Jumble. Jumble. (De Stijl - The White Stripes)

Member Name: Kepler

Product:	De Stijl - The White Stripes
Date:	26/02/04 (110 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dirty garage rock, Bluesy feel

Disadvantages: Some weak tracks

Taking its name from a Dutch art movement prominent in the early 1900's De Stijl is the second full length offering from The White Stripes. The White Stripes consist of two members, Jack White on guitar, piano and vocals and Meg White on drums. This album was released in 2001 on XL Recordings and was produced by Jack White at the Third Man Studios in Detroit which is where both Meg and Jack grew up. Now onto the tracks:

1. You?re pretty good looking (For a Girl)

At just 1 min 49 seconds this a short but sharp opener to the album. The guitar is slightly distorted and the drums rain down heavily especially during the chorus. The lyrics are somewhat repetitive but this is allayed by the fact that it is a short track so it?s not a big problem. All in all it?s a pretty standard track which is a nice opener but not really anything special. 6/10

2. Hello Operator

In my opinion this track would have made a better opener for the album. It makes much more of an impact and starts with a screeching guitar interspersed with heavy beats of the bass drum which are eventually interrupted by Jack White?s whining vocals. The track continues with pretty much the same beat and features a cool harmonica solo about half way through. 8/10

3. Little Bird

This is one of my favourite tracks from the album. It opens with a very bluesy guitar riff accompanied by a light beat tapped out on a cymbal. About 30 seconds into the track the guitar explodes into action with a heavier riff and the drums answer in typical White Stripes fashion with a thumping beat. This is one of the more eclectic tracks from the album and doesn?t feature many vocals but it certainly has me tapping my feet and nodding my head every time I listen to it. 9/10

4. Apple Blossom

This track starts with an acoustic guitar playing out a simple rhythm and is soon joined by some soft vocals. Meg accompanies on this track with a tambourine for the first 3
0 seconds and then breaks in on the drums at the start of the chorus. While this track is not a world beater it is a pleasant enough song and always find myself singing along to it. 7/10

5. I?m bound to pack it up

Another song with very bluesy undertones which starts which a very clean and bright guitar overlaid by Jack White?s singing. This however is probably one of the weakest tracks on the album and doesn?t live long in the memory. The song continues at pretty much the same pace all the way through with slight variation at the chorus. 5/10

6. Death Letter

Another of my favourite songs from the album, ?Death Letter? is a cover of a song by the legendary blues player of the 1940?s, Son House. The track starts with a very heavy blues riff backed up by a strong beat on the drums and continues in much the same way with small variations of the same riff at different points through the song. This song is a real toe tapper and my favourite track from the album. 10/10

7. Sister. Do you know my name?

This song sees the tempo of the album reduced and starts with a much mellower guitar and a slow plodding beat on the drums. Quite quickly the music is joined by some soft vocals from Jack and eventually the guitars become slightly more elevated with the beginning of the chorus. Another one of the weaker tracks from the album and nothing of much note to comment on. 6/10

8. Truth doesn?t make a noise

This is another acoustic track which starts with some plain chord strumming and a moderate beat from the bass drum. This song has a much more solemn feel about it and the tempo is only slightly increased from the last song. The song also features some piano over the acoustic guitar and the occasional burst from a clean electric guitar which plays a simple riff over the chords. Not a great song but has it moments with the some nice piano and heart felt lyrics. 6/10

9. A boy?s best friend

Anothe
r slow start with a guitar sounding out single notes accompanied by a slow beat played on the bass
drum. Picks up slightly for the chorus but for the majority of the song the tempo is kept at the same slow level. Another uneventful track which contributes to the lacklustre middle part of the album. 5/10

10. Let?s build a house

This song has a slightly weird start with people speaking to a young boy about a song which he then recites. After this has finished however the song that follows marks a return to the upbeat tempo of the first four tracks. The song starts with a fast riff played on a distorted guitar which again has a slightly bluesy feel. The drums then break in with yet another heavy beat and the result is a very enjoyable track. The lyrics are limited and the song is a little short but other than that it is a really good track with a great rhythm. 7/10

11. Jumble. Jumble.

This song also starts strangely with some garbled words in a foreign language which eventually give way to another blues laden riff and a pounding drum beat. Again the lyrics are quite limited and not exactly insightful but this is an ok song with some interesting guitar if a little repetitive. 6/10

12. Why can?t you be nicer to me?

This another of the tracks that I really like from this album. Starting with a riff very reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix it bursts into life with loud drums and some of the best vocal work on the album. This song has a lot more urgency about it and the catchy beat really gets into your head. The lyrics are simple but effective and the vocals tie in perfectly with the feel of the song. 8/10

13. Your southern can is mine

The album finishes with a cover of a song by another departed blues artist, Blind Willie McTell. The song starts with an acoustic guitar playing a playful riff accompanied by Meg on the tambourine. There are also some prominent backing vocals from Meg on this song which make
the song stand out. Again not a great song but has a pleasant feel and you can easily sing along to it.


Overall I would say that this album is really only for the die hard White Stripes fans, more occasional listeners won?t find anything here to better the songs from the subsequent albums (White Blood Cells and Elephant). Up against their other releases I would say that De Stijl is probably The White Stripe?s weakest album but still has a few great songs for the more avid fan. 7/10

Overall 7/10

De Stijl is available from www.101cd.com for £6.99 including P&P.

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