Whew. It's been a while since I've posted. Pardon me. My freshman year at NYU has ended, and I've already relocated back to home saccharine home, otherwise known as Virginia Beach, VA. On to the music.
At first, I was apprehensive toward the White Stripes because I tend to go against the grain in style of a true non-conformist (that is, hypocrtically). The White Stripes' commercial success = no purchase on my part. I'm a champion of the unfamous (not infamous) Shortlist Music Prize, a poor-man's version (or rather, American man's version) of the U.K.'s Mercury Music Prize. An album can only be considered for the Shortlist if it hasn't yet been certified gold (sold 500,000 copies). This, to me, means that I am one of the less than one million people in America who not only have discovered such wonderful music, but have cared enough to purchase the album. In short, I am an elitist.
Example: I was a big fan of the Strokes because they weren't, as I like to say, TRL-ified. I was immediately biased against the White Stripes because when they enjoyed commercial success. No, I wasn't jealous on behalf of the Strokes. Just elitist. Plus, they kinda seem to cater more to THAT type of audience. You know what I mean. THAT type. The video-watching, rock star wardrobe impersonating, cover band-forming type. Jack and Meg White are running around with Lego clones of themselves on TV while the Strokes are refusing to lipsynch for a video shoot. Oh, such artistic integrity hath thee, Julian Casablancas.
But as always, the elitist must eventually be humbled. I stumbled upon the video for "Seven Nation Army" during one insomniatic night the week before finals and was like, "whoa, lots of triangles!" Plus, the song wasn't even that bad. Actually, it was the shit. I immediately downloaded the entire album off of Kazaa (with properly labeled tracks, just to let all of y'all know who remember my "Think Tank" posting fiasco). Sublimity right there, y'know?
Even so, I'm more keen on their earlier stuff, the tracks from De Stijl. Similar to my distaste for any post-green album Weezer, I find the pre-TRL-ified music to be a little rawer, a little edgier, a little more to my taste. Whatever. They're all good. Elephant is officially on my list of CDs to purchase legit copies of.
Article comments
1 - Lennat
I'm glad that you gave in!
"I'm gonna fight them off, a seven nation army couldn't hold me back..."
2 - Roxanne
I don't know what to say about the White Stripes other than they suck but we all have our opinions and our likes and dis-likes and I prefer to dis-like them.....YUCK!!!!!
3 - Holly Moody
Where were you 2 years ago? hahaha!
4 - The Theory
The White Stripes are great. Jack White just has the ability to write a damn fine song. And anything based in the blues like that has to be good.
5 - Jason C Miller
what the fuck man white stripes sit in the shit hole saying shit about the best band ive hard since iron maiden i
think they a sad dick and u should die or fuck a big ass pig and stop
saying shit. make me sick dick
white stripes suck
6 - JAG
Not being a fan of present day music I had never heard the White Stripes before. Listened to parts of three songs. They remind me of a junior high band playing at a Friday night dance in the gym. Barely tolerable playing, lousy vocals and lyrics, and the bass player got grounded and couldn't make the gig. It's amazing what marketing and hype can sell these days. And this definitely ain't the blues!
7 - Nick
The Theory your a f------ retard.
And this band is straight from the sons of bitches over at MTV. Like everything they churn out, it has no talent, no skill, and especially no soul. Wake the f--- up people. Luther Allison, Steve Ray, and Hendrix were guitarists. If I ever just saw Jack White on a stage I would kill him any way I could. The White Stripes suck so mother f------ bad. Why can't you people see this? Its not an issue of opinion here, they suck. Prefering classic delta blues to electric blues is an opinion, liking country over blues is an opinion, but to anybody's ears the White Strips suck. If you think you do like them, you really dont know anything about blues and music in general. Go out and find some good music, like the shit I mentioned. Then, if there is a god, youll be able to tell the difference.
8 - mith
fact is the band sux. well at least from a theory point of view. any idiot can get on stage and slap a few chords together it doesnt make it musically correct. sum of their songs ive heard ar just harmonically messed up. they need to goto school and pik up some scales.
9 - Rob
They suck so bad. Saw them on the dailey show. I have to say she can't drum and he basically sounds like a guy with writers block. Like some guy in he's apartment thinking I got nothing. They do have nothing. Well they are up to garage band level. Next stop, good enough to play the high school talent show. I was hoping Coldplay was the new low in music for people that thought they are deep. Guess not.
I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it
Yeah, I'm thinkin' about my doorbell
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it
yeah, I been thinkin' about my doorbell
Hmm, I got nothing. I know more....
When ya gonna ring it, when ya gonna ring it
yeah, I been thinkin' about my doorbell
genius
10 - Cliff
Wow, so old, but I must post anyway.
"A guy who can't think of what to say". Do you even know the lyrics beyond the chours?!?
No talent!? Are you insane? I've watched Jack White play guitar and piano during the same song switching back and fourth and doing a good song. Watch that man go fucking nuts on a solo in concert and tell me again how he can't play the guitar.
I'm not even going to respond to the guy saying "Your a retard if you like this band lol!!111"
The fact is the Stripes are awesome. They're so much better than anything else new I can think of right now as well.
11 - Vern Halen
Sy what you want about their playing abilities, but the fact is Jack White writes some darn good material, and the two of them deliver it as loud and proud as any four piece band. I didn't get them at first, but now I'm a fan.
The Raconteurs are pretty decent too.
Hmmm........ Jack White's country music on that movie a few years back was good, too! Go fig!
12 - jason
" you think you do like them, you really dont know anything about blues and music in general."
What a load of crap. You have me laughing, really. Not to sound like a music nazi, but I have a feeling that you especially have HORRID music taste in general. To say that they're a product of MTV is also the biggest LIE. Compare them to all of the other image-based superficial garbage they play now and tell me if you see any similarities. Didn't think so.
But taste is a matter of opinion, so I'll just say that Jack White is a MACHINE live. The Stripes have an intentionally stripped down sound, they hark back to the old Delta blues analog sound, capturing that kind of dusty highway grit. Jack White may not be the most technical player, but he's good for what he does. If you like it, great, if it's not your thing, then whatever. You can't compare him to people like Hendrix because it's TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT STYLES OF PLAYING.
Jesus, some of you need to get a fucking clue.
13 - micr0
All of their music starts to sound the same after awhile. The drumming is so bland and uninventive that they might as well just find a cheapo electronic drumming machine and have it cycle through the same boring grooves... or find a chimpanzee to play the drums instead (now THAT would be entertaining).
14 - busybee
5 no 6 chords + Satan (MTV) + a gullable music starved public =
The White Stripes
I was in L.A. four years ago at a party and some clown was shoving one of their records in my face, little did I know the high school talent show crap on the stereo at the party was them.
This is not blues, this is marketing genius.
You're all idiots.
15 - enig_o_matic
I used to think that the White Stripes were good, that is, until I tried to play their songs myself. Then I realized that all of their songs are exactly the same. I could serisouly write the next White Stripes hit. They write catchy music, but it's all one formula that has been used to death by now. Totally unoriginal.
16 - Bill
Jack White may have some vocal and musical talent, but his lyrics need some big time help. The "band" also needs to be disbanded, and reformed around Jack and some real musicians. The drumming is a joke. I read a review about a previous album they put out and the writer noted that the drumming has a "childlike quality about it". I think that he was being kind.
Like most other music that emanates from the music industrial complex, The White Strips music is segmented, marketed and shoved down our throat through satellite, radio and MTV.
I say, turn off the radio and go out to a bar or club to experience the new sounds. Now, that's real music!
17 - Douglas Mays
enig_o_matic....the basic response to "i could write their music"...well, did you? have you done anything even close in your life?
How many jazz musicians does it take change a light bulb? 5. One to change it, 4 to sit around and say "I could have done that".
Other than that, about two years ago I see the White Stripes show in Portland OR. Very good. 5000 seat venue. by the end of the set they had the music rolling so damn tight that it was of that level that only the Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, etc. can achieve.
Any snot who wants to fire back the comment like, "oh you are so star struck that how can your opinion matter..." you know, crap like that. Well, I do this for a living. I have seen and promoted etc. thousands of shows of major level, have met with some of the greats, etc. I'm all jaded about it. But when that sound comes together and puts you in another dimension (very few bands can do that)I recognize it as a skill and happening.
The White Stripes can do this. 99% of the music/performers out there cannot. This performance was very convincing. The WS latest is a very good album. Votes go to the White Stripes, currently the most substantial band out there.
You'll see....
best,
DM
18 - okay beavis
If I took some ludes and then smoked some weed and had a shot of jack, that's what the white stripes would sound like----doh!
19 - Nick
Simple music does not equal bad music. Meg's drumming is simplistic but it's like nothing else. Their simplistic raw sound is what makes them great. Its what rock and roll is.
20 - deadly and broken goth queen
They really do suck. They suck so bad, they make Mindless Self Indulgence look good, and the new bassist can't even play bass! Meg, on the other hand, should learn how to play bass. She is way better than that piece of shit named Jack White (or as I like to call him, Jackass White). It would be great if someone taught her to play bass.
21 - C
I hate the Stripes' music, though I used to like a few of their songs a couple years back. Even those songs I liked got extremely monotonous. Not to mention that Meg White's drumming is NOT stylistically simplistic, (like Ringo, who could actually keep a beat and never be off) it's simply bad. So to those people who respect her drumming as a stylistic choice, you're pretty wrong. In many songs I've been able to sense that she's off rhythm. Jack is an awful guitarist, masking subpar ability by being fashionable and gimmicky. Also, his singing is grating beyond words; he makes Robert Plant sound like an angel. Anyway though, the Stripes are all style and no substance. They were the most over-hyped band of the garage revival, even though the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Black Keys, and Strokes kick their ass at what they do. Peace
22 - JonB
They're so goddamn boring to listen to. All their songs are so samey. They only ever had one real hit.
Pffft.. listen to Radiohead, they are much better.