This was Jack White's first "solo" album (as if The White Stripes were not a solo project -not to dis Meg's drumming skills, but her creative input was not that important). On this album, he's left urban hard rockin' Detroit behind to record in capital-of-country-music Nashville with a group of -mostly female- local musicians. It was a huge success, gathering good reviews and hitting #1 on both sides of the Atlantic. Lyric-wise it is supposed to be a "divorce album" a la Blood on the Tracks but don't expect to get depressed - this is still Rock'n'Roll. As far as I'm concerned, the guy has never set a foot wrong, and this is no exception. The sound is fuller than what we're used to with The Stripes, but the voice and guitar unmistakably the same. First single "Love Interruption" was a rather atypical countyish ditty but follow-up "Sixteen Saltines" served up anthemic heavy blues-rock ala "7 Nation Army" or "Blue Orchid". Another 2 perfect singles followed: "Freedom at 21" and the sole cover (by R&B legend Little Willie John) "I'm Shakin'", the second employing some very old-school R&B female backup singing. I won't dwell on the rest of the songs except only to state that this is really one of those all killer no filler albums.
***** for Sixteen Saltines
**** for Missing Pieces, Freedom at 21, Love Interruption, I'm Shakin,Trash Tongue Talker
*** for Blunderbuss, Hypocritical Kiss, Weep Themselves to Sleep, Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy, On and On and On. Take Me with You When You Go
** for I Guess I Should Go to Sleep
P.S. Jack, your new release "Lazaretto" is also very good, but can we have a new Raconteurs album, please?
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