White Blood Cells

„Since the Velvet Underground appeared in the late ’60s, the most inventive rock music had become increasingly minimal and messy. Popular rock, though, like jazz and classical before it, was settling into genre, replete with strictly defined earmarks, so anything that went in new directions was considered „fringe.” Soon you had dying industrial town misfits like the Stooges, MC5, and the Electric Eels recording raw rants about suburban dullsville, fascism, race riots, and hopped-up and horny runaways to an audience of few; while Jethro Tull, Yes, Pink Floyd, etc. were readying the mass music-buying hordes for eleven-minute suites about gnomes. Now really, which one sounds more intriguing?„ Eric Davidson, The Gunk Punk Undergut, 1988-2001 White Stripes want to be the first sound, xeroxing all music ideas from Mick Collins, but paradoxically are the second, playing for acclaim and taking credit for someone else work. Bedsides, Jack White is an asshole. Fuck this band.

would rather watch cells at work

Cool, fairly raw sound. Overall I liked it, though not enamored of every song.

Det finns en otämjd entusiasm här som saknas på senare WS-skivor. En stark trea.

WS är rätt trevliga i mindre doser. De har ett sound som inte går att ta miste på. Ett stort sådant, inte minst med hänsyn taget till den minimala sättningen. Å andra sidan blir det också en tydlig begränsning. Förutom några undantag med lugnare, mindre skramliga låtar, låter det rätt mycket lika spår efter spår. WS-soppan mättar rätt snabbt. Saknar också de där spåren som likt på Elephant, sticker ut och rycker med en lite extra.

To much rock for my tastes. I won't be back to hear it again.

I really like the raw and unpolished feel of this album. I'm not sure where "We're Going to Be Friends" came from but it serves as a lovely break and pivot for the album. It is rougher around the edges than Elephant but enjoyable nonetheless

Quintessential Stripes. Gnarly guitar tone with quirky experimentation and top notch songwriting. Cut “Aluminum” and “Now Mary” and it gets full marks.

This record is revolutionary in how simple it is. But revolution alone is not what makes a movement great.

Loud, rudimentary, and above all boring. 40 minutes of distortion in 2 minute snippets got old fast. I can understand the appeal of this album, but it is not at all for me

Good energy on this record Fave track: We're Gonna be Friends

Yet another band with too many inclusions. This one was dreadfully boring and forgettable.

They are great and this had a lot more of their best songs than I thought

Monday, 2 November, 2026 As a Detroiter, this album and the White Stripes have a particular place in my heart. This album is great.

interesting..

I liked only one song

I love these guys but this one isn’t my favorite.

Solid with some absolute bangers.

This felt like a collection of songs rather than a cohesive album, especially when compared to "Blunderbuss" from White which I got recent enough to keep comparing it to this album

как-то средненько не хватило драйва все в пределах жанра и того что я уже где-то от кого-то слышал никакого открытия кроме одного трека 2.8

Strong all the way through.

Excellent album, the first one on the list so far (no 11) where I own the record.

The White Stripes are striping

While my group has gotten other White Stripes/Jack White albums, this one is certainly among the most well-regarded, and for a damn good reason. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Our last White Stripes album on the list, and I’m pleased to report it’s a good one. Much like Elephant spoke for itself musically, this is just a well done set of tracks. Sometimes, that’s all you need. Jack & Meg do a great job here, especially for 16 tracks seemingly recorded in just under 4 days. A lot of the first half is generally centered around love & the stress that comes with trying to keep your head through all of its ups & downs. It gets a little less straightforward on the back half of the album, but I’m fine with the slightly more cryptic stuff. It makes for decent variety, and it all contrasts well with something as sweet as “We're Going to Be Friends”, which I’ve genuinely always thought was a Jack Johnson song. It turns out the version I heard on the Curious George soundtrack years ago was a cover. The revelation here left me a bit stunned, honestly. (I’ve never seen Napoleon Dynamite, sue me.) So, why a 4.5 and not a flat 5? I think there’s a few tracks that feel just a bit awkward lyrically (“Expecting” felt soured with the pregnancy angle & “I Can Learn” felt a little clingy), a few tracks that felt just a bit too simple (“Little Room” & “I Think I Smell a Rat” come to mind), and “Aluminum” just feels out of place in the flow of the album. It’s a bunch of little things. That said, only one of them really bit at me like that, and the rest are all nitpicky. When this album is rolling, especially on its biggest hits & some of its country-inspired Wilco-esque deep cuts, I think it’s just as enjoyable as Elephant, and the shorter runtime helps too. Hence, a 4.5 bumped up to a 5.

Energetic and gritty, but lots of fun. Nothing groundbreaking, but I won't ever turn my nose up at some good old fashioned Detroit indie rock. I liked more of this album than I initially thought I would. 7/10 Favorites: - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground - I'm Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman - Fell In Love With A Girl - The Union Forever - We're Going to be Friends - I Can't Wait - The Protector

Very good album. Loved the mix of 90s styles, singing and songwriting above average, several really good songs from start to finish. I love and album that makes me nod my head at the end and for time well spent giving it a listen. Favorites - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground - I’m Finding it harder to be a gentleman - The Union Forever - Same Boy You’ve Always Known - Offend in Every Way - I Can Wait - I Can Learn Rating: 8/10

This has got to be my favourite Stripes album, always love the aesthetic they have, but I feel this album harmonises all that they offered in a really effective way. There is a great variety of songs that are catchy, head nodding and heartfelt too.

Nice.

Album is good; Jack White is great; however, may need to see live to actually appreciate

I'd forgotten how good The White Stripes were. Reminds me of my student days and the impact this group had on music. Iconic.

Not bad, loved some singles, and generally, it was above 3.5 stars, so I cannot give it less.

Pretty good, sounds very garage rock, but allot of it didn’t stay with me, it sounded good just generic, like ad free rock music for YouTube, some songs were short and sweet, but some others feel like they needed more time to breath, overall, okay album

I loved Elephant so im exited to heat this one. Its way more garage rock, messy and unpolished than elephant (in a good way). I really liked the first 4 songs and "Were going to be friends". Outside of those, its a fun record but the its inconsistent. Lots of dumb short songs that arnt bad but arnt good either. They could have removed like 2-3 of them and make a more consistent record but I feel like the dumb songs make the album more unique. A strong 3.5/5

Didn't like their first album, don't have high hopes. But maybe, I listen with an open heart always. Wait I am rocking with this. It's giving me greta van fleet twenty one pilots. I'm enjoying it. Ooh nevermind. His voice is not suited to this music. Wait also cage the elephant. Very very cage the elephant. Prolly not gonna add to my playlist but I do like this. It's that indie rock early 2000s vibe. When done badly it's shit from a butt when done well it's very enjoyable. Who is going to Toledo for passion. It's Toledo. I like how raw and demo-like this sounds. It adds to the grungey emo vibe. Im not sure multiple white stripes albums were necessary but it's chill. Wait what this song is from the white stripes really? Thats crazy. I did not expect that. That's cute. I thought it was more curious George adjacent. I guess that was a cover. Crazy. That song makes me sad. I actually did like this. Favourite: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground Least favourite: Hotel Yorba/Aluminum

A handful of really good songs, but the overall songwriting wasn't quite what it would be on future White Stripes albums. Still solid, though.

Man this shit was ass 1,5/5

banger tbh w album, like 3.9

Really fantastic album. A great mix of alternative and blues music that’s always catchy.

I’ve never been fully sold on The White Stripes - always feels like there’s something missing for me to truly connect with them. This album feels the same. It’s a good listen, lots of impactful moments, a good mix of aggressive power chord indie and more considered song-writing. But still, I don’t feel blown away by any of it. A soft 7/10 for me.

I like the simplicity of the album, and the stripped-down nature of the sings. The songs don't try to be big and expansive, just two people playing music. This is a good album, but I'm not sure this is even the best White Stripes album.

Really good garage rock album, goes by quick but has a nice variation of sounds. Also "We are Going to be Friends" is such a nice break from the rock and roll. 4/5

6/10

I remember hearing this album for the first time and being floored that it was just 2 people playing. I think this album resonated at a time (and frankly still does) when music had become so electronic and over produced that bare bones rock n roll felt novel again.

Not my thing

Like it 3/5

Allrite, 2nd White Stripes album! Since every WS product is 1000 stars out of 5, let's start ranking them. I'm going to rank Get Behind Me Satan as #1 so far based on it's musical and thematic evolution over the 1st 4 albums.

Maybe my favorite white stripes album? Always goes back to that I think Jack White is cool and good, but I’m just not a huge fan of his music.

Giving a harsh edge to an indie sound. I'm a fan. There's also enough variety in tempo and melody to keep each track interesting both on it's own and as part of the whole. Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground Hotel Yorba Fell In Love With A Girl We’re Gonna Be Friends Offend In Every Way

Big Jack White guy here. Just cool man.

Good

I really liked it

This is rock solid but a bit more one-note than I remember the other white stripes album we had being. Still a fun listen.

This is how I remember the Black Keys sounding when I liked the Black Keys. Great stuff

A basic modern rock album. There's just enough to keep it from getting stale, although there's not a ton creativity here either. I love me a solid PB & Jam

Mmm, claramente no son para mi. Demasiado random. Algus clásicos que la rompen pero no puedo. 2.5

Very emotional. So far I really the like guitar tone aand the singing sounds soothing. Very bare bones sound. Songwriting's good. "We're going to be friends" hits so hard. Jack White's guitar playing is a very strong feat of this album. Sometimes you wonder what could be made with just a guitar, drums and a passion for music. Writing's a bit metaphorical in some songs, like in "I Think I smell a rat", but mostly objective and down-to-earth. Unusual and a bit innovative sound in "Aluminum". It's screeching and hard, but it is unforgettable. "I can learn" - heavy sounds(of regret?). Western soundrack-style sound, more "Dead Man" than "Good, Bad & Ugly" Love the piano on "This protector", along with the vocals. Decent ending track. 7.5/10

Eh had a brief white stripes phase but this doesn’t do much for me. It’s fine. Hotel Yorba kinda too cutesy and the other stuff kinda dull

Jack likes his fuzz effects. I haven't hear the album in a years, probably not since early 2000's. Holds up well. Promised lots.

Классный альбом, гаражный грязный рок

I never listened to White Stripes back in the day but between this and the first album we had, turns out I’m a fan. Who knew. I like the raw, simplistic nature of the songs on this album. It sounds like they could fall apart into a chaotic mess at any minute but they keep it together and make it rock.

I like the White Stripes music, but it draws on me after a while. It all starts to sound the same and I begin to desire variety. If these songs were in a mix tape of other artists i wouldn’t even notice but there is too much similarity from song to song for me to really enjoy the album.

Formulaic. Look it’s a good formula, but this album is the same song over and over again. I loved it when it first came out and still rock out when I hear it out today. But listening to song after song in album format is just too much of the same sound. This is iconic, but limited by its stripped down style. It robs it of staying power. 3.5

I simply love the vibe of the white stripes. No rhyme of reason for it, I just dig them.

First album ever! Songs sound the same with no standouts besides the single and it's not one of their best. Not 1001 album recommend.

7/10

Two white stripes albums back to back? Amazing! Love both these albums. Listened to them a repeat when they came out and can happily do it now still.

How can you have a guitar driven band and make a record without bass? the sound is awful, unfinished, to say the least. The guy's voice is interesting, I get the energy, but like I said, the sound design is poor.

ei lätkyttänyt.

Think now that the White Stripes hype has died down, this can be agreed to be a very enjoyable rock album, a very solid 3.5 star album which I'm happy to round up to 4 stars today.

boring

ai sei lá não me desagradou nem agradou a ponto de merecer muitas palavras. o rock morreu mas não faz muita falta também.

uma das minhas bandas favoritas. gosto mais do elephant em diante mas nesse tem várias que adoro também

Nice, but nothing more than that.

There are times I wish I had a button like Christgau or Fantano to wave an album through; a sort of non-committal rating that could get an album off one's desk. Something to the tune of: This is fine. I do not wish to expend the effort to develop a genuine opinion on this one. Or, whatever you want. Two stars feels a bit mean, since I usually reserve under-three ratings for albums with serious flaws or songs I'd like to have skipped, and there are some very nice arrangements and performances, whereas the less stellar ones are just that and no worse. At the same time, three feels overly generous, because I cannot stand Jack White's voice, and I wouldn't mind exiling this genus of rock music from my own musical imaginary. I appreciate the references, the various little tuggings on the cultural tapestry, like the Citizen Kane references in "The Union Forever," but I remain unmoved. I have chosen to be kind.

Never understood why it was thought of so highly

Do I really have to hear four Jack White albums before I die? Do you? I say no, but if you choose just one, this is the obvious choice. The formula is the same but the songs are unsurpassed. 5 stars.

Consistent. With country rock sounds. Whilst listening I could imagine myself hearing this playing live in some saloon in the USA.

Garage Rock Revival Favorite Songs: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Hotel Yorba, Fell In Love With a Girl, We’re Going to be Friends, I Think I Smell a Rat, Aluminum, I Can’t Wait Least Favorite Song: I’m Finding it Harder to be a Gentleman (Mainly more so sonically, felt a little too rough for my ears) There’s some pretty great and some decent songs around this album. Although some of the songs are a little rough on the edges, I do think that the album’s a keeper for me. Definitely an album to recommend. 8/10

It is a consistent record from the band, which offers a good variety of hits and misses. It fails to have the cultural relevancy that 'Elephant' carries, and to me, the inclusion of 'De Stijl' might have been more interesting. 7/10 [SWAP]

Incredible start to the album a day journey. Unique and creative sound, the album blends exciting rock n roll with the alt sound. Added saved several of these I heard for the first time. So much fun

Banger

I hope everyone's introduction to "Fell in Love with a Girl" was through the rathergood.com punk kitties video circa 2002. Though, it was a couple of years later before I was properly introduced to The White Stripes. White Blood Cells remains my second-favorite album of theirs, after Elephant.

quite a trip down memory lane... crazy to listen to this album in retrospect and really internalize that it came out in 2001. i would argue "fell in love with a girl" might be one of the best songs ever made - a frenetic masterpiece i'm compelled to hit replay on over and over again. and with that iconic lego music video to boot ... golly!! meg white and her (former) husband really know how to make music. great stuff!! highlights - dead leaves and the dirty ground, hotel yorba, fell in love with a girl, expecting, the union forever, the same boy you've always known, we're going to be friends, offended in every way, i think i smell a rat, i can't wait

I never really liked the White Stripes growing up but I always remember this album being the weakest of the 3. But listening too it again today this album is fantastic. It might not have the big hit that the other 2 did, although Fell In Love With A Girl is up there, it's a great listen from front to back. 4.25* rounded down to 4*

I feel guilty for not giving this 5 stars, as obviously so many people love this band. But I think the colour thing is hackneyed, and I can't like listening to Jack's voice.

Nasty and gnarly equaled a major thumbs up for White Blood Cells. A unique guitar god, since Jack White does not wow with pyrotechnical skill nor Jimmy Page like riffs. I know “Seven Nation Army” has replaced “Stairway to Heaven” as THE guitar store song, but this album did not have one of those monster opening salvos. Instead, I heard Neil Young distortion with a few more notes. Some Tony Iommi on “Expecting” as well as Southern rock, Outlaws style, on “I Can’t Wait”. These comparisons are not suggesting that White merely copies his list of heroes. He echoes them while developing his bare bones guitar-drums approach. It is back to the basics while also sounding up to date, and plain fucking loud. Even the slower, more acoustic based numbers did not sound like White was going for 1928 country blues. An impressive feat to keep a foot in modernity while giving old heads something to appreciate. Maybe I will come around fully to White as a singer one day. For now, his yells come off more like screeches that cause me to reflexively pull my head back. He stays out of the way from the music enough to make this a strong album.

The man who keeps classic rock alive. Das war nur 7 Jahre nach dem Ende von Nirvana, deren Einflüsse man hier und da noch klar erkennen kann. Viel Liebe für diese rohe, echt Musik und Jack White. 4,5 / 5.

Tbh I don’t like this kind of music. All sounds similar to me.

nice

Ahh man... I had such high hopes. The White Stripes are delightful. Started off as a solid 5-star then sloped away into boredom. Shame.

Tough to rate this as an album, falls between a 3 and a 4. Will tip it to a 4 due to relistenable songs. 'Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground' is probably my personal favourite. Minus the vocals, the 'I Think We're Gonna be Friends' feels like a video game soundtrack. 'Fell in Love With a Girl' is the most known I'd imagine, still sounds good at this point too. Some of the other songs like 'Little Room' feel like an AI general noise to fill in the gap based on the other songs.

fell in love with a girl and we’re going to be friends definitely skewed my ranking higher

1. 4.5 2. 5 3. 4 4. 5 5. 3.5 6. 4 7. 4 8. 4.5 9. 5 10. 4.5 11. 4.5 12. 3.5 13. 4.5 14. 3 15. 3.5 16. 4

Underwhelming

Good to hear raw simple music

Helt greit

Listened before?: a few of the most popular tracks, that's about it. only White Stripes album i've heard in full so far is Get Behind Me Satan (which i already reviewed months ago) Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground - 5/5 Hotel Yorba - 3/5 I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman - 4/5 Fell in Love With a Girl - 5/5 Expecting - 3/5 Little Room - no rating The Union Forever - 4/5 The Same Boy You've Always Known - 3/5 We're Going to Be Friends - 4/5 Offend in Every Way - 4/5 I Think I Smell a Rat - 3/5 Aluminum - 2/5 I Can't Wait - 4/5 Now Mary - 3/5 I Can Learn - 3/5 This Protector - 3/5 Average score: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ in some ways, this sounds better than Get Behind Me Satan. and yet, it receives a similar score overall there's a lot more tracks that i enjoyed, and waaaay more energy. still, there were definitely some weak songs toward the last quarter of the album. i can see why this was one of their more popular releases at least, and i would likely come back to listen to a good handful of tracks

4.5 More of a polished album than get behind.. had a few lesser tracks however

Thump bash crash twang, and the more enjoyable for it