A lot changed in the White Stripes' world between Get Behind Me Satan and Icky Thump: Meg White moved to L.A., while Jack White left Detroit for Nashville, married and had a daughter, and formed the Raconteurs, a side project that won so much praise that some fans worried that it meant the end of the Stripes. Those fears were as unfounded as the speculation that White's new hometown meant that the band was going to "go country" (after all, Jack and Meg are wearing the costumes of London's Pearly Kings and Queens, not Nudie suits, on Icky Thump's cover). Though it was recorded at Nashville's state-of-the-art Blackbird Studio and covers everything from bagpipes to metal, Icky Thump is unmistakably a White Stripes album. The eclectic feel of Get Behind Me Satan remains, but is less obvious; interestingly, out of all the band's previous work, Icky Thump's brash and confessional songs most closely resemble De Stijl. "300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues"' acoustic blues and carefully crafted wordplay hark back to "Sister, Do You Know My Name." Meanwhile, "Rag & Bone" is a cute, ragamuffin cousin of "Let's Build a Home" that casts Jack and Meg as enterprising garbage-pickers; the sly grin in Jack's voice as he says "we'll give it a...home" is palpable. And, while Get Behind Me Satan was heavy on pianos, Icky Thump is just plain heavy, dominated by primal, stomping ock that feels like it's been caged for a very long time and is just now being released. Jack White's guitars are back in a big way; "Catch Hell Blues" is a particularly fine showcase for his playing. Once again, though, the Stripes defy expectations, and their "return to ock" isn't necessarily a return to the kind of ock they mastered on Elephant.
Aside from the searing "Bone Broke," which would fit on almost any White Stripes album (and in fact was partially written in 1998), on Icky Thump Jack and Meg push the boundaries of their louder side. Darker and slower than most Stripes singles, "Icky Thump" is their very own "Immigrant Song," with guitars that chug menacingly and lyrics that run the gamut from fever dream meditations on redhead senoritas to pointed political statements ("Why don't you kick yourself out/You're an immigrant too"). "Little Cream Soda" is also outstanding, pairing ranting, spoken-word verses with grinding surf-metal guitars that make it one of the Stripes' heaviest songs. However, the boldest excursion might be "Conquest," which turns Patti Page's '50s-era battle of the sexes into a garage rock bullfight, complete with dramatic mariachi brass, flamenco rhythms, backing vocals that would do Ennio Morricone proud, and dueling guitar and trumpet solos that capture the band's love of drama. As fantastic as Icky Thump's rockers are, its breathers are just as important. Though the Celtic detour that makes up Thump's heart feels out of place initially, "Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn" is indeed a sweet and genuine sounding homage to Scottish folk, bagpipes and all (and could also be a nod to the Rolling Stones' flirtation with British folk in the mid-'60s). And while its psychedelic counterpart "St. Andrews (This Battle Is in the Air)" doesn't work quite as well, it feels like the kind of quirky tangent that pops up on plenty of vintage albums as a palate cleanser. The Stripes' poppy and vulnerable sides get slightly short shrift on Icky Thump. "You Don't Know What Love Is" is so hooky it could just as easily be a Raconteurs song, though it boasts a guitar solo that stings like lemon juice in a paper cut. "I'm a Martyr for My Love for You" is the album's lone allad, and while its melody is beautiful, it may be the album's weakest track. And though Icky Thump's track listing might be slightly front-loaded, the Stripes uphold their tradition of ending their albums on a playful note with the wonderful "Effect and Cause," which feels equally indebted to hillbilly wisdom and Mungo Jerry's sly jug-band shuffle. With its fuller sound and relaxed flights of fancy, Icky Thump is a mature, but far from stodgy, album -- and, as is usually the case, it's just great fun to hear the band play.
I've been back at school for a few weeks and, as such, haven't had much time for Mogging. But since I'm creating a moment of free time before I pass out/go to sleep, I figured I'd post some brief but bottled-up thoughts about the White Stripes.First of all, I love the White Stripes. I bought tickets to their concert at Berkeley for a reason. I had the honor of meeting both Whites after a show s...
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Bad title... I tried. Anyway, you get the idea- it's about The White Stripes and how wicked they were. The night began a little rough, freezing outside (without jackets or umbrellas) in the rain and hail in Vancouver from 4:30 (as the doors were to open at 5) until 6:30. We moved like sopping wet slugs. Bad simile, but, again- you get the idea. Anyway, it was me and three of my best pals (the s...
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Seven out of ten stars. The White Stripes will always sound like The White Stripes. Time may rearrange their tastes. Fame may incline them to experiment. But their sound—that inflicted yelp and bass drum kick— will never be mistaken for anything but The White Stripes. Borrow all they want, and they often do, they just can’t get away from their own idiosyncrasy. That said, The White Stripe
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Hey Y'all,My review of the new White Stripes album w/ videos is up. Come get some.SGhttp://musicdontsuck.blogspot.com/2007/06/white-stripes-icky-thump.html
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Attention! I'd just like to publicly thank the White Stripes for finally making a record I can listen to. Thank you, Jack. Thank you, Meg. And thank you, God. Because, I've always had a secret desire to love the White Stripes, but until now, it just wasn't there for me. I'd seen his talent first hand, Jack White is obviously a fantastic guitarist and a great lyricist, but, there was just s...
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Not always the biggest of fans, I at least appreciate Jack and Meg's way with instruments and instrumentation and always their senses of humour.That being said, this is a damn fine song set smack dab in the middle of rock and blues.
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Thanks to a friend here in metro Detroit, I'm now rocking out to "Icky Thump," the latest from the Motor City's favorite turncoats, the White Stripes.Initial, overall reaction: Way the hell better than "Satan," better than "Elephant" and diverse like "White Blood Cells." By now, most people have heard the first single, the keyboard-saturated title track. That organ sound makes an appearance on ...
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Managed to come across a copy of The White Stripes new album and whilst the version i listened to was blatently not the finished product, i can't help but think this album is amazing! I doubt anything will compare in my mind to "de stijl" but i would definately say it is an improvement on "get behind me satan". The new single and title track is one of the better ones, but i cant wait to see whi...
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From "UK Guardian":UKJack and Meg have announced details of the White Stripes’ Yorkshire-sounding sixth album, which will be released ‘as soon as is corporately possible’. ... There is no explanation as to why the group have taken a variation on the traditional Yorkshire saying “icky thump” (or a Lancashire martial art as practiced by the Goodies) as their title.In an episode of the farc
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My second (following Icky Thump) favourite song from this album has a video out. I think that no one has posted it before but it doesn't hurt to see it again even if it isn't so. I like it not for the bullfighting part (I loathe the "sport"), but for Jack Whites' hilarious facial expressions :)Enjoy:Run, Jack, run!
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it was pretty painfulto do and to watchmy problem is.in this internet age,with so much fricking music to listen toi sorta "MISS" some stuff.damn Pimp. get a handle brutha.absolutely a groovy ass song off a brilliant albumOH,and dig that picture of MEG
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Looking for that perfect gift this holiday season? Then head over to the White Stripes' Web site for some Official White Stripes tartan fabric, and scarves. But if that doesn't tickle your fancy than perhaps an official White Stripes kilt will do. Seems the red and white duo have been keeping busy while on hiatus. In addition to stocking up their official Web store, Jack and Meg have completed ...
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I am starting to get the feeling that is album is just going set pop music on its ear!! Jack is brilliant
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The White Stripes have released the video for their second single off Icky Thump, the album which brought the duo their highest chart debut. "You Don't Know What Love Is" was filmed in Nunavut territory in Northern Canada on their recent tour of Canada's often forgotten barren lands. Nunavut is way up the 'eff up there and has a population that just reaches over 29,000 despite the fact its as b...
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Some serious stuff is going down inside the house of the White Stripes. After, canceling their entire US fall tour, the band have now canceled the following UK tour and will not play anymore dates this year. The White Stripes are still citing Meg White's "acute anxiety" as the reason for the deferred dates. Ticket refunds are available at the point of purchase.All together the band have cancele...
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Jack and Meg, In the Great White North are apparently taking the road less traveled. Seemingly equipped with just bongos and maracas, they set up shop at Whitehorse park for an impromptu mini-set.??Whitehorse park??On Sunday, th duo played a secret show at a youth centre in British Columbia. The next day (June 25), en route to a sold-out gig at the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse. It was report...
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Ever live with a significant other? Then you will get this...Jack White at his best
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White Stripes reschedule showsThe Whites Stripes are rescheduling their early September gigs “due to unforeseen scheduling issues.” According to the duo’s Web site (whitestripes.com) the shows scheduled for September 4th-13th have already be rescheduled. The new date for the Albuquerque show is the only one that has not been rescheduled thus far, but is expected to in the near future. The to
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The White Stripes have no doubt contributed to the fashion world with their red-black, red-red, black-red, red-white, white-red, black-white, and red-black-white ensembles. "They are the most powerful color combination of all time, from a Coca-Cola can to a Nazi banner," Jack White said of the color combo in 2006 Rolling Stone article. "Those colors strike chords with people. In Japan they're h...
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Next Tuesday, not this Tuesday but the one after that, the White Stripes release Icky Thump, the duo's sixth studio effort. Icky Thump, recorded in Nashville, Tennesse, will be the first major label release for Jack and Meg. The band's 2005 album Get Behind Me Satan sold only half as much as the 2003 "Seven Nation Army"-incubator Elephant, both released on now-defunct indie label V2 records.On...
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Henry Lee White was born on Tuesday August 7th to the proud parents of Jack White and Karen Elson. This is actually baby number two for the happily married couple. They've raised an adorable little girl named Scarlett for 15 months now. Jack and Karen were married in June 2005 in a canoe on the Amazon River in Brazil! Talk about far away from paparazzi! Karen:So my question is - are Meg an...
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The White Stripes are giving fans the opportunity to see them play their first American performance in nearly a year and a half. The show will be at Nashville's Cannery Ballroom, this Friday(May 18).The band is only allowing tickets for the Nashville show to be sold via their website.http://www.whitestripes.com/The Stripes are in the middle of their international tour. The band will be making t...
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As promised, The White Stripes debuted the new video for "Conquest" off of Icky Thump on Mtv today. And someone was sweet enough to upload it to youTube right away so the rest of us can bypass the Mtv interface and get right to the goods. Here is "Conquest" by The White Stripes:Jack looks pretty psychotic, but then, so does that bull he's flirting with!
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From "UK Guardian":UKJack and Meg have announced details of the White Stripes’ Yorkshire-sounding sixth album, which will be released ‘as soon as is corporately possible’. ... There is no explanation as to why the group have taken a variation on the traditional Yorkshire saying “icky thump” (or a Lancashire martial art as practiced by the Goodies) as their title.In an episode of the farc
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 "Icky Thump")
