The White Stripes have released four albums since their debut in 1999. Each album has chronicled the band’s growth. Each album has been great. The latest album, however, is a masterpiece.
“Elephant,” released April 1, is a stunning example of why so many people have hailed The White Stripes as the leaders of a new movement in rock. Since their self-titled debut album, they have pleased rock and roll loyalists with mean bare bones guitar riffs and loud, pounding drums. Until “Elephant,” there was no bass to be heard on a White Stripes album. The bass was never missed, but is nonetheless a welcome addition.
One of the reasons that White Stripes music has always been focused on the bare essentials of rock is that they’re a duo. In live performances, Jack and Meg White use only guitar and drums, and in the studio they have previously only added the piano and slide guitar to their instrumental arsenal. On Elephant, however, the duo make full use of the many tools at the producer’s disposal.
Jack White layers his guitar and even uses a bass guitar in several songs. Although there are still only two of them, they sound like many. Jack, who also sings for the band, pushes his voice in directions that were previously unexplored by the Stripes. In tracks like “Black Math”, the listener might swear that it was Robert Plant behind the microphone.
Jack does not limit himself to singing with his voice. The album is filled with screeching guitar solos reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page. In “Ball and Biscuit”, Jack says, “I’ll find me a soapbox where I can shout it/ and I can think of one or two things to say about it/ Listen,” before launching into a solo that would make Stevie Ray Vaughan proud.
Although the White Stripes have evolved much since their first album, they have not strayed far from their roots. Tracks like “Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine” and “Ball and Biscuit,” are the loud, screaming, blues-rock songs that filled their first album. Jack thinks that the era of early 20th century delta blues was the pinnacle of modern songwriting, and it shows on “Elephant.”
Most of the album is the kind of fast, hard-hitting rock that the Stripes are known for, but it is broken up by slower songs like “You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket” and “In the Cold, Cold, Night.” Meg even sings by herself on the latter song, a first on a White Stripes album. These songs show that the White Stripes, despite their reputation as being hard-rockers, can play soft, moving songs just as good.
The Stripes also show their talent for innovation on “Elephant.” “Little Acorns” is introduced by a thirty second long parable about a woman who is inspired by a squirrel to overcome her personal problems. Abruptly, the parable ends and the Stripes launch another fast, hard, blues-rock song.
Jack and Meg end the album with a light-hearted, folksy song, in typical White Stripes fashion. In “Well it’s True That We Love One Another” Jack and Meg banter back and forth with Holly Golightly, a friend of theirs from London, where the album was recorded.
“Elephant”is a must-have for anyone who is tired of the mediocre, sound-alike rock that has been plaguing the music industry for the last few years. Anyone who is not a White Stripes fan will become one after they hear this truly original masterpiece.