Rating: 9/10

Track Amount: 14

Running Time: 50 minutes and 52 seconds

Genre: Alternative Rock

Personnel: Jack White (vocals, piano and guitar), Meg White (drums and vocals)

Producer: Jack White

Recording Location: Toe Rag and Maida Vale Studios, London, UK

Record Label: XL Recordings

Art Direction: The Third Man

Best Tracks: Seven Nation Army, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, Ball and Biscuit

Quick Verdict: The best example of an album of minimalism set in the 21st century

For those of you out there who follow Rock Music, especially in the 21st century, this album is not just well-loved, but it changed the rules of the game when it came to creating Rock Music. The White Stripes consisted of guitarist and musician extraordinaire Jack White and drummer/vocalist Meg White. Ironically, the two married and then divorced during their time in this band, but kept all those details a secret until much later on. This album consists of a simplified and minimalist approach to recording music and is the direct opposite in 21st-century terms to the “celebrity with a laptop” trend that is all too common in the world of music at the time of writing. This album was popular enough to sell millions of copies and changed the way that people viewed music. No recording equipment dated after 1963 was used here, which is an incredibly interesting approach to making music at hand. For all this minimalist approach, we must take a listen to this album and hear if it still sounds as good as many thought it as upon release way back in 2003.

1. Seven Nation Army is a Rock Music classic. It begins with some deep and dark bass guitar, pounding drums and sounds really fantastic with the main riff at hand. Jack White sings neatly and very, very well on this song. Soon enough, electric guitars and crashing drums enter, and this wonderful song comes alive. This particular track has been a Rock Music radio staple for many, many years. The section alternates between bass and electric guitar sounds throughout, with some aggressive singing and precise instrumentation that is very catchy. The guitars and playing are great. In the second half is a Cream-like guitar solo (i.e. woman tone) that sounds really awesome. It alternates between the subdued verses and the loud and crashing chorus. This needs to be added to most people’s Spotify playlists. Nonetheless, a crunchy and punchy-sounding song that deserves its place in Rock history. Fantastic.

2. Black Math begins with some upbeat and overdriven guitars with some neat guitar riffs at hand. This launches into another great song that is quite fast in a Hardcore Punk way. Very 2000s, but also something that has aged surprisingly well overall. Jack White sings in a Punky, aggressive way throughout. Soon enough, there is a rhythmic guitar section towards the middle, which sounds very much like a Garage Band, but a highly talented one at that. In any case, this is simple, minimal and fantastic music that many different guitar-based fans can appreciate. There is a wild and twisted-sounding guitar solo present, which sounds super cool. This leads on in a crazy way, and just sounds really killer to listen to. This song is extraordinarily good, and the music is proof that you don’t need 700 producers and guests to make a classic album. The White Stripes made good music, this album being proof of it. Well done.

3. There’s No Home For You Here begins with some crashing sounds and Beatlesque harmonies, launching into a very simple but musically informed song. Sure, Rock Music isn’t that popular in the mainstream anymore, but The White Stripes delivered on this tune amongst shifting trends. A subtle guitar-based section emerges with some hi-hats, followed by some pseudo-rapped lyrics. Even so, this gets louder and more wonderful in the chorus. Looking back to the Grunge era with the song structure and approach, but with a good twist to it all. The good rambling on this one is fantastic, as are the vocal harmonies in the second half, with squealing guitar playing. This sounds really dirty and driven as a piece of music, with respect to the guitars. Some weird lyrics are here, but this isn’t a real issue. Minimalist music is present on this album, and The White Stripes have made a simple and enjoyable Rock Music song that The Velvet Underground would have loved if around today. It fades out nicely at the end.

4. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself is a cover of the famous Burt Bacharach song. It begins with some melodic guitar riffing, which sounds really great. Jack White sings nicely on this song, and it sounds like a rawer and more punchy tune. Burt Bacharach made some great breakup songs, and The White Stripes were well aware of their own situation as a former couple on this album. Nonetheless, crashing guitars enter, and this tune sounds absolutely top-notch to hear. It’s not as lush as the original song recording, but instead sounds very Punky, which is cool and welcome throughout. A loud, enjoyable and awesome song that owes more to the likes of Nirvana than Burt Bacharach, this is another key song from the album. Wonderfully punchy.

5. In The Cold, Cold Night begins with some neat and raw guitar playing, deep, driven basslines and has Meg White singing sweetly and softly on this song. The music is a slow burner, but it does sound superbly beautiful and punchy. A really fantastic listening experience that has no drumming throughout, and has some neat and interesting lyrics about making love in colder weather. Some soft keyboards are present on this tune, which are also really awesome to listen to. This is the gentler side of The White Stripes, and it sounds really awesomely fantastic musically. The song has a more upbeat section at hand towards the end. Another fantastic song at hand. Good job to both of the stars here.

6. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother’s Heart begins with some piano and some rapid-fire lyrical singing by Jack White. Hi-hats enter, and this gorgeously upbeat tune is a pretty tune about appeasing one’s partner’s mother to full effect when courting a partner. The music and structured sounds are absolutely fantastic on this song. This is an album that is no doubt an outstanding classic album by this point; not a dull or off moment is present. In any case, the musicianship and performance are superb, and there is a definitive Beatlesque vibe on these songs. Some neat slide guitar is present as well, but without the lyrical pretentiousness of some Country Music on it. Another winner of a tune that is short, sweet and relatable listening. A thoroughly good song at hand, the piano playing is sweet and melodically varied. It concludes with some lyrics about getting along with one’s parents in law to be. Good tune.

7. You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket is an acoustic-based song that sounds great from the start. It has some sweet and lovely singing by Jack White, which is awesome. This is a song about the nature of monogamous love at hand, and if you are in love with someone deeply, this song will make some sense to you. It is fraught with breakup and paranoia about other potential lovers at hand, but it does sound really interesting nonetheless. This is likely from an autobiographical experience of the two main musicians here, but even so, this is lovely and magical to hear, despite its downs as well as ups lyrically. A simply gorgeous song that many young singer/guitarists should play to friends today. A lovely tune to listen to. Very wonderful overall, despite its melancholy lyrically.

8. Ball and Biscuit is a seven-minute-long piece with some interesting, Bluesy guitar work. Some simple drum beats enter, and this neat tune comes nicely alive. Jack White sings about loving and womanising throughout, and the low-down and dirty Blues Music song at hand is really different and enjoyable to listen to. This is a good and really cool song that sounds uptempo, upbeat and excellent overall. A powerfully interesting song that launches into a glorious section of guitar playing and minimalist soloing that sounds just right for this type of music. An absolutely wonderful and sensational tune that sounds rather Led Zeppelin-esque. This goes back to the verses soon enough, and it sounds absolutely dynamic and unique for its simple musicianship. Jack and Meg White knew how to make great Rock Music. Seemingly a song about drug use, this is glorious and fantastic, simple and direct Rock Music for the 2000s. In the midsection, it launches into some fantastically fuzzy and overdriven guitar solos that do impress the listener. Why have mega shredding when a more minimal midtempo guitar solo will do? That is the approach to this song. In any case, this Blues Music number certainly sounds really wonderful overall. It alternates between soft/hard and quiet/loud dynamics. A great tune, even though this is a longer jam of sorts. Jack White puts his guitar skills to good use on this album, with some screaming, wailing and discordant guitars that leave an impression on the listener. Towards the end, it returns to the quieter verse section at hand. He sings well here over the top of muted guitars and sturdy drums by Meg White. A solid gold tune throughout. Very consistently interesting.

9. The Hardest Button To Button is another single from this album, which begins with thumping bass guitar and drum beats, followed by a neat guitar riff section that sounds really cool and fine. Jack White sings some weird lyrics, but the singing is fantastic to hear, all the same. This punchy tune is much more riff-driven than seriously worthy of great lyrics. Even so, this is a solid tune with some synchronised guitars and drums in the instrumental break. If anything, The White Stripes need to be heard by many more people today. This song is weird but wonderfully enjoyable throughout. This is a historically important and historically acknowledging album, with some great creative musicianship on it. The song ends with some crashing drums and thumping bass guitar, and electric guitar progressions, with vocals in the background. Neat.

10. Little Acorns begins with a sampled voice, which is about keeping one’s head up in dark times, oddly enough. Piano enters throughout, which sounds descriptively pretty. This is about a lady intrigued by a squirrel who piles acorns up for the winter. A very peculiar introduction to a song, before Rock guitars and crashing drums enter. Jack White can play some mean guitar licks, that is for sure. This leads into a sweet and interesting build-up of music, guitars and drums with some wacky singing and lyrics at hand. Nonetheless, this is a warped and different listening experience overall. Crunchy-sounding guitars and crashing, loose drums are present, and this tune comes nicely alive. The energy and performances throughout are still stunning at this point in the album. All in all, a quirky tune that makes little sense lyrically, but is matched by powerful instrumentation. Good, but very weird to listen to. It ends with some squealing guitars that owe a lot to Grunge Music.

11. Hypnotize is less than two minutes in length and is closer to Hardcore Punk Music on this album. It is quicker and more aggressive musically, which sounds extremely cool to hear. This does sound a bit weird overall, especially in relation to the singing. A breakdown near the midsection occurs with just guitars, before banging drums return. A short, sharp shock of The White Stripes is on this song. Not bad for something so short. It

12. The Air Near My Fingers launches right into your typical sort of Rock Music jam at hand. It sounds well played, but it has the typical 2000s themed nonsensical lyrical singing and dirty guitars galore that sound seriously great to hear. The music and playing throughout are really cool. The hummed harmonies are also really blissful on this song. Some doom and gloom descending guitar progressions are present, leading into a sweet and enjoyable song to listen to. Fortunately, this album has a large variety of music, as is the case here. There are some neat chord progressions and riffing throughout, pointing out that Jack White is a much better guitarist than people give him credit for. A good piece of music that those of you who are into Progressive Rock will hate, but is still essentially fantastic for its minimalist approach. Another top tune by The White Stripes overall.

13. Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine begins with some upbeat and punchy guitar riffs, launching into another top song at hand. This music sounds extraordinarily consistently good overall. This has a Lennonesque vocal part over Punk style guitars and drums, making it sound completely different to most music out there. Jack White sounds great as a vocalist/guitarist, and Meg White smacks some great drumbeats. All in all, this music is seriously top-notch to hear. The lyrics are very nonsensical overall, but that is part of this album’s charm. Some Led Zeppelin-style guitar breaks are present as well. The guitars verge constantly on feedback on this album as well, which makes it sound even more raw and aggressive than you’d think. Another solidly intelligent and punchy song that is a nod to the spirit of musical greats gone long ago. A good listen.

14. It’s True That We Love One Another begins with some crisp acoustic guitars and sleigh bells, with the two members of The White Stripes and a guest singing about having love for one another, which is ironic, considering they had quietly divorced by this point in time. Regardless, this is a lovely and forward-thinking tune that sounds intriguing and personal. An oddity at the end of this great album, this is a good change from what the rest of the album contains before it, showcasing that The White Stripes were not just a one-trick pony musically. The music and performances throughout sound classy and unusual. A song that is quirky and unusual. In the second half, the song concludes early with some studio chatter, and some silence is present afterwards, not for too long, however. The album ends after about 45 seconds of silence.

This is a historically important and wonderful album to listen to. Not only is it minimal in its approach, but it purely focuses on the history of great bands such as The Beatles, The Velvet Underground, Led Zeppelin and the Sex Pistols in its influences and pours them all into a melting pot of an album. It still sounds as brilliant and as groundbreaking musically as it did way back in 2003. A classic album indeed. Should you listen to this album? Go for it if you have an open-minded approach to music, but fans of Progressive Rock and EDM will wish to avoid this album.

If you like this article, please like, share, comment and follow me on The Ultimate Music Library. Thank you, Chris Airey.