De Stijl

by

The White Stripes

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First of all, I think the Stripes gave this album the perfect name. De Stijl is the perfect description for their "minimalistic" sound. Bands just don't make music like this anymore. It is difficult to find words to do justice to this album...it is that good. This album has a very heavy blues influence, executed to perfection. My ratings of each song are:

You're Pretty Good Looking - 9 (very poppy, easily accessible)

Hello Operator - 10 (the harmonica is the icing on the cake)

Little Bird - 10 (my favorite, it ROCKS!!!)

Apple Blossom - 9 (Could have been on several Beatles albums)

I'm bound to Pack it Up - 9

Death Letter - 10 (great song, kind of a "rockabilly" sound)

Sister do You Know My Name - 10

Truth Doesn't Make a Noise - 10

A Boy's Best Friend - 10 (I absolutely LOVE this song...very bluesy)

Let's Build a Home - 10

Jumble, Jumble - 6 (I think the weakest song)

Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me? - 10

You're Southern Can is Mine - 10 (super catchy)

I realize that the Stripes' popularity is primarily due to White Blood Cells and Elephant. Those albums are good, but they are not nearly as strong as De Stijl. If you are a White Stripes fan, this is a must buy. For those who believe the Stripes are hype, this CD could change your mind.

Although White Blood Cells is Jack and Meg's commercial success, and Elephant is a very solid album, in my opinion De Stijl really captures what the White Stripes are about. It's much rawer than White Blood Cells or Elephant, but more tuneful than the debut, and is a very solid attempt at bluesy garage rock.

Well, for one thing De Stijl sounds very, very garagey. The production is gritty and honest, with almost no studio gloss present. The minimalist approach works wonders here.

Jack White is an excellent guitarist, and very proficient at the open-A, slide guitar blues of this album. His overpowering, rich guitar totally eclipses the need for a base player. On De Stijl, his vocals sound like that of a young Robert Plant. Although Meg is not the most competent drummer out there, she merely functions to keep time while Jack rips away on his guitar. Lyrics are simple yet often profound, with no pretension or angst rife among nu-metal bands these days.

Highlights include You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl), Hello Operator (got to love Meg's "solo"), Apple Blossom, I'm Bound To Pack It Up, Death Letter (my favorite), Truth Doesn't Make A Noise, and the hard rockers Let's Build A Home and Jumble Jumble. If there's a throwaway track, it's probably the weak cover of Your Southern Can Is Mine--way too much country for my liking.

This is the best White Stripes release, and captures everything good about this duo without overproduction or gimmicks. Recommended.