(garage rock) The White Stripes - Elephant

[GibsonPyro]

This is my first review. I think this album was the best album of last year, and one of the best albums since the new millennium began. Jack White has an amazingly unique style of playing guitar. He also uses quite low-quality equipment. They have a lot of balls to go out there just the two of them. Meg White is, IMO, the perfect drummer. She doesn't play pretentious fills, and she knows when NOT to play.

1. Seven Nation Army - This is their most radio-played song. It doesn't sound like the rest of the album though. There are no vocals on the chorus. Meg does a great job with her simple drumming on the verses. Just a steady "Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump" And Jack's wreckless guitar soloing is shown briefly on the slide section. Not my favorite song on the album, but it's good. 3/5

2. Black Math - This song is so catchy. I'm surprised it's not one of their singles. It remains pretty steady and repetitive for most of it then there's a breakdown. After about 30 seconds Jack comes in with an amusing noise, something like "Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ahhhhhh". I like it when he does cool things like that. Meg's drumming, again, very simple and very precise. She knows when to stop. One of my favorites on the album. 5/5

3. There's No Home For You Here - I don't like this song as much as the rest of the album. It sounds too much like "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" from their second album "White Blood Cells". 2/5

4. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - I love this song. It starts off pretty quiet and simple. With virtually no drumming at all. Kudos to Meg on that. Then the song heats up with Jack screaming "I don't know what to do with myself!!!" and a simple, yet powerful guitar solo. 4/5

5. In The Cold, Cold, Night - This is the only song that Meg sings on. It has a very simple and quiet riff from Jack which is good. A very simple song. Not one of my favorites though. From here the album starts slowing down. 3/5

6. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart - This is where Jack comes in with his piano playing. It sounds a lot different than the previous 5 songs, but it is genius nonetheless. He comes in toward the end with an awesome slide solo. The album slows down a bit more. 4/5

7. You've Got Her In Your Pocket - This song is just Jack on the acoustic. It's very quiet and simple. This is the most relaxed song on the album. 3/5

8. Ball and Biscuit - This is where the album starts to heat up again. A very bluesy tune that I read was entirely improvised. Jack plays three amazing solos in which he uses a DigiTech Whammy pedal to make his tone go up an octave. It can be a little hard on the ears at times, but it's still genius. My favorite song on the album. 5/5

9. The Hardest Button to Button - Meg's simple drumming is genius on this song. Jack plays the same two chords for the whole song mostly. This was released as a single some time after 7 Nation Army. It's a decent song. Very simple. 3/5

10. Little Acorns - This song starts out with a guy telling a story about a woman who learns to deal with her problems. The man (I'm not sure who he is) is backed by Jack playing a few chords on the piano. When the man finishes his little story, Jack and Meg come in with a heavy riff that blows that man away! This is one of the faster songs on the album. One of my favorites, although I could really do without the little speech at the beginning. 4/5

11. Hypnotize - This is classic white stripes. It's probably the least polished song on the album. It sounds like something from one of their first CDs. 4/5

12. The Air Near My Fingers - I love this song. It's another that always get's stuck in my head. It's more complex than most of the other songs on the album (but that's really not saying much). Jack plays the keyboard on this song, which adds a nice touch. 4/5

13. Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine - This is a great rocking song. The lyrics are very interesting. Jack plays, IMO, one of his best guitar solos on this song. One of my favorites. 5/5

14. I don't really like this song. It's really just Jack, Meg, and some chick named Holly having some fun. 3/5

Well, i hope this review helps. I encourage any music fan to go and buy this album. My first review!!!

[br3ad_man]

That was a pretty good review. You need to format your review heading properly. Ask sting to do it for you in the "Report Problems" thread.

[sting-ray]

yea, or you could put it here, and i'll hook you up. :thumb:

[MxShredder]

...from their second album "White Blood Cells...

good review, but im 90% sure that's their third album

[GibsonPyro]

whoops, it is! sorry 'bout that

[CommieCanada]

man, MXshedder! i was gonna correct him on that!

[manuscriptreplica]

simple drumming is genius

that has got to be the oxymoron of the century.

this album's ok, i wouldn't buy it though. Just full of fun, catchy beats. 3/5

[sting-ray]

genre please...

[Hababi]

3. There's No Home For You Here - I don't like this song as much as the rest of the album. It sounds too much like "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" from their second album "White Blood Cells". 2/5


I think that was intentional, it's written as a sequal of sorts.

[DeathOnBroadway]

I'm not a huge, die-hard fan of The White Stripes, but I really enjoy their music. They have the ability to make some people listen to their music, that isn't their normal style. My friend is a huge metalhead (so am I, I listen to everything though); but he only has Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and Metallica albums...and this. They must be doing something right if he listens to them. I hope their next cd isn't just the same thing over again. I could see that happening.

[Zppln]

...give a genre

Ball and Biscuit is the best song on that album


I disagree with some of your descriptions but that's just me

3/5

[vileguitar666]

that album was ***... i got it from a friend and i think it ****en blows....the songs are catchy (i will give them that) but seriously get a **** bass player...all the songs are somewhat similiar and meg blows at drumming...i definetly wouldn't buy that cd.

[joveman]

^
l I disagree with that guy,
l having a bass player or a new drummer would
l ruin the unque style of The White Stripes.
l It was a good CD and
l I am tired of people who only like Seven Nation Army
l and don't even try any of their other songs.

[lilsolsman]

Your review was pretty good but u like all the songs i dont like and u hate all the songs i love.. :rolleyes: this is one of the best albums i've ever heard but you really do have to love the white stripes unique style.. its different from anything else you'll hear and thats what makes this album so **** great I'd defenitly buy it if i wouldn't have it already ( best song on there is I Wanna Be The Boy To Warm Your Mothers Heart )

[White]

I personally liked the CD. They actually had a good variety of songs considerding there was only guitar, piano (yes Jack does play piano) and drums. It is a good cd but I would only buy it used for a cheap price.

And it is their fouth cd. Their cds were , 'The White Stripes', 'De Stijl', 'White Blood Cells', and 'Elephant'

[loose cannon]

The White Stripes have made some great music but their follow up should be different. Their albums have a lot of similarities. I predict that the White Stripes are going take some time off and totally reinvent themselves.

[rickdubois]

I hope their next cd isn't just the same thing over again. I could see that happening.

I don't know how you can see that happening....their 4 albums sond completly different...why would they stay with the same format as album 4....they mad a great succes with white blood cells and fell in love with a girl but they didn't make a copy of that album it sounds nothin like it... And I love elephant it's my favorite.

[capy1234]

i think the white strips are good and all but there not my favorite band

[StardogChampion]

verrrrrry nice review! oh, and i read some article (this is directed towards rickdubois and deathon broadway or anyone else who wants to know) that said that jack is gonna do a new duet with some other girl- hes going back to his roots-country :(

I wish he would stick with Meg, and continue his rock, but noooooooooo he has to go make crappy country music! :(

[boarding_bob]

Jack White is a good guitar player, but their songs are too overplayed.

[Curdt_Kobain]

verrrrrry nice review! oh, and i read some article (this is directed towards rickdubois and deathon broadway or anyone else who wants to know) that said that jack is gonna do a new duet with some other girl- hes going back to his roots-country :(

I wish he would stick with Meg, and continue his rock, but noooooooooo he has to go make crappy country music! :(
the girl in question is Loretta Lynn, legendary country song. And fyi it was only a side project, he only produced it and its not full time, hese not quitting the white stripes, nor is he the full time guitarist with Loretta Lynn. I heared somewere that the white stripes might be putting out another record eventually...oh and btw The Vanlear rose( by loretta Lynn) record that Jack appeared on is actually not that bad if your really into the de stijl album, the melodies are great.

[StardogChampion]

the girl in question is Loretta Lynn, legendary country song. And fyi it was only a side project, he only produced it and its not full time, hese not quitting the white stripes, nor is he the full time guitarist with Loretta Lynn. I heared somewere that the white stripes might be putting out another record eventually...oh and btw The Vanlear rose( by loretta Lynn) record that Jack appeared on is actually not that bad if your really into the de stijl album, the melodies are great.

Thank you for clearing the dark stormy clouds, O one that is wise in the ways of the White. I sure do hope they put out another stripes record

[Teaboy]

Whoever said get a bass player - listen to the songs.

The ones I've heard, you can tell he pitch shifts his guitar down an octave to give a bass sound and dubs it over. Hey, even "Seven Nation Army" has only a bassline through the verses.

[Jrod1987]

i think this album is more important because its a lot harder than white blood cells and there are some rippin solos on it too. its refreshing because the first two albums are really gritty and rough . then white blood cells is very refined and slower songs. elephant pulls off a fast gritty refined sound that really reminds me of early zeppelin its fantastic

[tadams115]

Unfortunetly i dont really enjoy the white stripes, the come across way to simple for me i guess its the more complex songs that i prefer

[death before disco]

Coming from Detroit, I am a huge fan of the White Stripes. Here, these guys are huge. We all respect what they are doing for garage rock. Detroit was the home of garage rock and the album "Elephant" keeps that style going. Although, a slight change on their next album would be awesome.

[izzy]

she knows when NOT to play.

You say that if they just recorded this album off the tops of their heads. Of course she knows when not to play, they rehearse their music. You should also read the How to make a review thread. You left out an overall rating. You need more detail on the songs, not just whether or not you liked them.

[clown_phobia]

i like this album... i've heard most of it. probably wanna get it one day.

[AnimalKracker918]

Ok i hate to sound like a douche, but I cant stand the white stripes... But im not going to rip on them because I respect any musician who can make it in the industry... they deserve credit for that.... and i CANNOT stand 7 Nation Army, its catchy about the first 3 times you hear it but after that it gets sooo old

[lilsolsman]

It sux that mtv and the rest of the radio and stuff pleyed 7 nations army SOOO much.. i used to love that song.. now it kinda got boring... still love the album though.. people just shouldn't be judging them by one song

[my5thname]

This review rules and so do the white stripes

[my5thname]

Ok uh i jsut saw the second page and they play seven nation army a billion times on 92.3 Kiss in cleveland...it gets annoying so thank god you don't hear it every 2 hours

[izzy]

Does Track 14 have a title?

[Knoxvillelives]

Seven Nation Army was definately the best song of 2002 (or 2003, can't remember). It's so simple and catchy. I think Meg should do some bass on a song maybe, the guitar and drum formula will get tired eventually. I will say that they do try different things and have come up up with some great songs.

[Tangy zizzle]

I love this album. I'd give it a 3.9/5.

[Iai]

I really don't get any of the hype or plaudits for this album. I thought it was the most disappointing thing I've ever heard. White Blood Cells and De Stijl were both great.....and then this? In The Cold, Cold Night was okay, and there was one other track I liked (I think, Hypnotize). Apart from that, I couldn't find a single merit in this. I heard it and thought they were going to get slaughtered.....then all of a sudden the critics are all over it! It beggars belief. I kept coming back to it, the more hype I heard, thinking maybe I was wrong, but I just ended up hating it more.

[Tapeworm]

That is exactly what I did/thought. I don't think I dislike it as much as you though. And man, people should really check out the self titled debut, it is really really great.

[Iai]

If the self-titled debut is more in the vein of De Stijl (which I'm assuming it is) I'll check it out.

[Bartender]

I really don't get any of the hype or plaudits for this album. I thought it was the most disappointing thing I've ever heard.

I was disappointed with this album too, but I think for me the Most Disappointing crown taken by The Strokes.

[Iai]

Hah, I never liked The Strokes in the first place. But I know a lot of people who agree with you.

[Bartender]

Elephant and Is This It? were my first experience with both bands, I just meant that at least there were a couple of Elephant tracks I liked.

[creategoodmusic]

de stijl is much better than elephant, although elephant is second best

[splashfreak]

Meg does a great job with her simple drumming on the verses.

Anyone could do a great job with the way she drums... it is amazing how jack actually has some skills with the guitar and she... just can't drum. oh well, not evry band can have john bonham ;-)

Anyway, pretty average review, horrible album. None of the stuff sounds very good... i don't really know how else to explain it.

[enpsychopedia]

they have a good alternative sound, I love "the hardest button to button". jack has a good unique sound, but no way hes better than eddie van halen

[ieatalotoftacos]

It's a good album, but I think you're giving Meg White way too much credit. She's one of the simplest drummers I've ever heard, very repetitious. Jack White is a solid guitarist, not much of a singer though. This group is overrated IMO, Spin Magazine worships the ground they walk on.

[Pig on the wing]

All that stuff about Seven Nation Army being played too much? Pah!
That song was the reason I got into music and Elephant was the first album I acyually sat down and LISTENED to, rather than just having it on in the background. As a result, Jack White is the reason I started playing guitar.

Without this album, I would be a different person. Surely an album that has the power to do that deserves one hell of a lot of positive feedback, yes?

And yes, for a short period of time I got bored of Seven Nation Army, before realising that it does in fact ROCK. More than anything else I know.
Yeah, some people will disagree, but this is just one opinion of a crazy dude you don't know, so what does it matter?

[feeder_4ever]

the white stripes are okay... but a frien of mine bought this album an to be honest it is a little crap, okay its really bad. But seven nation army rules. Meg white is proof that not all female rock stars are attractive. :D