The White Stripes – Icky Thump
Apparently the last White Stripes album wasn’t terribly popular, and it’s easy to see why. The uneasy experimenting didn’t quite make for a great rock record, but I didn’t dislike it as much as either Jack White or the general public seemed to.
Well he’s found his guitar again and dredged up some bile, which should assuage the purists, but he hasn’t exactly dropped the experimentalism and has hence launched another slightly eccentric, off-beat record at his devoted public. There’s bagpipes and the odd tuneless screech, and some bizarre rhythmic lurches, but ultimately the core of the White Stripes has always been Jack’s venomous guitar. Here it is once again delivered with virtuoso control, but the same kind of feral snarl that we love him for.
What there isn’t on this album is an obvious crowd-pleaser. I can’t really hear a Seven Nation Army or a Hotel Yorba anywhere, but that’s fine. Ultimately he seems to have managed to splice the drive of Elephant with the adventure of Get Behind Me Satan. Splendid. At last a big record that seriously delivers the goods. It’s not FM friendly (the bagpipey one is bit weird) and it isn’t entirely consistent either, but generally it makes me want to turn up the volume and fill a bucket with gin.
And you know by now, Toadlings, that this means it is good.
The White Stripes – Conquest
The White Stripes – Catch Hell Blues Nein!! Verboten! Der Toad ist schlimm, sehr schlimm. Und auch ein Englisher Schweinhund, verdammt noch ‘mal! Filesharenderschnitzelwurst!
Conquest is my favorite! Actually, our indie rock station played it the other day and it broke up the block of BLAH on the air.
I love it as well, but it’s hardly a Stripes-by-the-numbers standard garage blues number.
FYI, You can download the critically acclaimed film Glastonbury in it’s entirety for free(!!!) at http://glastonbury.movielink.com/.
There’s also performance by The White Stripes at Glastonbury on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tWF_6RK3xI.
We also have uncut clips of The White Stripes, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, and others performing at Glasto.
that “conquest” song is a cover of a patti page song, and when you hear the original it’s easy to see why the Stripes one is so…strange.
and in that bagpipe-y song “st andrew” meg sounds possessed. it’s quite scary.
Patti Page? Really – ooh, I must seek out the original.
Mind you, including his stuff with the Raconteurs, Jack has always chosen excellent songs to cover.
I really enjoy this album. It is perfect wakeboarding in the summer music…really gets me going!
I caught them in Iqaluit, Nunavut last night. Amazing show (only 600 people). Got tonnes of awesome pictures and had them autograph “Get Behind Me Satan”. I didn’t realize he hated that album so much. I did notice they didn’t play much from it. Most noticeably, “My Doorbell” was missing. However, what they did play was fantastic.
Ooh, John, you jammy bastard. I’ve seen The White Stripes once (just after Elephant, about three or four years ago) and The Raconteurs once and on both occasions they have been mind-blowing. I would recommend anyone see Jack White play live at any and every chance they get. Live recordings are a pale imitation.
Much as this record is good, I’m finding it difficult to love at the moment. I still think Get Behind Me trumps it. Better songs maybe? I’ll give it more time, and I’ll see.
Oddly enough my one Stripes live experience was one of the worst of recent years. Nothing to do with jack and meg though (who were great) – just the utter shite-ness that is Alexandra Palace.
[...] The White Stripes – Icky Thump  [image] Apparently the last White Stripes album wasn’t terribly popular, and it’s easy to see why. The […] [...]
I know what you mean, Tim, but I’m perhaps the other way round. Much as I liked Satan and enjoyed the experimenting, I never quite fell for it. This one I instinctively like better although I couldn’t really tell you why, because it is a bit patchy.
Sorry for the slow response, but that Patti Page original of “Conquest” reminds me a lot of Rosemary Clooney doing “Mambo Italiano.” White Stripes version is much more intense, though.
Erm, China, you’ve teased me long enough. Please email both, go on, you know you want to. And as an irredeemable indie-kid you know I’m not going to find them by myself!
Do things the legal way, like I do, and subscribe to Rhapsody for $12.99 a month! (Actually, I’ve only got the Rosemary on CD, and don’t own the Patti at all…sorry to say…)
Wait…I take back that last comment as of…now.
Oh brilliant China, you’re my hero. Thank you such a lot!
[...] Croak Out Them Goodies (no idea what the title means, perhaps she’ll enlighten us) but when I reviewed Icky Thump, the new White Stripes album (anyone not know that? No, thought not) she popped over here to say [...]