Friday, July 20, 2007

The White Stripes in Review











John Anthony Gillis A.K.A Jack White was born in Detroit (Rock City) in 1975. As a young lad he took up playing the drums and expanded his musical repertoire to include both the piano and guitar. As like with most celebrated guitest, Jack had taught himself how to play. His musical influences such as Led Zeppelin and Cream can be undoubtedly heard in his music today.

His ex-wife and band mate (NO NOT HIS SISTER) Megan Martha White were married on September 23, 1997 and divorced in March of 2000. Jack encouraged Meg to take up the drums and together they formed a little band called The White Stripes. Meg’s drumming style may be simplistic in its approach but is essential to the bands unmistakable sound.

Somewhere in between getting divorced and playing music The White Stripes recorded their first CD in the winter of January 1999. It was released on June 20th, 2000 tilted De Stijl named after a Dutch conceptual art movement based on simple colors. For obvious reason they felt that this was the most fitting appellation as their introduction into the world of mainstream music.

Next release for the band was in 2001 with ‘
White Blood Cells.’ It was with this album that The White Stripes began to receive recognition with American audiences thanks to such singles off of that album like “Hotel Yorba and the more widely known ‘Fell in Love with a Girl’


The White Stripes began recording
Elephant in Toe Rag Studios in Hackney, East London, equipped with equipment from before 1964. It was recorded it ten days and was agreeable their best album to date up till there newest release, Icky Thump. The newest single of off that album, bearing the name of the title Icky Thump may be the best song for the band since Seven Nation Army hit the radio waves back in 2003. “Icky Thump,” boast a more blues and country-tinged sound to it. Vocally we get to hear a stronger and cleaner sounding Jack White owed to his decision to quit smoking two years ago. The song is catchy and full of superb guitar playing by Jack with an ending that is sort of reminiscent of Ball and Biscuit off of the Elephant album.

Icky Thump was been received by audiences alike with great enthusiasm and a reinforced appreciation for the band.

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