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EDIT INFOThe White Stripes - Elephant
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Album Details
- Artist: The White Stripes
- Album: Elephant
- Label: V2
- Year of Release: 2003
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-05-08
RecommendI can't even fathom the amount of pressure that would have been on Jack and Meg White to follow-up their amazingly successful breakthrough White Blood Cells. If you have been following the two for a while, you would have known that their last three albums were on a small record label called Sympathy For The Record Industry. After V2 picked up their entire catalog and re-released them all and White Blood Cells went on to become an international success I was curious to see what the duo would do with their first taste of big production money. If you have liked their past material then there is no doubt you will be all over Elephant. Despite not really moving from the duo approach Jack and Meg have managed to create one of their fullest sounding albums yet. It's the case of an actual talent being discovered (or shoved down your throat) and a label capitalizing on their success. Elephant couldn't have cost that much to make with their raw sound and maybe 4 tracks total on the final mix. The White Stripes have ventured even more into the Delta Blues area with tracks like the smoking "Ball and Biscuit". It works as Jack White has the perfect voice for this type of song. He's no slouch when it comes to a good blues riff too. While "Seven Nation Army" is the lead off single from Elephant, it is far from the best track on the album. Check out "The Hardest Button to Button" for an example of their potential. Or "Hypnotize" rocks like some of the best tracks on White Blood Cells. I have to give V2 credit where it is due; they gave Jack and Meg the freedom to do what needed to be done without any interference. Elephant would have been exactly the same if they were still on Sympathy For The Record Industry.
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on 2011-12-16 CharlesMartel Said:
I am deeply suspicious of revivals. A music style generally died out after its best years were behind it and probably did so because it had run its course. If so, then a revival is taking something which has been done already and done better. The White siblings (?) have not taken that lesson to heart and while " Elephant" is an OK listen, it is not the best garage rock you will ever hear. Far from it. There is no MC5 waiting to burst through; no Flamin' Groovies lurking behind the cover of the CD and no Sonics waiting to be unleashed on the world.
"Seven Nation Army" is not a bad song and it was on the strength of this that I got the album. But "Seven Nation Army" has been overplayed and can now become a little tiring listening to it again and again. But the rest of the album is less appealing. For a band who have been hyped to the clouds, they don't really deliver what they ought to in order to justify that hype. It is just another CD of sloppy, poorly produced (or is it supposed to be lo-fi?) retro music of a kind which was popular over forty years ago.
I guess therein lies its popularity with the people who tend to listen to this - students. You see, none of them were around the first time and so to them this is all brand spanking new. The only difference that I can see, in all honesty, is that whereas garage bands of the sixties and seventies either wore suits or leather jackets, the White Stripes comprise a boy who looks like a girl and his sister/wife/ex-wife or whatever who looks like his brother. It wouldn't be bad if the two of them could actually play, but at times the musicianship is woeful. It is at its best when they keep it simple. The more complex they become the more likely they are to trip up.
And trip up they do. So keen are they on this retro effect that they appear on stage in matching little ensembles against a backdrop of a set which reminds you of some cheesy early seventies US family show like the Brady Bunch or something. I guess it appeals to those who have never heard the real thing. And therein lies a listen. Before you go out and buy the latest offering from the White Stripes, check out some of the bands mentioned in the first paragraph of this review. Because the chances are that they will be better and you won't need to waste your money on this.
Rating: 2/10
Review:
on 2008-09-25 Sinist3r Punk Said:
Great review Dennis. Even though im not totally into the whole modern rock/pop scene, but this album reeks of just pure talent. Songs like Seven Nation Army, Black Math, and There's No Home For You Here display Jack's ability to stretch his vocals and still sound rhythmically excellent. This album seems to have focused a lot on timing and experimenting with different rhythms, which is what seems like the White Stripes wanted to do. Another notable thing about this album is Jack's solos. Im not big on solos that are kind of rushed, but Jack pulls it off really well. The only reason I give this album an 8 is because I dont know enough about the White Stripes to properly give a review. but from what I know, Elephant is far above the rest.
Rating: 8/10
