I'm going to be frank- I hate Jack White's nasally voice. I don't love his composition or guitar skills much more, either. I can't even be very objective about this, but practically everything he touches just irritates the hell out of me, and I had no fun here. At least it's brief- 40 minutes in the CD era is basically EP material. I'll try to meet half way for those who see the appeal and give this an extra star, but it's an F for me, dog.
The White Stripes' roots clearly run back to 70s classic rock, especially on songs like 'Expecting', 'The Union Forever', and 'Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground' but the garage rock approach really helps set them apart and breathes new life into the tired classic rock formula. Love the droning, ominous organ chords on 'The Union Forever'. Stripped down garage rock isn't my biggest jam, but this album does it well. Big early psych rock vibes to the back half of the album, such as 'I Think I Smell a Rat' and 'Aluminum', which is rad as hell.
It’s fun music to be sure. It kicked off a weird short-term trend of garage rock style bands that I’m not sure why it got so big.
Sounds like it used to for me. I didn't dig it then and I don't now. This album is not for me. The musicianship is solid, I just don't like it. It all feels meh
Pivotal for garage rock. Minimalist but also fun.
The definition of raw. Love the production on this, it's so god damn LOUD but in the best way. Also enjoy how off the performances are in some ways (guitar out of tune, Jack Whites off kilter vocals), it's rough at times but adds to the aesthetic. Really good. Meg's simplistic drumming has been a bit of a meme but it just works in the context.
I love the variety of recorded sounds on this album. Everything sounds great, even though there's a ton of lo-fi quality types of recording technique. Highlights for me are the first half of the album; "Finding it Harder to be a Gentleman" has some great electric piano, "Fell in Love With a Girl" has a great guitar hook, and "Same Boy You've Always Known" has a really great classic rock sound. Songs like "Union Forever" are kind of clams in my mind; seems like pretentious psych-rock filler, but overall a pretty good album.
I fucking love The White Stripes. Jack White one helluva songwriter, and White Blood Cells boasts this skill in spades. I mean, this sucker has range. Minimalist tendencies are maximized, dialing blues rock down to its bones and dialing up the volume – what more do you need than some guitars, a simple beat, and some keys? (Nothing.) 4.5/5
Already loved this album. 5/5 I don't know if I can be objective about it. 1. I love all the songs, even the "weird" ones. Little Room, Aluminum, Expecting (less weird, but still) are all great. 2. I think I prefer the back half of the album overall, but that's because those songs are underappreciated. Favorite Songs: Same Boy You've Always Known Offend in Every Way Now Mary This Protector Hotel Yorba Finding It Hard To Be a Gentleman