicht mein Ding. Kein schlechtes Album, aber einfach nicht mein Stil.
Better than i thought. I used to think i didnt like these guys
Third time’s not the charm for me with The White Stripes. 102 albums in and the third White Stripes album!! While White Blood Cells might be the strongest of the trio so far, I still struggle to connect with their raw, garage-rock aesthetic. Jack White’s voice continues to grate, and I find it hard to get past that to enjoy the songwriting. There’s energy and attitude here, sure—but I’m not convinced I needed to hear one White Stripes album, let alone three. At this point, I’m just hoping the list moves on soon!
Brings me back to the olden days of rock/indieclubbing in the early 00,s. Strong nostalgia.
Whiny vocals kind of punky with some Sabbath vibes amateur drummer I can’t support a band without a bass player (except the Doors and they eventually used one)
White noise. Who in their right mind lays down a track like Little Room and thinks this is good enough to be on an album?
The White Stripes were very very very good and this album is front to back proof, simple but great songs. 4.7/5.0 Best Song: We’re Gonna Be Friends
Its good stuff isnt it, this must have been so much fun when it came out. It is maybe the most 2001 album. There are so many good riffs generally i do enjoy the vibe of this album a lot, i think it lacks a bit of quality on the 2nd half of the album though. Best Track: Fell in love with a girl, obviously.
Am I not seeing what everyone else is with White Blood Cells??? I get The White Stripes are supposed to be the "last rockstars" for some with their stellar reputation for revitializing that Garage Rock sound people wanted for the 2000s, but this project just feels like just another piece in the puddle that is Garage Rock, not a defining masterpiece. Yes there are some truly great songs here like Feel In Love With a Girl and We're Going to Be Friends, but for the most part I felt very underwhelmed with what Jack and Meg White were cooking up on this album. A lot of the tracks here felt a bit aimless and had no idea how to fit itself together into the album and were just barely scratching a "good" itch in my eyes. I can appreciate The White Stripes for all that they did, but I expected so much more from White Blood Cells that really has me wondering if this band still stands up 20 years later...
Great album. Really captures the raw energy of the White Stripes.
I Can Learn interpolation in Jack White’s Why Walk a Dog? Overall it’s a good record. production is rudimentary, but songwriting is strong, and performances are authentic which makes up for that. Being a medium white stripes fan I would probably reach for some of their later work, but you can really see the foundations of the band in a record as simple as this. Cohesive thematically and musically
'I think I smell a rat' Riff 10/10, got me vibing while I was working 🐀
This was part of the soundtrack of my life for a couple of years. How does a two piece get such a large and full sound? People shit on Meg White for not being a good drummer but they’re wrong. She keeps the beat and lays down a fat bottom. This album rocks so hard. Every single song is a standout. Listening to this after so many years flooded me with nostalgia.
Not for me
I’m a little biased as “Fell in Love with a Girl” was the first White Stripes song I heard and I immediately bought the album and after I heard “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” I was a fan. My sister was super into like Britney Spears and Christina Aquilera and I turned her onto the White Stripes and she’s been a rock fan ever since. My dad even made a comment to me that it was a bummer that there was no good rock and roll any more and I played him this album and he said, "I was wrong, I guess rock and roll will never die." For just a guitar and drums they manage to fill the space. The layered instruments, cymbals, chords vs melody, etc., really seems like a much bigger band. The lyrics are catchy, but unique. Everything about this album is great.
listened to again absolute classic, especially We're Going to Be Friends
top album
Brought me back to younger days. Good music to power through some excel spreadsheets
Brought me back to college days. I’ve outgrown them but it was fine.
Pretty cool garage rock vibes. Very much what I expected from The White Stripes, but there's some catchy numbers here. My favourite record of theirs on this list so far. Favourite tracks: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, I'm Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman, Fell In Love With a Girl, Offend In Every Way, I Think I Smell a Rat.
I knew this album well already. 👍Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Fell In Love With a Girl, We're Going To Be Friends
Light 3,5
I have a bit of an annoyance with artists having multiple albums on the list because I think you miss out on many great albums due to this. The White Stripes are an example of this. Personally, I wouldn't put any of their albums on here but I can understand that many do like them so I can concede Elephant getting picked. Get Behind Me Satan has no place on this list, and White Blood Cells is easily the worst of the three. I'm convinced if this album was under anyone else's name nobody would give it any attention, but people on this website see Jack White as the second coming of Christ so of course they'll give it a good rating.
Great album. I’ve already heard and liked a couple of songs from it and loved them. There were a few “meh” tracks, but overall, it was a brilliant listen.
I like Dead Leaves and Fell In Love With A Girl, but I can't love any of their projects all the way through. 3 Stars.
Cultural shift when this record came out. Still so listenable, good rock and good heart. Share with most.
Jack White rules
Late to the game with this album in early 2000’s but has been timeless ever since, always finds it self periodically back in rotation
Alright - some good tunes, some not for me Added: (I can tell) We are gonna be friends
jack white might be my favorite guitarist
Love it. Lo-Fi, guitar and drums but such great songs. Fav: Hotel Yorba
Album 928 of 1089 The White Stripes - White Blood Cells (2001) Rating : 3.5 / 5 This one is an easy 5 out of 5. No hesitation, no second guessing. It’s one of those rare albums that hits on every level — raw energy, stripped-down genius, and that perfect blend of grit and melody that only Jack and Meg could pull off. From the opening notes, it just bursts with life. Every song feels essential, every riff sticks, and the simplicity of it all only adds to the magic. “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” still sounds like a thunderclap of garage-rock perfection, “Hotel Yorba” is pure fun, and “We’re Going to Be Friends” remains one of the sweetest, most disarming songs ever recorded. You can feel the chemistry between the two of them in every beat and distortion crackle. This is The White Stripes at their best — raw, inventive, and completely their own thing. No filler, no overproduction, no ego. Just passion, rhythm, and a sense that you’re hearing something timeless. Greatest thing since Carter’s Little Liver Pills? Yeah, I’d say so.
16 songs in 40 mins. If you get fed up of one just wait 30 seconds.
The thing I loved about White Stripes was how much they pissed off the Metalheads in school: ‘jAcK cAnT sInG’ ‘iTs JuSt TeH pEnTaToNiC sCaLe’ ‘mEg CaNt EvEn PlAy TeH dRuMs’ ‘tHeY dOnT eVeN hAvE a BaSsIsT lMaO’ All these things are true. It doesn’t stop them being the ultimate ‘better-than-the-sum-of-their-parts’ band. So STFU and go back to listening to dragonforce and wanking over orcs, Dan.
As a fan of The White Stripes, revisiting White Blood Cells is always a treat. Jack White's raw guitar work and distinctive vocals are front and center, delivering a sound that’s both gritty and captivating. Meg White's drumming complements Jack perfectly, providing a simple yet powerful backbone to the tracks. Songs like "Fell in Love with a Girl" and "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" showcase their ability to blend garage rock with blues influences effortlessly. It's definitely worth revisiting!
I mean yeah, it's The White Stripes, it's still /good/. But does this really need to be here as well as Elephant? They sound the same to me honestly. I don't think it was necessary. Nothing here really stands out apart from "Fell In Love With a Girl".
I enjoy the White Stripes and Jack Whites solo ventures, but I found this album to be a bit limp wristed. Did not have the thumping drive you would typically associate with them.
Genuinely surprises by how many hit singles on this thing there are. The White Stripes are Foo Fighters if they were better and Queens of the Stoneage if they were worse. I definitely prefer Jack Whites solo stuff l, still good though. 7/10
After listening to the opening track I thought it ended abruptly and that it felt like it was missing something. Bass. The entire album is missing bass. I think this is an interesting artistic choice like if I were to walk across the road in summer without any shoes on. A bit harsh yes, but frankly I do not think that Jack White’s vocals are good enough to carry this album without bass. As the album goes on, I am just kind of non-plussed. It’s very serviceable rock music, I suppose this came out at the peak of overproduced nu metal bullshit and a while after grunge had declined in popularity. In context, it makes sense why this was popular and make the White Stripes so big. I am trying to keep this in mind because I think on its own this album is kind of boring. It's impressive what the duo can do on their own, and reading that the production was intentionally rushed is cool and all but if you are judging albums based on that then this does not hold a candle to something like the Koln Concert. Seems like it would have paid off more if they had just produced it like a normal album. Then it wouldn’t be garage rock? Who cares, I have spent enough time writing about this. Side B is better than Side A but not enough for me to say this is a great album. Is the best song on this album good because it was in Napoleon Dynamite or was it in Napoleon Dynamite because it’s the best song on the album? Hard to say. Highlights: We’re Going to Be Friends
It's The White Stripes; of course it's a great album. I just wish it was a tad better. Favorite Track: "We're Going To Be Friends".
Brut, bruyant parfois génial parfois juste chiant. Mention spéciale pour "Aluminium".
Рокккккккк! Лучшая песня - Fell in Love With a Girl.
Their best album. Makes me want to go out and do shit.
I think with the context of so many of these classic rock records, it's easier to understand why Jack White's got all the spots he has and shares on this list. Credit to Meg for her work here, but on the grand scale... There's an understanding about the direction rock and roll is going towards, and this project is a well executed snapshot of the evolution of the 2000s. Unless you're in the mood for a soft-spoken Nirvana alternative, it's an easy one to forget. I'm sure I've heard this record before but I only remember Fell In Love With A Girl. Great track to be reminded of once in a while, on a superficial level I feel like it outshines the track list a bit. The rest of it is perfectly listenable. Musically and melodically solid. Probably just takes a vulnerable ear to grow addicted to the provided style. 3.3/5
Great 4/5
Not a great album, but a good one, I can see why many people don't like his voice, but I didn't mind it, especially on "We're Going to Be Friends" which I found catchy and kinda reminded me of early Beatles.
Definitely solid. Nostalgia up the wazoooooo
this album defines that early 2000s blues rock sound that helped connect the dots from classic rock to modern music for me. As zak said, easily the best song about childhood ever with WE'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS. Caught me off guard and made me a little emotional as I was able to relate to it now as a father. time moves too fast. Would be a 5 for me, but I feel like there are a few too many forgettable tracks on the B side. So a 4 will do.
How this made it onto a "most influential" list beggars belief. It's a smorgasbord of elements of rock, punk, Americana and The Beatles. A short (thankfully) and instantly forgettable album.
I knew the hits and a couple others. Really an all around solid album. The very last couple of tracks were a bit weak though, especially the rest of the album. Love the garage sound. Don't care that the drums are basic. I like Jack White's voice.
rock clasico, simple, directo. 4.5
"Dead Leaves on The Dirty Ground" was one of the first songs I learned on guitar. I think when it comes to The White Stripes, White Blood Cell and Elephant are near perfect records, and an argument could be made that either is better than the other. I was so into this record in high school. Listened to it constantly, bought it on iTunes. The guitar work is simple, and the drums are simple, and it just rocks. This is some of, if not the finest garage rock of the last 30 years. Unapologetically Detroit. "The Union Forever" is the reason I became obsessed with Citizen Kane for a bit there. 17/19
Girl drummer!?!? Now I’ve heard it all.
Some gems but several songs annoyed me
I liked it a bit better than Get Behind Me Satan. We're Going To Be Friends reminds me of The Beatles
It's interesting how if you have seen Jack talk about what music he likes how clearly you can see that in his music on this album.
One of my favorite albums, so many great songs on this one. Offend in every way!
The break out album for The White Stripes/Jack White. Incredible talent on an incredible album. Can’t just listen to it once
Very good rock.
I thought I would love this album, but I only liked it. It just didn't hit the spot. Sad to only give it 3 stars.
Great album
This experiment has shown me a lot and one of the things is that I really like Jack White and The White Stripes
kinda shite, innit?
Mixing the majestic power chords of early Led Zeppelin and The Who with the peculiarities of the Pixies and you essentially have the driving sound that defines The White Stripes' breakthrough third album 'White Blood Cells'. Considering its only Jack and Meg White making noise on guitar and drums respectively, along with Jack's zany voice, 'White Blood Cells' has a surprising arena rock-ready sound that makes you forget there's no bass on this record. With barnstorming rockers like 'Fell In Love With a Girl', 'Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground', classic garage tunes such as 'Hotel Yorba' and even some tender moments in 'We're Going to Be Friends' and the piano-driven 'This Protector', The White Stripes produce a simple yet effective sound that defies convention for a two-piece band. A lot of this owes to Jack White's outstanding guitar tone. There's so much dimension and character to his guitar that evokes a heartfelt tribute to 70s rock, while also befitting of the DIY garage rock revival taking place at the turn of the millennium. Yes, their next album, 'Elephant' , made The White Stripes megastars, and 'Seven Nation Army' became simultaneously the favourite song of beginner guitarists and bane of music store owners, but 'White Blood Cells' is almost certainly the better record: a raw, punchy affair that introduced the world to the best looking musos in red, black and white since Eddie Van Halen! Best songs: Fell In Love With a Girl, We're Going to Be Friends, Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Hotel Yorba
Their sound becomes increasingly nauseating as the album goes on. Despite that, I appreciate the “garage” ethos and their intended presentation - which fails here. Not necessary to hear before death.
I had tickets to see the White Stripes on what would have been their last UK tour, but they cancelled the tour and I never got the chance to see them. I always liked the White Stripes’ earlier stuff, but this was the first time where they felt like a huge deal. The amount of bangers on this album is staggering. It’s not my favourite Stripes album (we’ll get to that eventually), but this is such a strong album all the way through whilst keeping as true to their garage rock roots as they ever got again.
Cells, ya know!
Nice album, fitting into the timeframe it came out into. The voice of Jack has always been mesmerizing to me and the song 'We're Going to be Friends' was a nice throwback to a song I have long forgotten. All in all, the album falls well short of a perfect score, but is way better than mediocre. 4/5
The hookiest punk band ever?
Really enjoyed this album. Not a bad song. Jack and Meg have an almost minimalistic sound that is somehow funky and full-bodied at the same time.
Punk and some alternative are just not my cup of tea. For The White Stripes, I have liked other songs over the years, but this particular album didn't win me over totally. There were a few tracks that resonated with me. Musically, I do like the melodies, guitars, and drums. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s)? "The Same Boy You've Always Known" (it's a little Beatle-esque), "We're Going to be Friends" ⭐⭐⭐: I somewhat like it; didn't hate it. Saved no tracks.
I thought he sang "I think I smell alright." 😂 Anyway, this was fine. I saved a couple of songs. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Fell In Love With a Girl, We're Going to Be Friends ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Saved some tracks.
Honestly peak, some of the songs are mid, but theres some bangers, and mostly good songs
Starts off strongly but fades away in the second half.
I've never sat and listened to an entire White Stripes album, so this will be fun (I hope). I immediately hear the early version of his sound. More garage/punky than his recent stuff. After three tracks, I'll say that I like the music Jack White made with The Raconteurs better. After eight songs, make that much much better. WE'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS, a nice little ditty, is really the only song I would listen to again. Here, White's voice echoes McCartney (which probably everyone in the world has already noted). I THINK I SMELL A RAT is shit. As is ALUMINIUM. Gave the rest of the album 30 seconds per song. Gonna go listen to The Raconteurs. ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 84 🎧 LPs left to review: 917 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 20 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 26
This was my first experience really listening to The White Stripes. Not bad garage/alt rock music, definitely heard worse. 16 songs at 40 minutes is very listenable and packs a punch, but can get redundant. It’s an ok album and adequate rock music, but nothing blew me away and I most likely won’t listen again aside from some songs. I think a 2.5 rounded up to a 3 is appropriate.
I’ve only heard of the song Seven Nation Army. I wonder what the criterion is for these albums. Nothing about this seems influential.
Probably their best. This is fantastic when you're in the mood for it, but can get a bit grating when you're not.
I love Jack White and everything he does! And this is one example - Jack and Meg were one hell of a rock-n-roll power-duo! 5 stars.
I like it...
Fun to relisten to this one.
i still like the 2 popular ones
i remember liking this album way more than i did this time. I have a soft spot for Friends bc of Napoleon Dynamite, but the rest i was not really feeling
the same 2 or 3 songs repeated for an entire album that is twice as long as it should be, just make it all dead leaves/little room style rough garage rock, make a separate piano rock album and call it a day Fav song: Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground probably because the riff is insanely gfood
Hmmmmmmmm I partially like it, but it doesn’t vibe at all with me. And the message it’s quite trivial for what I’m used to consume.
Great album enjoyed it a lot vi liked the more pink vibes
Solid stuff. I knew a lot more songs than I thought I would. However, sometimes it gets a litle old, but still a great album.
Favourite track(s): We're Going to Be Friends; Offend in Every Way Musically coherent but thematically - not sure. There is some clear repetition here and it does not help that some tracks (of which there are too many) do not elicit any emotional resonance whatsoever. The sound of distorted guitars is ever-present and may also be too much for some. But the album generally feels quite intimate, like a private garage concert, which is a plus. May have influenced later works of bands like Arctic Monkeys or The Hive.
This album rocks, Jack white during this time period was such a revival of the spirit of the guitarist. So simple but so strong at the same time.
3 I've always felt like White Stripes was a band I could really get into if I just had the time - still feel that way. Solid album but not currently something I'd revisit frequently.
Starts off strong. Catchy, but not deep. Didn’t finish. After a while the music becomes noisy. The lyrics do absolutely nothing for me, the music neither.
A great, distinctive album. Makes an impressive about of sound for a duo. Not an album I listen to very often, but easily seem to be an important, very good album
I think this might be their best? They definitely did good work after this, and White for sure blossomed into a solo talent, but the limited instrumentation and kinda janky sound quality is hard to beat. Has that Flat Duo Jets/garage feel to it that the (slightly) more polished follow-ups lack. Three cheers for little rooms.
Boy I dislike this far more than I expected it would. Just a self important realization of the toxic male rock god myth.
This shit rocked young me's musical foundations back in the day
First time hearing this album, but easily one of my favourite new era rock albums along with Wolfmother and The Hives. Love it.
Never heard of these guys before, but they’re really OK
Had fun with this one
Extra point for nostalgia
Man. I despise Jack White. I can not with this band.
Very solid stuff.
I am aware of, but have not been the biggest fan of, the White Stripes. They have some absolute bangers (the popular songs), but not many are on this album. However, this does contain the amazing and fantastic We’re Going to Be Friends, so gets an extra star from me.
Classic Rock mäßig einer der besseren gefällt mir schon hat mich aber nicht umgehauen
White Stripes
Repeat listen
We're Going to Be Friends :)
This band always bored me.
Not keen
Listenable.
Das dritte Album der White Stripes wurde 2001 in den Easley McCain Studios in Memphis aufgenommen. Das US-amerikanische Duo Jack und Meg White spielte die Stücke mit reduziertem Instrumentarium ein: Gitarre, Gesang, Schlagzeug, gelegentlich Klavier. Musikalisch bewegt sich die Platte zwischen Garage Rock, Blues-Einflüssen und rohem Punk-Charakter. Bekannte Songs wie „Fell in Love with a Girl“, „Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground“ oder „Hotel Yorba“ zeigen den direkten, ungeschliffenen Stil, der für die Band prägend wurde. Das Album machte die White Stripes auch außerhalb der Indie-Szene einem breiteren Publikum bekannt. Insgesamt wirkt es kantig, energiegeladen und zugleich bewusst simpel gehalten.
A couple of listens through have brought me to the conclusion that TWS essentially have thee or four songs, and the bulk of their catalogue seems to be made up of variations of these. Thankfully these three or four songs are pretty good, and Jack White’s prowess as a songwriter, musician and performer is undeniable.
There are some really nice songs, good changes of pace, and I have always loved his guitar playing. The album lacks the vitality of their live performances of these songs - I found that songs that were thrilling live were just a bit too clinical when committed to record.
Been a while since I’ve listened to this in its entirety but enjoyed revisiting it and it holds up well, probably because it’s sparse and not over-engineered so not very much to have dated. A lot of criticism is/was directed towards Meg’s drumming but it is absolutely fitting here and gives space for the guitar and vocals to shine. I see this as having been a catalyst for some of the indie/garage rock revival that we saw at the start of the century.
Seriously get a bass player.
Jack White, & by extension White Stripes are in my top three favorite musicians…I wouldn’t say multiple White Stripes albums need to be on the list. & of all their albums this is the only one I’d give a four. Songs that I like I love extensively. But there’s a few tracks on here I’m not hot about.
Didn’t need another White Stripe album on this list. It’s actually starting to annoy me how many repeat artists there are.
White stripes : I am really trying to get the Garage rock thing here. It sounds like hard rock music but sad and weak. Why don’t they just make an album that sounds good?Why wouldn’t he have recorded bass parts it’s not like it’s recorded live? Whole thing sounds like demos. The vocals are cool and the songs have potential. I dig how minimal the drums are wish they sounded bigger. Maybe points for being different? Favorite songs were the last two
I respect jack white as an artist but his music has never really spoken to me. There are occasional moments that i think he strikes gold but overall im just not that excited by it. I do think he is talented and i think hes done a good job of cultivating a unique vibe as an artist.
I find the songwriting super hard to grapple with. I feel like there are lyrics that are fantastic but the majority are elementary at best. Overall this album is forgettable and I much prefer Jack White now.
Solid album
It’s a total vibe, but lacks a beat. And that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it, but it makes it harder for the songs to stand out to me. Still an album full of classics.
I can't say I love this entire album. I love the concept of the White Stripes and their overall look, feel and sound. But in terms of this album, their foot in the door commercially, it becomes a bit stale near the end. It starts off really good, stays that way for a while, and then after I Think I Smell A Rat, it drops off for me. Elephant is the greater effort in my opinion, but this is still good (7/10, 4/5 on this scale)
I love the energy Jack Black brings. It always feels a little hillbilly meets hard rock.
I dig it
Apesar dos momentos pouco inspirados e com excesso de eletricidade de faixas como "Fell In Love With a Girl" e "Expecting" o disco cresce a medida que evolui melodicamente para canções como "The Union Forever", "The Same Boy You've Always Know" e "Offend In Every Way", onde prevalece o lado melódico de Jack White tão presente em seus discos solo e com os Raconteurs. Ótimo álbum!
Love this album
can't really remember anything other than Jack White's voice is a bit annoying but the instrumentation is good. 2.87* rounded down. p.s., like the slow part of a novel, this album kept me from following the list daily for weeks.
- my husband is a white stripes fan, so discussing this album with him made for an insightful car ride home last night - this feels like the album someone would write after school in their bedroom if they had just learned how to play guitar six months ago, but I don't mean that as a negative critique. instead, it's refreshingly minimal and feels free of external influence; there's no standard 12-bar blues template in use over and over here - this album feels like a jackson pollock painting: someone could hear songs from White Blood Cells and think "*this* is the group that made it? this is the best of the best?", but both of those questions are missing the point. I mentioned this to husband and he posited that we all generally accept that music is art, but usually only from a technical skill perspective, not as a form of making a statement by intentionally leaving things out or avoiding "rules" or tropes for effect. on the one hand, it's hard to imagine creating and sharing something that doesn't highlight your absolute best, especially if you want other people to like your music and make a living from it, but then again, there's almost no one daring to do the opposite out there... and thus: the white stripes - to that point, jack white instructed the sound engineer to "not make it sound too good," from what I understand - people tend to get frustrated with modern art because it often has the appearance of having no thought or skill put into it, so why should those people make all the money over the "better" artists who don't? and that's a reasonable thought to have in a largely capitalist world (i.e., if you're paying for a service, it follows that you would choose the service that's better than all the others to avoid wasting your money), but at the most basic level, it seems arbitrary to judge art almost entirely by its monetary value. we're the only animal on earth that has the capacity to create things out of nothing to such a degree, and to limit acknowledgement of that ability by viewing everything we do through the lens of whether it could be appealing to others or hit a certain number of sales feels like a real shame - in other words: if you write 15 drafts of a song over three years and then choose the "best" one to perform with your band in hopes that people will listen to your music on Spotify and maybe buy a t-shirt or sticker from your merch table, who (or what) is the thing that says those other 14 drafts do not merit any recognition whatsoever? they all came out of your head and did not exist until the moment you wrote down the lyrics, same as the "best" one, and just because they didn't suit a specific purpose or set of criteria doesn't remove the value in your creative process (that, once again, no other species on this planet -- or universe, to our current knowledge -- is capable of engaging in) - but now back to your regularly scheduled programming: the majority of the songs are based around big power chords rather than riffs, which lends some punk power to this rock album - similarly, meg white is just beating the shit out of the crash cymbal to make up for the lack of complexity in the rest of it, which is fun and head bob-inducing, and it certainly takes up space - jack white's vocals evoke a sense of... anxiety? I think this feeling might come from the lack of bass across the whole album in general, but he's also not singing terribly well; it's just unique (with the benefit of now being immediately recognizable in other songs and projects he's been involved in) three stars feels about right for my first time listening to this full album, despite the passionate rant in defense of ~art~ -- not my favorite, but a solid effort that made me question and think about some things. definitely looking forward to experiencing some more white stripes tunes when they come around again
I'll admit that I was mostly familiar with Elephant, I had never listened to anything outside of the usual hits. However, this was a rather enjoyable listen. A musically stripped down record, where it feels as though it is literally two people just banging out some rough tracks in the studio, with tracks like "I think I smell a rat", "Hotel Yorba", and "We're going to be friends" being personal favorites. I could see myself coming back to this one later on, but not nearly as frequently as other albums I've listened to so far.
Not as good as Elephant but a pretty solid debut. Had some good singles on it too!
i dont get it and i dont care to get it either
Dope
Not a fan, was good at points but some songs just annoyed me
Best Track - "Fell In Love With A Girl"
Not great, not terrible. Probably not gonna listen to this again, though.
8/10 I like how raw this is. They got a bit more fancy later and branched out, but this always gets me bopping my head. 9-16-2025
Insanely good album, so many great songs on it - no weak spots on this album.
Decent rock album. A few standout songs. 3/5
Great raw hard rock.
The best moments, when it grooves, are fantastic (and where all the hits are). She of the other tracks come off as Jack White trying to explain why he loves a genre of music and not always succeeding.
This is the band's highpoint, a perfect balance of raw guitar scorchers and experiments. The rock tracks rock, whether it's because of the riffs ("Expecting") or the general rawness ("Gentleman"). "Fell in Love With a Girl" is the song every new throwback rock band have been trying and failing to write for the last 20 years. The attempts to switch things up, like the beautiful "Friends" or the upbeat "Hotel Yorba" provide a nice respite from the rock tracks. The band tried these kinds of detours on other albums but they never worked as well as they did here. The quality dips a bit by the end and I think it could have been even shorter than its brisk 40 minutes, but it's good enough to not feel feel like it overstays its welcome.
Rock 🤘🏼
Some good tracks
Great: loved it then, loved it now. I absolutely can see why they took off!
Still holds up, but prefer the first nine songs on the album. :)
The White Stripes are a kind of breed of their own. For me they are a rare, but sometimes true part of my own music life. I know they are simple, even kind of basic, but they are ... I love this band. Brother and sister just rocking out. Amaze. They have like a rebellious edge that never gets boring, even as the music is so simple. I think I am a member of a cult with them. Yeah, that's it. I am one of their minions! Rock on!
Said it once before but it bears repeating now; The White Stripes create vivid imagery through their lyrics. Strong start, fades and bottoms out with I Smell A Rat and Aluminum, then bounces back for a decent finish. White Blood Count is (3.7*s)
As with Elephant, half the album is good and the other is just ok. The hits aren't as strong as the ones from Elephant but the album as a whole is a bit more consistent. Some of the short tracks are mindless drabble from Jack. I put this one right on the same level as their other albums. For a duo, they are good but after getting full record exposure form the list, I think there are some better 2-part acts. 3.12 stars.
White Blood Cells is another well known album from The White Stripes. While it still holds up well it comes in a little below the prior entry. It's got a lot of the signature Jack White flair and a good mix of some hard indie rock and more slowed down folksy stuff. Enjoyable listen pretty much all the way through. Another solid entry from Jack White (and company). 3.31 stars
There are some standout tracks on this that appear pretty regularly in the stupidly long playlist I use for running to (Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, I Fell In Love With a Girl). But Jack's voice isn't something I can listen to for a long time, so after a while I found this album grating. There doesn't seem to be any real depth of tone to the songs, so everything feels lightweight and tinny. Similar in vibe to Violent Femmes, but nowhere near as good. That said, We're Going to be Friends is an enjoyable track.
I quite love the White Stripes, but I prefer the next 3 albums more than this one because they have just enough more polish to make them re-listenable. Now, I get why some people like/prefer this. It's raw and almost punk-y in places. But without a little production, Jack comes off as a howler, a bit of a screecher sometimes. I cannot abide. I have come to like "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" quite a bit, as I think it's the most "mature" sounding song on the album. "Hotel Yorba" is pretty good, but I wish he wasn't quite so whiny. "Fell in Love with a Girl" could be great, but he seems to be channeling Johnny Lydon here and it's off-putting. "We're Going to Be Friends" is listed as a Kid's song on many lists. Ok. But this shows that Jack can sing without being annoying. And the last song I'll point at here is "Little Room" Who would let Jack do this abomination?? While it's not my favorite White Stripes album, I have come back to it a couple of times and it's grown on me. Congratulations to all of the A&R folks that saw greatness in unpolished bands. I would have passed on the Stripes if all I heard was this or, god-forbid, the previous albums first. But then the world would not know the joys of their later albums and Jack's solo stuff. 4 out 5
I find it difficult to rate this album. Although garage rock in general and The White Stripes in particular have a high coolness factor, I hadn't realized how bad the production actually is. Yes, I know that this is part of the concept, but after three or four songs, the imprecise timing really annoyed me. I'm giving it a second star for coolness, but honestly, almost 25 years later, this album is pretty rubbish.
I am probably the only one here that is not able to listen to an album a day ;) An advantage is that this gives you a good catalogue of music to choose from, depending on your mood. „White Blood Cells“ recently appeared on my list and I was craving to listen to it: Simply, as the punchy White Stripes Sound can energize me most of the time. Yes, some songs might be a little lazy, but its the good lazy as in ‚we are free on what to do‘. There is a 5/5 record further down their discography, but this record still has the iconic White Stripes sound and asthetics. Highlight: „Aluminum“ is the noisiest track here and has Jack White as a kind of siren - my highlight!
Cool and weird with great songs and loads of creativity. Oh, and it rocks. What more do you want?
I didn't realize that we are gonna be friends is by the White Stripes! I love that song! Otherwise I thought it was okay, a little too emo for me at times but overall a good album. I typically enjoy when albums have shorter songs and more of them so this definitely scratched that itch. I don't think this is as good as Get Behind Me Satan but it's still quite good. 4 stars just for the one song.
Organic and easy on the ear.
I have successfully outran this album for 24 years, and today I lost. There are some tracks I’ve discovered through the years that are ok in small doses, but I knew in my heart I wouldn’t enjoy more of it— and I was right. I realize this is probably done on purpose, but Meg White’s drumming is so fucking bad. It’s so bad. It sets my teeth on edge. I hate it so much.
Really disappointed.
I remember the first couple of white stripes albums being very exciting at the time. De Stijl probably edges this one out for me. Though the songwriting is top loaded, it still captures the excitement of just rocking on some power chords on a crunchy electric guitar.
One of the best. Love the style.
Exactly what I needed
It was okayish. I Think I Smell A Rat was funny for personal reasons, nothing else was notable
Just strange
A couple classic songs, overall fine
Some great tracks, others didn't hit. 5/10
77/100. White Blood Cells is the album that pushed The White Stripes into wider attention, and it’s easy to see why. It’s lean, loud, and confidently rooted in garage rock and blues. While it might not reach the ambitious heights of later albums like Elephant, it's still a well-executed and consistent record.
Favourite tracks - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Fell In Love with a Girl, We’re Going to Be Friends
We were blessed to have the White Stripes among us while we could.
We’re going to be friends is one of my all time Jack White favorites.
From beginning to end, every single song was great. You definitely can hear some Beatles influence in some of the songs. I really enjoyed the entire album.
Jack White strikes again.
Raw, loose, and catchy. Rock n Roll! 4.5/5 #178
2 stars I’ve made attempts to listen to this album in full for 15 years. You’d think it’s a long double album or something, but it’s a fairly short 40 minutes. It starts out strong and promising. But then it kind of just becomes more of the same or less interesting. After a while I’d end up turning it off and not returning to it for years. I finally got through the whole thing for this, but even that wasn’t in one sitting. I could probably get through it in one sitting- it’s not unbearable or anything. But I just don’t find myself wanting to. So that says a lot to me.
It's simple, it's stripped down, and it rocks! The first half is amazing, the second kind of cools off a bit but solid overall. Favorite track: Hotel Yorba
This is such a banger album
This is the second White Stripes slbum in a fortnight and i much prefer this album to ‘Get behind me Satan’. The tracks feel far more varied on this and suit the limitations of Meg’s drumming far more (avoiding songs sounding identical). I enjoy the rawness of the sound and thr off kilter vocals. The first four tracks are definitely a strong introduction but generally this is just a really solid album
Having only very recently been subjected to Meg White drumming like a toddler, I had no expectations about enjoying this album. However, I was surprised to find that I was very familiar with the opening run of tracks, and even more surprised to find that I quite enjoyed them. Then the wheels came off, as expected, for me, and I didn’t enjoy the remainder of the album.
Only 11 albums ago I was listening to Get Behind Me Satan saying I never got into the White Stripes when they first came out, and now they're back. It honestly surprised me there was another White Stripes album on the list (and then I checked and discovered I have another one to go). Once again, not one They Might Be Giants album made the list - harrumph! I like Hotel Yorba despite a massive list of things that mean I should hate it - the shrillness of the vocals, the Megness of the drumming, the fact there's basically nothing to it - but nope, the catchiness is undeniable. Same with Fell In Love With A Girl. "Jack asked recording engineer Stuart Sikes more than once "not to make it sound too good."." ...and then the album went platinum in the UK and USA. The music industry is a bafflingly entity. I liked this album a better than Get Behind Me Satan but I can't really put my finger on why. 3/5
This is for the teenage me who used to dance to "Fell in Love with a Girl" in the lounge. . This album is alright, quite innovative at the time, but not the best of White Stripes. I can be too long and with random tracks just rocking out, and White's voice can be tiring...but it still rocks. 4/5
not that this band or this album is necessarily bad but i just find them so uninteresting. feels like rock for annoying people who cry about rock being dead
People seem to forget about this one when it comes to the most influential albums of the ‘00s and I get that far more popular Elephant was such a short distance away, but I will say this is still the more influential album.
This takes me back. I remember when Fell In Love With A Girl came out, and saw them play at a small gig in D.C. At the time they sounded retro, but on this listen it was almost post modern. Timeless appeal. Jack White us a musical genius!
I am not the biggest Jack White fan but I do like the sound of a lot of his records. This album sounds excellent. There is a lot of space in the mix, perhaps not surprising as we are essentially listening to guitar and drums and voices, with a little bit of organ thrown in in places. It is garage blues-rock and you can hear the garage... Both Jack's guitar and Meg's drums are simply played but the production on both is really clear and roomy. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground", "Hotel Yorba" and "Fell in Love With a Girl" all stand up to repeated listening.
Fantastic. Raw, pure angst and lovely little riffs everywhere you look. Jack White’s a creative monster
This is the third White Stripes album I've encountered on this list. I like the White Stripes quite a lot but you have to say that this is too much. Their albums are neither individually that influential nor that different from each other. The list really needs more breadth. Anyway, none of that is a review of this album, and in itself I enjoyed it. I would say that this particular album is worthy of its place. Fell In Love With A Girl I knew before, I liked it a lot. Little Room was not worth committing to vinyl. Union Forever is musically cool, dark psych-metal, and the repurposed lyrics from Citizen Kane are interesting until the wholesale theft of the birthday song. We're Going To Be Friends was a very nice, sweet, simple song. A cut above the albums I give three stars. This also sounds like an album which the creators enjoyed making, which is not always the case.
I am of the exact right age to rate this 5 stars out of pure nostalgia, and to be crushed to realize this album is 25ish years old
The hipster's bible entry. Jack White is a good guitar player. Jack White is a decent songwriter. Jack White is an excellent marketer. He carved his lane and stuck to it. The White Stripes changed music in the early '00s and Jacks resurgence of garage music helped reconnect the genre back to its early roots. His wandering eye for different genres and acts is the epitome of ADHD Rock. 3.5/5
just fine. Nothing of note.
Starts very strong! Great guitar vibes, indie rock feels. Gets a little lost on the last quarter...
Love the guitar tone, great record. Maybe gets a bit samey.
Jack White is a cool dude, but I’ve never really latched on to the hype surrounding him. The music is good, but not THAT good. I enjoyed this record, but probably on a much different level than his most ardent fans.
This is good but belongs in the 2000's. I don't really need to hear it again
4.5
I don’t hate The White Stripes, they’re a pretty unique band and make solid music. I just don’t think they’ve made 3 albums worthy of this list. There’s been songs I really like here and there, my fav from this one being We’re Going To Be Friends but nothing else really stood out to me. I once again make my case that Meg should sing more though
There is an awful lot to love here. Pretty much across the board the songwriting is just excellent. Songs are catchy, and surprisingly varied given the duo's limited instrumental breadth. We've got a lot of love songs here, but also songs about childhood, Citizen Kane, breakups, and maybe Edgar Allen Poe? Fell in Love with a Girl is, for my money, one of the best songs ever written. Dead Leaves is a banger, Friends is an absolute classic, and the whole album flows really well from rock anthem to country bop and back again. Is it as good as Elephant? I don't think so, but I like it more!