Reviews (page 8 of 14)
As a card-carrying snob, I’d have gone with de Stijl but it’s whatever. Jack has made no albums that aren’t a five
At this point, Jack White has been a known quantity long enough to know whether or not he is your jam. He is one of many musicians whose accolades are warranted while doing nothing for me on a personal level. If you gravitate towards his style, I'm sure you will find this more rewarding than I did.
Okay, was a bit dreary at times but generally enjoyed it
One of my favourite albums
Second listen, same result, 2 stars. It’s not bad, but it’s not really good enough to appear on a “must-hear before you die” list. I’ll probably not listen to it again.
I guess I kinda like the White Stripes.
Having chewed through quite many rock albums now on the list, I must say I appreciate The White Stripes and their tone more than I did before. All of their albums we've had on the list so far sounded very much the same to me, though some of the other ones contained more hit songs than this. I think that is also my general sentiment of this record: it sounds good, but there are not enough outstanding songs to really push it over the line from 3 to 4. Still, solid record though, and most songs held up very well!
We’ve had quite a few The White Stripes records by now. You can tell this is the earliest of the ones we’ve had. If you listen to their first records, they are very blues inspired while here we still have some blues elements but they are more and more heading towards their own style. The main attraction as always is Jack White’s guitar playing, just the tone of the guitar makes you want to listen to it. If the tone isn’t enough there are plenty of good riff like in “Offend in Every way” There is surprising breadth of this album with good songs in all directions. From the folksy “Hotel Yorba” to the punk rock “Fell in love with a girl” to the children's song “We’re going to be friends”. All good songs in their own right and impressive they are on the same record. The 40 min runtime feels like a bit longer. It is however a good record, not as good as Elephant though. Weak 4.
Meh.
Pretty decent with some classic songs I didn’t know where by them. Some bad songs and the length brought it down from 4 to 3 stars for me
Uspakajająco pozytywny rock :)
Not my type of music.
Energetic <3<3<3 We're going to be friends
Great stuff - as we should expect from Jack White. Even Meg's semi-shotty drumming give the White Stripes something special.
Not my vibe. Couldn’t really get into it
Less polished than the others. Didn’t love it
Recording in a studio for the first time did not take the garage out of the rock! Even then it was possible to hear the beginning of what would come later with the expansion of musicians, instrumentation and genres.
Pretty cool album. The most striking part of the experience for me was realizing that the "I can tell that we are gonna be friends" song was by the fucking White Stripes and not someone in the Kimya Dawson indie sphere.
I probably wouldn't actively put on this album to listen to as a whole, but I wouldn't be bothered if I had to listen to it again. Some nice songs, 1 iconic one, some average ones. Overall a nice sound.
Simplicity at its best. They feed off of each other so well that yo I forget there is only 2 of them in the band. This is what brought back rock music after grunge. Sure, Jack White may look like Michael Jackson’s brother at this point but so what, this was long before that happened. 16 songs and only 2 I don’t care for. That really doesn’t matter because this album takes you on a foot tapping journey. This album is so good that your mind can lead you to believe that Meg White is a 10. Seriously. It’s that good. Choice cut: offend in every way
The first half of this album is incredible, the second half isn't quite as strong but still great. More raw than Elephant which I think is mostly a good thing, don't think it's quite as good but it's nice to have a bit of progression in the sound between albums. 4.5.
I don't really know The White Stripes well, outside of Seven Nation Army. Was surprised at how many tracks I knew on this album - Hotel Yorba, I'm Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman, Little Room, We're Going To Be Friends. I really enjoyed how experimental a lot of the album felt - like they were releasing creativity and seeing what worked. Most of it does indeed work. Loads of peppy, short tracks. Not convinced by the drumming.
Guess this would've been my first exposure to the white stripes. Hotel yorba and fell in love with a girl were pretty big. This isn't anywhere near as good as elephant, but it's a very high bar. My favourites are fell in love with a girl and we're gonna be friends. 4
Twijfelde wel over 3, vind die stem gewoon een beetje meh, maar wel hard
kind of mid and just not really what i was expecting
High 3 (6/10)
The White Stripes just sound so fucking cool, and Jack White brings it with the rock star attitude, vocals and guitar. Just irresistible rock’n’roll. 4.5 bordering on 5
The first half was at least listenable, but as soon as We're Going to Be Friends starts it's completely downhill from there
I know these songs
Very strong start, Dead leaves and dirty ground is excellent. The album as a whole felt complete, nothing out of place, a lot of variety. Cannot fault it
Pari hassua kappaletta, joita haluaisi kuulla useamman kerran. Ja toinen niistäkin on tuttu Conan O'Brienin podcastista, joten sen takia jäänyt mieleen.
big album in a little room
Absolutely influential Early 2000s rock band. Incredible album. No Seven Nation Army though so 0/10
It’s fine. Didn’t feel strongly about it one way or the other.
Some good vibes here, but a lot of the album is grating or forgettable.
I am familiar with and like some of the White Stripes' music, but I hadn't listened to White Blood Cells in a long while since most of my favorites are from Elephant. I typically enjoy Jack's riffing and somewhat wild and gritty style of playing on the electric guitar. That said, I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed some of the acoustic tracks on this album. There weren't many songs I see myself coming back to on a regular basis, but the band's unproduced garage rock sound on this album is charming. I also knew as soon as I saw The White Stripes come up on the list that the reviews would be full of people hating on Meg White's drumming. Haven't we gotten past this already? The duo works perfectly together, and if you actually take a moment to listen, you can tell how well Meg is synced up with what Jack is doing--in time, groove, and style. I don't think The White Stripes' sound would benefit from having over-embellished percussion, and they likewise don't need a bassist or backup singers or anything else because their sound is exactly what is intended. Overall, decent album, but not my favorite of The White Stripes'.
Overall is mid, but few songs are really catchy
Includes "we're going to be friends", one of my favorite songs. Great variety of melodies, solid album all the way through.
Good riffs, repetive. One and done.
apr14/25
Vannak hype számok, kicsit szar az énekes
I like Meg White.
The start was bad. Sounded like whinny country mixed with punk. About 3 songs into the album I started to enjoy it. I might try and listen again now that I know the style better.
Album has a cool simple sound, sounds as if they are just playing guitar, drums and vocals, with some overdub tracks. Not super into the album but it's aight, probably a 6/7 outta 10. Good tracks: Dead Leaves and Dirty Ground Now Mary I'm Finding it Harder To Be A Gentleman The Union Forever Fell in Love with a Girl I can't Wait (sounds like heart shaped box riff)
I listened to this album 3 times and I swear I don't remember any of it. It's not bad music at all but just forgettable. 1 star for every listen
The white stripes are back and I'm digging it! I enjoyed this album better than the last one.
Some of the best chord progressions ever written by Jack White. Some really awesome blues rock songs. Gritty, but catchy. Jacks poetry is always interesting, and has a very unique vibe.
3.5
Pretty solid
Great album by a great band, it's not my favorite by The White Stripes but it is very good none the less! I have loved the white stripes for a long time and this album is definitely one that sticks out!
Хорошо звучит
Top 3 Fell in love with a girl We're gonna be friends I can't wait
3/5
Incredible
Dead Leaves heard before did like it previously but been a long while. It's ok but nothing special.I like the energy from Hotel Yorba more.Harder to be gentleman was fairly meh. Feel in Love with a girl I like and knew I liked it before. Again prefer the faster energy.Expecting feels disjointed.little room was wtf.I like the guitar on Union Forever but again feels so disjointed. Same boy is ok but nothing special. Going to be friends is pleasant enough. The rest are nothing special
It was good. Nothing I'm dying to run out an see live. But I enjoyed parts of it.
Обычный рокешник с необычными текстами 6/10
3.5
Didn'T really do that much for me
i guess
You might think that cutting back a band to just guitar, drums and vocals (and a smidge of piano) would be limiting, but The White Stripes demonstrate a variety of different styles and sounds on this album, starting with mostly grungy garage rock and touching on acoustic folk, country and punk to various degrees. I think I might have avoided this at the time, thinking it was style over substance (and the pretence of being siblings was a bit creepy), but this is solid stuff. The only thing I’d take issue with is the lyrical content of some of Jack White’s lyrics which come over as a bit whiney and ‘but I’m a nice guy, why don’t women like me?’. I’m giving it another listen though, which should tell you something.
Clearly their early records are more enjoyable than the latest ones; more spontaneous, rawer, rougher on the edges, a bit more all over the place. I was never really into the garage revival, but this is good shit nonetheless.
I love punk rock in general
I use to love them for the first couple records and then fell out of love with them. Listening again I remember exactly why I loved them. They're exactly what we needed in the early 2000's.
как-то кисло...
I knew 'Fell In Love With a Girl' before and had seen this around but never listened before. I liked 'Now Mary' right away. I think this is currently 4/5 for me but definitely has 5 star potential so I'm giving it 5.
Kinda scream. The same boy.. Is kinda nice tho
amazing album, would give 6 stars out of 5
What I really liked about this album are the voice, the guitar tone, the little details that they sometimes add and the diversity (like the fusion with country). And because there's really nothing more to say about this album, I can affirm that this was a really fun and great experience.
I approached this album with some hesitation and apprehension. Having heard it many times in the past, it evoked memories from a period of my life I'd rather forget. However, upon listening, I found it surprisingly enjoyable. Revisiting the album made me appreciate its quality and relevance during its time.
Love this album, it has been one of my loyal companions since high school and all the way through college. No way this isn't a 10/10 I relistened to this while playing the Boo levels in Super Mario 64
It many songs that I've heard before that I could not did not know the title of. Amazing album
I liked a couple of songs, but overall didn’t care for this album
Crude high school garage band.
With the 2000s and the decline of grunge, rock was in need of a revival. There appeared a few main paths towards rock exploration: either you take the Butt Rock with all of its aggressive drunk, divorced dad tendencies as they pushed you to push your fist through the drywall; or you can allow a new exploration of blues and indie influences with some absolutely torturous guitar riffs. This is the later, music that is poetic and beefy. Jack White taking cheaply built guitars and absolutely ripping them apart along with Meg's simplistic, yet mathematical drum beats adds up to some gut punching beauty. I personally love both avenues of 2000s rock, save for the Hinder, Five Finger Death Punch, Avenged Sevenfold nonsense. However, I would not lie to myself and say the path that Jack White forged isn't infinitely more impactful to the advancement of modern rock, because it absolutely is. Chicago took Blues and added electricity, The White Stripes took Chicago Blues and created mayhem.
Pre-listening: exciting, a band from my teen era! I have only ever listened to Get Behind Me Satan in full. During listening: absolutely delightful to revisit this sound. It brings me back. I love the grimy, grinding sound of early 2000s indie rock, and The White Stripes encapsulate a lot of that. Love them. Listened to it twice today.
Amazing album so many different styles of songs. Loved it!
Feels like a mix between the Beatles and nirvana with a little ska
There are some real bangers on this album. It gets a little less great towards the end, and I'd have loved more of the precious acoustic stuff but great album.
Not quite my sort of music, Aluminium is a very bizarre “song”
Well done but not an album a bunch of tracks
As I said before - Jack White just gets rock and roll. Makes things sound so easy. This album is just so raw. The drumming is so simple but so unique. Great band. Great album, but I prefer the more polished sound they got later.
Jack White has come so far from wearing his little peppermint outfits, pretending his ex-wife was his sister days, huh? Didn’t see it coming. This album still sounds just as good as it did when it came out, which is nice. Not earth-shattering for me, though.
Sounds like a soundtrack for a Michael Cera movie (complementary).
Big fan of Jack White and his early work, so I gotta go 5 with this one.
You’re gonna need a bigger room…
This is one of my all time favorite records. A true, raw, garage rock LP full of bangers. All that we loved about The White Stripes in a single, awesome package. It has some weaker songs, but still delivers in a nice all-rounded package.
We're going to be friends
Increíble, genuinamente no pensé que me fuera a gustar tanto y ahora es la única razón por la que decido seguir con esto Awuwuuu
Cooler dan verwacht
Клевый альбом, но супер трека нету
standard Stripes LP, nothing really stands out.
Good album. Very much like the other White Stripes albums.
Are very important.
Absolute classic. Tons of hits. One of the white stripes top 3 albums easily. It still is super bloated and long however. But still a must listen, and most likely you already have.
Gute drei Sterne
One or 2 of these songs at a time is fun. A whole album is way too much.
yeeee
It's hard to not give this 5 Stars, but knowing the fully-realized Elephant is on the horizon, makes this proof of concept a 4.5
It’s so simplistic it’s hard to define what makes it so great. They have mastered the art of rock.
Surprised that i really enjoyed this. Some tracks remind me of the doors and good to know there is more interesting songs than seven nation army
Enjoyed this far more than I expected to, may be because of the hipster glasses I'm wearing tho
lots of good ones, a classic
Sometimes Jack White’s voice got on my nerves. Some of the songs felt repetitive. The White Stripes seem like a band I should be more into, but I just don’t really feel a connection to the music. That said, it’s still enjoyable to listen to, it just doesn’t really grab me. I do like the guitar on quite a few of the songs. I don’t know, it’s good but it’s not my favorite.
god bless Jack White
Realising now that I haven't heard their first three albums at all, only Elephant onwards. Giving this a 2 as I'm not super keen on it, feels a bit aimless/loose compared to later stuff
Really enjoyed this, more than I was expecting to.
A really great album. Between hearing Elephant a few weeks ago, and this album today, I actually like the White Stripes more than I realized. That being said, Elephant is the stronger of the two albums. This was is a little more chaotic and doesn’t hold together as well. “We’re Going to be Friends” has been a favorite song of mine for ages, but it sticks out like a sore thumb on this album. Still gave a bunch of tracks to enjoy again and again, so I like it overall.
I have a similar problem with all the white stripes albums: I like some of the tracks, but the albums as a whole feel so repetitive I can't imagine myself willfully choosing to listen through one without something like this to keep me going. I like the parts of this album that remind me a little of you are free by cat power. The overplayed hits are all good but I can't really get behind them either since they've been done to death. Overall a good but not great album.
Good tunes reminding me of teen days - thanks!
There's some highs on this album but a lot of filler too (especially towards the back half). The good news is the songs are short so if you don't like one it's over quickly. Jack White is definitely an incredibly talented musician. 6/10 (3/5)
Average stuff, some songs were good, but the record had a level of randomness in theme which I didn't like. Favorite track: We're going to be friends. Overall score: 6.0/10
Old favourite
Previously rated: Get Behind Me Satan (4/5) ****************************** Solidly entertaining album. I knew We're Going to be Friends well from multiple viewings of Napoleon Dynamite. A couple others sounded familiar like they were in a commercial or something. Big drums sounds, distorted guitar and vocals which were a bit annoying at points.
I’m not crazy about the grunge alternative rock from the early 2000s, but I really really like the production here
Fun. I love Jack White's voice. I didn't know they toured with Sleater-Kinney and Pavement. I should explore this more.
A 4, bordering on 4.5. Maybe a 7 Nation Army away from being a 5. A number of fun, 2000s Alt rock hits, including some I wasn't really familiar with, but definitely the kind of album you want to see from this list.
Pretty good album. Some more tracks from this album deserved radio play, and some sound like they would be better off on a movie soundtrack. They're very sound-bitey. But a decent album overall. My Rating: 3/5
It's a little to unpolished to stand out too much. I enjoyed it, but it mostly left me craving a better version of this style of music.
Some total bangers on this album. These guys rock pretty hard and I enjoy most of the songs.
At the time The White Stripes felt like a breath of fresh air - a stripped-back, old school garage rock band hitting the mainstream. They're still a good listen, but with a bit of hindsight, maybe didn't deserve all the hype they got.
Used to jam to this back in the day, good shit🤘
Hotel Yorba was my entry to The White Stripes and this was the first album of theirs that I bought. Fresh sounds, interesting vocals and writing, good variety of tone - I like this album quite a bit.
Good tunes.
Love the few singles on here especially “Fell In Love with a Girl” but this band has never been my thing. It reminds me of high school and hipster kids lurching on to this band. Just wasn’t my scene. Jack White is talented but his lo-fi Blues Rock isn’t for me It’s listenable and will give it a light 3/5 but it’s probably more a 2.5 for myself
White stripes for me are a hit and miss - I do feel like they try to give the audience something different, but I'm not sure they always hit the spot. Mostly enjoyed it
8/10 really good would listen again
Some of this was interesting but overall not for me. I did like the song We’re going to be friends though.
This was pretty good, I think it would require a few more listens to determine if I'd add it into my rotation.
some classic white stripe songs on here (dead leaves, hotel yorba, fell in love with a girl) but a whole lot of nothing-songs too just nothing super interesting outside of the bangers
I really liked this album by the White Stripes. A great sound. 5/5
Sometimes is hard to get through the Stratocaster whine, other times just impossible to listen to (e.g. Aluminum). Yet there are some interesting tunes here and there. Luckily the songs are usually short. 4/10
Some good stuff in here, kind of brought down by some of the angst in the lyrics and general 'don't care' attitude.
The first half contained some ok songs with good sound and lyrics. But then the sound gets thinner and the lyrics become juvenile. It is unrefined in a thin and uninteresting way. Some of these concepts of songs could have used more time in the oven.
Really cool that Jack White has been Jack White since the beginning. He's such a unique dude, but his magic seems to be a lack of excess or change. Like he knows who he is, knows what he likes, but still finds manages to create stuff that's fresh. He's tapped into something pure. Also seems like he hasn't let production get in the way. The spirit is the through line. 4.5
1️⃣Hotel Yorbe 2️⃣The Same Boy You've Always Known 3️⃣We're Going To Be Friends 4️⃣Offend In Every Way 5️⃣I Can't Wait
Very Hood album classic Indie rock 15/10
This was fine? I was just waiting for it to finish.
норм рокешник базовый чем то арктик манкис предсказали
Much more bland than I remembered.
Nostalgic classic.
I will never give a shit about ""The White Stripes""
Fuck Rush and all the other overblown prog bands. *This* is perfect rock and roll. Long live Jack and Meg. 5+/5
I love this….takes me back to being 12 and I loved it then too
Like this one 🫡
Good, but not sure if I liked the flow of the album - I more so liked the individual songs but not necessarily as an album
Objectively good, just not super my vibe. The one song I do really like is I can tell we’re gonna be friends, which is the one most different from the rest of the album. Overall, I’m glad I listened, but not going to add any of these songs to a playlist or my liked songs.
White Blood Cells is who The White Stripes are. Raw, tight bluesy, punk rock. Fell in Love With a Girl, is as simple of a masterpiece you’ll ever hear. 8.8/10
I know some people are amazed at the guitar and the simplicity. I just always find Jack White to be kinda a one trick pony. Good. Not great.
Decent
Very good.
Очень примитивный гаражный рок. Лично для меня не хватило большего инструментала, хоть и звучание электрогитары мне по большей части здесь зашло. Когда услышал звучание пианино/синтезатора, очень обрадовался, когда понял, что это единственный инструмент на композиции, очень расстроился. В целом малое кол-во и не удивительно, ведь участника всего 2. Иногда были через чур надоедливые аритмичный треки, иногда слишком высокие частоты режущие слух (и это на хорошо сбалансированных наушниках)
Good
I love The White Stripes. They introduced me to indie rock. It hasn't gotten boring since. Love the guitar. Love the drums.
Probably the weakest White Stripes album and second weakest Jack White album after Blunderbuss but it still has bangers and it's fun.
good record, really enjoyed it, had a more punky feeling
It was fine. Not sure if I was a huge fan of this one. Got bored
Noisy. Constantly sounds like Jack’s voice is gonna break any second. Which isn’t surprising as he’s always shouting. Also sounds out of tune most of the time. Some catchy riffs and melodies, and a few mellow/quieter moments. Glad the songs are all quite short.
I have only ever dipped my toe in with this band, dabbled if you like. So I listened to this one from start to finish and pretty much enjoyed all of it.
6.5/10 Tweede helft een stuk beter dan de eerste helft.
I fell in love with a girl, a classic, never gets old. Didn’t know hotel Yorba, it was fun. The same boy you’ve always known gave me Jeff Buckley vibes
Not only they aren't siblings, but they also DIVORCED when doing this album? You got me fooled Mr. White and you too Mrs. White. Death to all of them. The album itself is kinda aight. 3.5/5
Ожидал большего
Super interesante
Talk to me Jack
Top to bottom, this is classic White Stripes. A blend of blues, folk, punk, country and rock with a minimalist structure. Loud and raucous
A nearly flawless album (I don’t love “I Can Learn”). Boundless energy.
3.5
Alright. Ok. Interesting. Big potential here. Well. Kind of big. I’ve heard about it the White Stripes and the danger of being overplayed is looming large over the darkened figures, uh, mugging? The band? After a hard zero out of England yesterday, let’s see if we can be liberated by the freedom fighters of the good ol’ US of A (not good or even really that ol’. worst country in the world by a land slide). Oh my sweet lord. Fuzz. I can’t believe every album here that has any substance of sound seems to get panned by the “WOUD NOISES SCARE ME” crowd, but it’s nice to hear some vitriol and punch. Solid. Did not expect this sound. Not sure if it’s a cover, but either way. A fun track. Another nice track. Hard to even discern highlights. Loving this so far. A classic. A hit. A touch overplayed, but that vocal bridge into the refrain. So fantastic. Send this man… to TOLEDO. NOOOOAHSHAHH PLEASE GOD NO. NOT TOLEDO. A beautiful track with a horrifying prospect. The strange yodel interlude didn’t even lose me. Can’t believe I haven’t explored White Stripes “deep tracks” further. The Union Forever?? Workers anthem. All my boys support Local 309. Random union number so I don’t know if it’s like international clowns united or whatever. This song is like Indie Black Sabbath. Incredible, well, until the a capella part. Still a haunting close. Yeah this song is the best so far. The one slight misstep for me. Just a little boring. Not bad by any means, but a little bit if a reminder that real life exists on this journey through excellent music. Oh hell yeah. Napoleon Dynamite intro. Despite being 5 when this puppy dropped, this is in my exact wheelhouse. A pretty song, with a fun association. I’ll ignore the one lip smack because this is a classic. The almost western elements to so many of the riffs works so well. Creates another fantastic atmosphere here. A little more indie/Radiohead peering through here. Not as much my speed but still super likeable. We are nowhere bad. Oh the Planet Caravan voice effect. Allow me to hit this comically large bong that is rigged into the piping of my home. I don’t even need it to enjoy this thing. Who do you think you are?? Huh?? Huh?? I’m very demanding today. I’m all amped up on terrible coffee that hits the tastebuds like a shot of whiskey. Oh and this album. Whoa. Another country tinged song. Honestly, a little thin. Of course I’m always honest, but my writing proficiency is dwindling as time marches on. I’m sure I’ll be stricken with illiteracy as soon as our brains are mined to produce endless profit for 150 despots in 5 years or so. We’re so close to the promised land! Another spaghetti western accompaniment. Can I still say that? Doesn’t it just mean “directed by an Italian?” So can I call movies directed by white people “Gentrification Comedies?” Maybe “School Shooter Period Pieces.” We’ll workshop it. And the piano plays us off. A decent closer with some excellent vocals. How can two people make something this heavy that isn’t purely metallic? While not perfect, at times it’s Sabbath run through a 2000s indie filter with flourishes of poetic brilliance. This shows that you can be the 3 I’s: intellectual, interesting, and introspective (Sorry Mr. Angle, copyright infringement) while still playing the living hell out of your instruments. Don’t go quietly into that art rock album, posers. Put this in your comically large bongs, smoke it and exhale the billow into the annals of the hall of classics. There it will linger until I damn well say so. 4.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Fell in Love With a Girl, Expecting, Union Forever, We’re Going to be Friends, Offend in Every Way, Aluminum
White Blood Cells suffers from late-album filler-itis. The first half of this album is an easy five, just purely stripped down and gritty garage rock. Unfortunately the quality takes a sharp downturn a little past the halfway point and becomes pretty boring. 4/5
Solid
This is the album that got me into the White Stripes originally. Still love listening to it from start to finish. It's a great album - very different from their blues-rock prior albums, and starts their transition to being a rock band with this garage rock style album. So good! From start to finish, I can't get enough of this album.
Quite good.
Haven't listened to this album in a long time! Some classics on here but the supporting tracks are really lame.
7/10
I expected to dislike this album a lot more than I did, I was not a fan when they first came out, but it was enjoyable!
I admit I was a real white stripes hater when it came out and my husband rocked the cd driving around skipping to the popular song's … but here we are 24 years later and I remember some of the lyrics. So theres that. I guess it’s not that bad if you like the Beatles or Nirvana or an amalgamation of garage psych blues best of’s.
I never gave this a chance before. I am a big fan of the lo-fi sound. There are a lot of hits on this one. I will be listening to it way more.
It's fine, but not sure I would listen again.
I can't wait for this record to be over. I really don't like the white stripes
Never been too into Jack White, or blues rock, really. This and Elephant are by far my favourites of his because I feel like they don't fall into all the blues rock tropes that hurt my enjoyment. Love how noisy this is but I especially love the moments when it quiets down. Meg kills it on the drums.
no complaints
Rating based on how much I loved when it was new
Rock music had been struggling a little bit when this album came out and breathed new life into the genre. It's raw and unapologetic and leaves you wanting more.
That's Icky
nah:/
I enjoyed this - I learned the term "Garage rock" with this album. Also didn't know the "I just think we're going to be friends" song was White Stripes
The white stripes did their northern Canadian tour in 2005, stopping in Whitehorse and doing an afternoon show downtown under blue skies. It made me realize the amount of organized noise two people can make if they really try. They grow on me a little more every time I hear them. I do like their later stuff more, but I do like the rawness of these tracks. 3.5
Excellent debut and very much captures the feeling of 2001. Has grown on me steadily since its release.
I get why people like them, but to me the sloppy instrumentation is just annoying
Bored
I liked that all of the songs were short. Started off strong, I liked the garage band vibes. I remember listening to the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast back in the day and they used We're Going to be Friends as their theme song, didn't know it was by the White Stripes. Kind of fun, low 4.
one of the songs was pretty staticy did not fw it. other than that pretty mid
6/10 - The white stripes are kind of boring I have learned. I thought that more of their songs would be like seven nation army but I guess not.
I was talking to Alex about my feelings towards REM today. I feel pretty much the same way about the white stripes. Always solid, never really blows me away
🤘
great album. there's definitely a "white stripes sound." It's always amazing to me though how much energy and "power" they can produce from just 2 people. Jack White is a super talented guitar player and a great writer.
I appreciate how dedicated they are to being a two piece. most bands just add bass in the studio, but none to be found here (even if sometime it’s to their deferment) I like the songs that are a little more pumped up, but even the low-key ones feature some great songwriting. do miss that bass tho :( 7/10
From the squealing feedback right off the bat this album announces it is going to be quick and dirty. "We Are Gonna Be Friends" feels so innocent it's nearly out of place but it is a nice grace from otherwise hard, fast tracks
Some good tracks here, pretty nostalgic but not that special.
Short songs, sparse production, garage rock retro sound. I enjoyed this quite a bit, just about enough for 4 stars, but nowhere near 5. No one song stood out as being incredible, but similarly, none of them were bad. I feel it deserves a relisten.
Solid outing.
Great distortion, lots of energy. Production is really my kind of thing - guitars are wide and airy, drums are big and warm with such a characterful vocal over the top. Feels pretty alive, this stripped down and fuzzed out americana! Favourite tracks: Dead Leaves, Hotel Yorba (great opening combo!), Offend In Every Way, I Can't Wait
Le générateur a été clément pour ma fête, contrairement à la blague Swiftienne de l’an passé. Du bon rock straight forward, j’suis jamais contre
Mid
A grimy fun record. Several tracks feel like fillers, it could have done with 4 songs less
Really good. Always enjoy jack white.
Divers album, paar hele leuke en mooie nummers, af en toe wat mindere
Solid from start to finish.
Esta gente tiene un problema grande de identidad. No se si estoy escuchando Rolling, Bowie, Aerosmith, o qué, pero es un rotundo no. Rescato "We're going to be friends". Solo por eso no se clara 1 Estrella. Nota: 2.2
4.16⭐️
This is an interesting album that I think ultimately is reflective of its time and not much more. The garage/blues boom of the early 2000s was clearly kicked off in part by this, but there are few tracks here that work. Jack White is an incredibly accomplished and talented songwriter, and you can see streaks of that on this album - but it falls short of impressing me in any way. Songs like Fell in Love With A Girl, Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, or We're Going to Be Friends are classics surrounded by mundane songs (Aluminum, I Think I Smell a Rat, The Union Forever, The Same Boy, Hotel Yorba, etc.) 5/10
I really liked this album. I had heard of the band but hadn’t listened to their music. It’s a little raw, a little unpolished and authentic. Just the antidote for all the over- processed drivel that passes for music these days.
Oh no... this is considered "Classic Rock" now. Moving past that tough pill, "Fell in Love with a Girl" is a fantastic song with a visually striking music video and was my first exposure to the duo. I struggled with rating this album - I listened to it several times throughout the day and really enjoy several of the tracks, but ultimately this would not be the White Stripes I would put on if I was in the mood for their music.
One of my favorite White Stripes albums.
Hmm, it's okay, but not really gripping me.
Is this my favorite White Stripes album? No. Are The White Stripes my favorite band? Yes. Do they instantly get 5 stars on all albums that pop up here (which is 3 btw, WBC and Elephant are assumed but GBMS? Really?) also yes. 10/10
There are some tracks on this album Hotel Yorba and Fell in love with a girl are fantastic rock and roll songs. 2 minutes each of guitar music and raw energy. Great songs. Favourite song: Hotel Yorba. I have always loved this song. Least favourite: From track 10 onwards there is a lot of filler. I feel this album could easily just be the first 10 songs. I didn’t enjoy I think I smell a rat. Album artwork: Cool cover
I will never criticize the white stripes. I am so biased, jack white is one of my favorite musicians ever, some of this isn't revolutionary anymore but that's just cause everyone stole from the white stripes. Meg is a fantastic drummer and anyone who says otherwise is stupid, she's so essential to these songs.
I just can't get into The White Stripes, I've never heard a song that I would want to listen to again
I put this album on while in a small rural town in central California. One of those quintessential "one stop light town" type places. Everything had kind of a drab beige veneer, people walking along the side of the road on a dirt "sidewalk", a liquor store on every corner... The kind of city that nurtures the kind of angst that inspires kids to make this raw, distorted, barely held together garage rock. I've been a fan of this album since it was fresh, but it was the perfect time and place to give it another listen and feel more immersed into it than ever.
OVERALL: I think only 4-5 instruments were used. Very strong opening and ending, but some songs in the middle aren't too memorable. I don't really like Jack's voice on most of the songs, and I find myself preferring the instrumental much more than the vocals or lyrics on basically every song except for Little Room and whatever Aluminum was. Speaking of which, Aluminum is so unbelievably awful that it forbids me from giving this anything higher than a 3. There are some pretty good songs on here, but when this album gets bad it gets really bad. Fell In Love With A Girl, We're Going To Be Friends, and I Can Learn are probably my favorites. SONG AVG: 7.08/10 PERSONAL RATING: 6/10 Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground: Pretty solid lyrics and guitar riffs, and it can get stuck in your head pretty easily. This is more "noise" than song, but it's still pretty good. 8.25/10 Hotel Yorba: I do not like Jack's voice on this. Other than that, it's very okay overall. Pretty catchy with above average storytelling. The drums are pretty nice. 6.5/10 I'm Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman: Pretty good instruments and a nice message, everything else is just okay. 7.25/10 Fell In Love With A Girl: This is such a jump in quality. Absolutely a classic, great drums, guitar, and vocals (usually). I don't really like it when the instruments cut out and it's just Jack's singing, but it isn't that bad. Incredible music video. 9.75/10 Expecting: Pretty interesting guitar, but it gets a little repetitive. Not much to say about this, pretty similar to other songs vocally. Some interesting lyrics I guess. 7/10 Little Room: Interlude (I think). It sounds like it was made by a 13 year old. Why is he yodeling? The drums aren't anything special. I think this is supposed to be about how they started? Thank god this is so short. 3.25/10 The Union Forever: Nice guitar. Interesting concept for the lyrics (literally just lines from Citizen Kane), I don't think I like it that much. The lack of an instrumental during verse 3 is very weird. I guess the instruments sound good. 7.25/10 The Same Boy You've Always Known: I actually like Jack White's voice here, and the instruments are very good. Sometimes Jack's voice sounds kinda weird, but that's my only complaint. 9.75/10 We're Going To Be Friends: Is this the "No Surprises" of the album? Sounds very different from basically everything else so far. Really sweet and an above average story, not much wrong with it. I guess it might be boring sometimes? 9.75/10 Offend In Every Way: Nice guitar riffs, also just overall great instrumental. Pretty interesting message that connects with the album cover. 8.5/10 I Think I Smell A Rat: Pretty good intro, but I don't really like Jack's voice here. The guitar can be a little annoying and repetitive, but it's not too bad. 6.75/10 Aluminum: What happened. Very experimental, which I don't mind if done well, but this is actually abhorrent. This plays in every circle of hell. I guess it's kinda interesting, the guitar is sometimes bearable, and the drums aren't horrible. Still, I would never want to listen to this again. 1.9/10 I Can't Wait: Fantastic guitar and drums, also pretty good vocal performance. The only thing is that the lyrics aren't good, but they don't need to be. This just has to sounds good, and it does. 9/10 Now Mary: Very good, overall great performance. Much better vocal performance than before. Why is this less than 2 minutes long. 9.5/10 I Can Learn: Same as Now Mary but longer. Good overall, with pretty good vocal performance, could honestly work as the ending to the album. 9.75/10 This Protector: The only instrument here is piano, and I like piano. Nice little duet and works well as an outro. 9/10
Indie taste heresy #257: I bore quite quickly listening to The White Stripes. I'm bumping this up to a 4 as it's got so much strong stuff on it but it's marginal. 40 mins but feels like 55.
It's ok. I'm not a big White Stripes/Jack White fan. It was catchy.
Fun! I started hating this band because I was young and stupid but now I really like them as background music.
White Stripes and any Jack White project get 5/5 from me. 5/5
Some cool songs, too orchestrated
40 minutes shouldn't be daunting, but this 40 minutes was. Found this difficult to listen to. Lackadaisical drumming and guitar playing throughout. Very few albums have I stopped, but only got half way through this before I felt I’d heard enough and wonder how they managed to become as big as they did. The musical version of Napoleon Dynamite.
Of the three (THREE) white stripes album I've had, I enjoyed this the most. Massively loses momentum towards the end but overall a stronger collection of tracks than the others
This one brings back a lot of memories. I’ve been listening to this album a lot in high school. Now after all these years it feels like it didn’t get old or anything, it’s even better. Pure fun and rock and roll, so much better than all of those countless 70s hard rock albums on this list. I’m not giving it a 5 since I gave one to Elephant and I think it’s better but yeah this one is as close as it gets
4.5
Kick ass
Really enjoyable rock album
It's alright. So so. Basic. I'm never going to listen to it again.
The first half of this album is one of the best starts to an album ever - sadly does not sustain to the end
This is one of the best albums of all time in my opinion. My love of TWS and Jack came from this, hearing Fell in Love... On music channels, dead leaves, hotel Yorba. The imagery, the musicianship, the riffs and Drums as I'd never heard them used before! I know the whole thing back to front side to side and word for word.
7/10. I believe that The White Stripes were pretty badass. Although, I don't think that they need three inclusions in the series.
Yep. This is very good. Rock. Me likey.
Kinda cool sound but ultimately dull and repetitive. 'I can tell we're gonna be friends' is a cut above the rest and a deceptively simple and wholesome song
Own it. Still an awesome album
Decent listen. Not everything worked but I got into it a little. Not as good as Elephant. Also, might be too many White Stripes albums in the book. Still, it's fine.
Johnny Cash at his iconic best.
‘ In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 497 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time’ says Wikipedia. On one listen, I’m surprised it was that high. I’ll admit, I’ve never heard of this band til now and I didn't need to. It says nothing to me. But I’m increasingly convinced how consequential you think an album is depends on where you were at in your life when you first heard it. Meaning anything you heard in your teens and 20s will probably seem more consequential than when you’re older. I’m probably far too old for it cos it just sounds like the same stuff the neighbourhood boys were bashing out at the local hall in the 70s.
Excellent. The best stuff is sort of front-loaded, though, which means by the end of the album the garage noisiness starts to grate just a bit.
Maybe my favorite overall White Stripes album.
Nicht so gut wie das Folgealbum
Har lyssnat rätt mycket på detta album nu men inte riktigt lyckats "bryta" igenom. Har inte lyssnat så mycket på the white stripes, men fått för mig att jag skulle gilla det. Men... Det är inte dåligt, men inte heller svinbra. Det är ok. Tycker inte heller nån låt riktigt sticker ut. Synd. Och onödigt!
Garagesound brukar inte vara min grej men det här var cleanare/bättre än mycket annat och jag tycker att skivan som helhet är hyfsat bra om än lite ojämn. Skulle möjligen växa med fler genomlyssningar men har inte tid med det tyvärr.
Writing is good(except Little Room) but Jack White's voice annoys me. Drummer is disappointing. Little Room is the potentially the worst song I've heard doing this list so far. 2 stars just for We're Gonna Be Friends.
The White Stripes are easily one of the best and most consistent rock bands of their time. They thrive off simplicity and have made their unpolished sound so iconic. With that they have managed to create some of the most explosive and energetic rock music ever, all packaged perfectly in this album.
I discovered them through De Stijl, but this was the album that made me love the White Stripes. In fact, I don't think any of their other albums can live up to this one. Great mix of garage rock, blues, punk, R&B and just a primal thump of garbage. So good.
Love it.
Pleasantly surprised. 1st half of the album was much better than the second. Fave: we're going to be friends Least Fave: I think i smell a rat
And enjoyable album, with a couple of really great songs that stick in your head. All in all pleasant to listen to.
could i write poetry to this? raw and complexly simple ones. good. Y
All White Stripes albums are great. The first three in particular are raw and amplify the capabilities of an act that constrained themselves to just vocals, guitar, drums, and piano. Speaking of the drums... There has long been a debate over whether Meg White is a good or bad drummer. I fall into the pro-Meg camp. Her style of playing is exactly what the music calls for and any added complexity would have diminished the songs greatly. I would give this one four stars, as I like their self-titled debut the best. However, I'll give this an extra because the White Stripes knew when to end the band and keep their integrity mostly intact. Their closest contemporary (and perceived rival band), The Black Keys chose another path. They kept adding more and more instruments and became a bloated, overproduced version of themselves. Online beefing with fans and celebrities alike did not serve them well. The Black Keys were last seen canceling an ill-advised arena tour and instead playing a big-ticket party for a bunch of Trump-loving crypto-bros.
I was excited about this when it came out, but it never really held my attention. Nothing bad, really. Just kind of meh. 2.5 stars.
This album just doesn't hit like it once did for me.
Best White Stripes Album I have heard so far. I can get behind this album.
Garage Rock from the turn of the millenium. Sounds like it, too. 2.5/5
2+ Stars (6/15)
One of ,y all time favs
Love the White Stripes- solid album.
Not a big fan of
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.
Really like le album
mwah niet zo mijn ding, vond het niet zo memorable tbh. band heeft paar goeie nummers maar daar blijft het voor mij wel beetje bij
Has much of the same problems that I have with other White Stripes albums: good singles, forgettable rest, all rock music that has largely been done better by both bands that came before and their contemporaries. The problem is that the White Stripes rarely write songs worth hearing, as the albums come across as shallow. What's worth hearing?
Wasn’t a fan of garage rock or its early revival , but I found white strips pretty fun to listen to … multiple songs stood out in the first side ; I wonder if this is a gateway for me to listen to more of the genre
Fantastic album. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to it again.
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!
Interesante. Tampoco conocía el álbum más allá de "Fell In Love With A Girl". No fue para tanto.
4-
This album made me buy an electric guitar. It was like the big fish of rock and roll was in the bottom of the boat almost dead, but with a mighty kick of its tail leaped back in the water to survive another day. And I will always have a crush on Meg.
Another classic.
Jack white sucks
Great indie/psychedelica rock.
Love this album, people still know how to make rock music even in the 2000s.
Wild nothingness
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.
Garage rock is a big blind spot for me. There are some undeniably good tunes on here, but like most rock of the early aughts not made by QotSA, it doesn't really tickle my fancy. It's bluesy and catchy but not particularly interesting to me. Maybe it's because I've listened to Elephant for years that this doesn't hit as much for me.
Very White Stripes. You love them or you just don't bother changing the station when they're on.
Listening to this reminds me of being in college. Some classic hits on this album. Never thought Meg White was that good of a drummer though. Most songs sound the same. Jack White is a great guitarist.
The cover artwork of The White Stripes' White Blood Cells is a striking visual statement that encapsulates the band's raw energy and commentary on the music industry. Featuring Jack and Meg White surrounded by a swarm of cameras, it cleverly critiques the invasive nature of media attention. The stark red, white, and black color scheme enhances its boldness, making it instantly recognizable. This artwork not only reflects the duo's aesthetic but also embodies the tension between artistic integrity and commercialism. Overall, it serves as a powerful introduction to the album's themes, earning it a solid four-star rating for its creativity and impact. Album artworks rated: 16/1001 Music's alright.
Outstanding. This album has a little bit of everything for everyone, and it cooks. 5/5
This was pretty good, a lot better than I was hoping. I could hear lots of Blues influences with a very raw feel. I would definitely listen to this again.
i forgot how many bops The White Stripes had - the beauty of it is that it really isn't that complicated as far as instrumentation or song structure. The incredible takeaway is the fact the structure and the development of the hooks, the drums, the sudden changes in tempo and style of a track, and the wide ranging subject matter. Really a wonderful album.
This didn't move my give AF meter
It’s alright, some songs are better than others.
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
2.8
Crap. And shit crap at that.
solid
Grunge/Garage rock is not my cup of tea
Jack white's singing voice stops this from being a good album. Also a little one-dimensional.