This is the first album from this blues/rock duo, and has an incredibly raw sound to it. This is probably because of the old equipment they used, the style that Jack White played in, and their simplistic approach to their music.
Anyhow, it is a truly brilliant album, if you're looking for either blues or rock.
Here's what I think of each song:
1. Jimmy The Exploder.
Starting with a simple drum beat (signature White Stripes) which soon gets joined by a slow guitar riff, which in turn bursts into a high tempo rhythm consisting mostly of only two chords. An excellent introduction to the album, and a testimony to The White Stripes' simplicity and energy that they twist into their music.
About an angry monkey (or something like that), this song's lyrics aren't incredibly important to the song, but the energy with which Jack sings gives it a very meaningful feel, especially the 'whoo whoo whoo' s that pop up a couple of times. Meg's drum beat is just the way it should be: Simple, powerful and a strong structure upon which the song is built.
2.Stop Breaking Down.
A cover of R. Johnson's, this song is again played with only a few chords but the use of a slide gives it more of a bluesy feel. The crashing cymbals and fluctuating tones give it some energy, and I cannot compliment Jack's voice more on this track; powerful yet casual and up-beat yet serious. I haven't heard the original, but I'm sure the 'Stripes do it justice.
3.The Big Three Killed My Baby.
A violent and vicious song this, which you can probably guess from the name. Jack's voice follows the simple two-chord pattern, as does Meg's drum beat, and he has a certain sinister tone to his voice, which only enhances the darkness that this song brings out. From what I can gather, this song comments on the evils of the motor industry, with sinister lines such as "The motor's running on trucker's blood" and "Now my hands are turning red and I think that my baby is dead". Nasty stuff. But powerful nonetheless, and the pure emotion Jack puts behind this song (albeit one of anger) is enough to effect anybody. Not necessarily in a good way, but an effect all the same.
4.Suzy Lee.
The very slidey/bluesy sound to the introduction of this song played high up the fret board is somewhat reminiscent of stereotypical desert island music, but is soon shattered by a sudden beat of the drums and lowering of pitch. The song continues this pattern of high-slidey and low-drummy throughout, with the occasional short solo put in for good measure. Typical blues, about a girl (who'd of guessed), Jack seemingly unable to define whether their relationship is one of love or not.
The two guitars sound improvised somewhat, and give a random but rhythmical sound, the final downwards slide a perfect ending to the song.
5.Sugar Never Tasted So Good.
I nice little calm song, with a steady acoustic beat and tambourine giving a bit of a folksy feel. Just when you think this song is going to build up into something loud and powerful, it drops back into its steady calmness. The vocals continue as the music stops momentarily, and becomes softer at times, more stressed at others.
To be quite honest, I haven't a clue what the hell this song is about, but something tells me that there is some big meaning behind it. It's hard not to think so with lines such as: "Your fingers have become a crane; pulling on these puppet strings".
6.Wasting My Time.
This song starts with Jack's voice, somewhat sad and, dare I say, near tears, joined by a sudden drumbeat and gentle guitar. The music continues as the vocals stop, the rhythm pausing once every eight beats for a little mini-riff. The vocals join again in the same way as the intro, the music stopping as Jack almost speaks the line. The second batch of mini-riffs are slightly more complex versions of the former (if you can really call something so short 'complex'), and lead nicely into the final verse, which is a good finisher ending with "I hope I'm not a fool; for laughing at myself as you were going".
7.Cannon.
A great opening guitar riff, joined on the second by Meg, and on the fourth by Jack's screechy vocals. The riff repeats, and then slows down for the second slower verse. It speeds up slightly, until a more up-beat guitar-muted verse, before returning to the original riff for the end.
I simply love this song, despite it's simplicity, which many would see as a flaw. It's the kind of song that you can love just for the opening riff.
8.Astro.
This is very similar to the previous track, except more up beat and faster. It has no real chorus as such, and the verses are incredibly repetitive, but it has a nice little finishing solo. It's not essential as such to the album as such, but there is nothing quite wrong with it either.
9.Broken Bricks.
This is a very fast song, with fast vocals and a thrashing beat on the cymbals. The vocals are almost angry at places, and sometimes sound a bit mental at the more high-pitched sections. A good, steady beat caries this song all the way through it's short time of just under 2 minutes, and I feel that if it were any longer it would get TOO repetitive. Again, this is not essential to the album, but it's good all the same.
10.When I Hear My Name.
This is pure simplicity, consisting of a single chord being struck 6 times at either side of some very repetitive lyrics, (the chord changing about twice each verse) and a drum beat twice as simple. The vocals are terrible, being shouted most of the time, and the lyrics consist of little more than "Woahoahwoa".
I would not change this song for anything.
11.Do.
This is the slowest most meaningful song on the album, and possibly one of my favourite songs of all time. A simple melancholic riff gives the song an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness, and the vocals are curiously sad but at the same time optimistic. This song contains some of the best lyrics on the album; for example: "It doesn't matter 'cos my eyes are lying and they don't have emotion don't want to be social can't take it when they hate me but I know there's nothing I can do". Pure brilliance. The song is about (or this is how I see it anyway) the loneliness of an introvert, but the un-willingness to be social because of how 'evil' people are. I'm sure that other people see it in a different way, because the lyrics are very cryptic, but this is how I see it and this is how I like it.
12.Screwdriver.
A definite highlight of the album, with a great riff that bursts forth from the opening building feedback. The switches between a faster riff and the slower vocals give a certain random and manic feel to the song, only enhanced by the rawness of the vocals. There's a certain aura of tension as Jack starts the slow repetition of "I gotta' little feelin' goin' now", and this builds up until he's absolutely screaming the line over and over, ending the song with a few heavy power chords. The only meaning I can get from the lyrics, is about getting so annoyed with somebody as to attack (and possibly kill) them with a screwdriver. The complete insanity with which the song is played and sung completely compliments this meaning, and while it may not be a pleasant one, I think it's a feeling we can all relate to (although maybe not to the same degree).
13.One More Cup Of Coffee.
This is a cover of Bob Dylan's, and therefore contains some very poetic lyrics. There's a somewhat sinister feeling in the vocals, as Jack accuses somebody of having no 'affection, gratitude nor love'. The bitterness and hostility in Jack's vocals is reminiscent of the bitterness towards a girl who has either left you or changed into something you hate, although that could just be me. Meg's slow drum beat carry the song along it's steady and melancholic pathway.
14.Little People.
There's a strong sense of anger behind this song, and it seems as if Jack is annoyed at the recipient for not understanding a certain something. The use of the word 'Hello', (in that sarcastic way that makes you feel stupid), after pretty much every line makes it seem as if the seemingly mundane lyrics, (For example "There's a little girl with the right shoes on"), have some incredible significance. I'm sorry Jack, but I haven't a clue what this significance is, maybe somebody would have this wisdom with which they could enlighten me?
15.Slicker Drips.
This is the shortest song on the album at one minute thirty seconds. It consists only of a simple verse, slowing to what sounds like a mostly improvised soloey thing, and then back to the verse which speeds up to a frantic blur of guitar and drums (especially cymbals) to the end. Like 'Broken Bricks' and 'Astro', this song is nothing particularly special, but a good addition to the album nonetheless.
16.St. James Infirmary.
There is a steady marching beat to this song, which continues throughout. One of the songs where Jack White makes use of his surprisingly good skills on the piano. This is by no means an incredibly happy song, but the casual way in which the words are sung give it a more laid-back feel. Not my favourite song on the album, but certainly a good one and a welcome break from the sadness or anger that is emitted from the previous few.
17.I Fought Piranhas.
This is an incredibly slow song for the majority, played with two guitars (the second played by Johnny Walker of The Soledad Brothers [also the second guitar on Suzy Lee]). A truly great end to the album, with the two guitars, usually one quite high and one low, complimenting each other perfectly. (Their format reminds me of 'Hello Operator' from the second album, except not nearly as up beat). The lyrics are, like many of the songs on this album, relatively cryptic, but it is quite clear that they are about one's obstacles in life (that's the piranhas). The choruses begin with a sudden thrash, and are followed by a very bluesy solo, made so through the use of a slide. There is a build up of pitch at the end, as if leading to something climactic, only for the song to end with a sudden slowing and drifting conclusion. As I wrote earlier, a perfect end to the album.
Overall, this album is brilliant. Raw and powerful, with a mixture of angry, sad and happy songs (although the balances tilts somewhat to the angry and sad). As I originally said, the album is very raw as a whole, which is perfect for The White Stripes style. If you haven't already, buy their other albums, which aren't nearly as rough round the edges, but are brilliant all the same. Also check out The 22-20s self titled debut album, and The Soledad Brothers.
Okay, so I've written far too much, but this is my first review and I've a lot to learn. Constructive criticism is welcome, so if you want to correct me or suggest anything at all about anything (especially the meanings behind songs) then feel free to do so. However, constructive it must be, so woe betide anyone who dares say anything like "Ur rong cos the white stripes suck 'cos they do and meg is bad".
I'm fed up with comments like those.
Enjoy!
