Massive. (Elephant - The White Stripes)

Member Name: Odinsday

Product:	Elephant - The White Stripes
Date:	10/04/03 (234 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Same constraints, same styles but moved on a small way

Disadvantages: Not as instantly likeable as previous work.

Mojo magazine have described the White Stripes as the most important band on earth today. That's a hard task to live up to. Thankfully, Jack and Meg White don't really care to much about the hype. They care about making they're own style of music.

The White Stripes are all about boundaries. From the two-tone clothes they insist on being photographed in (red and white) to the musical instruments they play. The amps and recording equipment all dates prior to 1963. There is nothing but one guitar and one drum. It's a stripped down to basics set of limits.

From these limits, the White Stripes run the gamout of style. Punk, country, pop and blues. The first track 'Seven Nation Army' starts off with a bass line. Played on a detuned guitar, it's strikes you as exactly NOT what you'd expect from the previous, jangly, lo-fi albums. But don't fear, as it's still the combination of minimalist drumming from Meg and harsh to sweet vocals from Jack. They still rock. They still steal from the Blues, from Captain beefhart and down-home American rock.

And Meg gets to sing on 'In the Cold, Cold Night', which is a quiet, self concious ballad, that is vaguely reminscent of Bjork in her relaxed moods. There's also a cover version of Burt Baccarach's 'I Just don't know what to do with myself', that ambles along pleasantly. The last track 'Do you love me like I love you?' is a quirky truet (three singers) with Holly Golightly and ends the album on a lighter note.

Overall, the lyrics and tone is slightly darker and less danceable than White Blood Cells, but it's still definitely the White Stripes. Is it the all time classic that the trade rags and hypers claim? You can't tell classics from so close. It needs more listens, which is itself is a sign of potentially good album. It certainly didn't grab me as quickly as I thought it would, but it has all th
e signs of worming my way into my head.

11-04-03 I gave it another couple of plays. It is fantastic it has gotten into my head and is staying there. 5 stars!

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