So, back to doing what I think I do best, listening to music. Jack White - White Stripes - first solo album - Blunderbuss - let's do this. There's 13 songs on the album, all very spicy in their own ways.
Lets start with the title of the album, shall we? Blunderbuss means:
1. A short-barreled large-bored gun with a glared muzzle, used at short range.
2. an action or way of doing something regarded as lacking in subtlety and precision.
I'm going to go ahead and assume that Jack White didn't name his "debut" album after a short-barreled large-bored gun, but if you want to go with this definition then you could say that Jack White is sticking it to the music industry, that he's going to blow us away by shooting us in the ears with his genius and glorious music. But Blunderbuss was most likely named so after this second definition. This album is all about growth as an artist - moving out of the shadow of the White Stripes and showing a different side of Jack White that nobody has seen before - not very subtlety either. He's going to quite literally fuck your ears with his giant guitar and sweeter than sweet voice. Jack White said in an interview that the White Stripes were "basically a cover band" of all the songs he wrote. Blunderbuss is most definitely a coming of age tale, with Jack gaining enough confidence in both himself and his writing and finally putting out a record that is amazing.
Sixteen Saltines is the first single released from this album and what a great start to the album it was. Sixteen Saltines is the main reason I picked up this album, not because he named it after a cracker but in hopes that Jack would keep the same feel and intensity as the White Stripes. I would have to say that this is most definitely my favourite song on the album, with Freedom at 21, Missing Pieces and Love Interruption coming in at a close second, third and fourth place. I cannot stress enough how amazing this entire album is. If you're a fan of the Stripes, or just a fan of good music I would definitely check Blunderbuss out (and if you like it enough to illegally download it, you should just fork over the 12 bucks and show Jack White your support and encourage him to keep making good music).
Listening to the album, there are similarities to the Stripes, but Blunderbuss has a whole different feel, a feel that I enjoy immensely. It's so easy to listen to this album. It flows musically. The songs on this album are very diverse, especially since they were all written in one session. There's punk/alternative (Sixteen Saltines), 50s centred (I'm Shakin'), maybe a little rockabilly and gospel (Poor Boy), a little country (I Guess I Should Go To Sleep) and there's more. This album does not disappoint with the diversity but it still manages to keep the same feel in each song that ties everything back to Jack White. Jack truly did a great job moving from the Stripes into this Solo album. He showed everyone just what he had bottled up inside him, and what he coveted and bottled up is beautiful. I feel like I did not do this album justice at all. Hopefully this review has kinda helped you guys in your decisions to listen/pick up this album. There's something on this album for everyone. It's really well made and put together, there's no awkwardness or songs that bug the crap out of me. I can very rarely listen to an album in its entirety and this is one album that I listened to without pause or skipping tracks.
Jack White stated in an interview that there will be a second solo album, and I'm not too sure about you guys, but I'm super psyched about it. I have such high expectations for it especially after Blunderbuss. I'm not worried about being let down because Jack White always delivers.
I guess I'll finish this up and leave you guys with a little Jack White: Sixteen Saltines - Just click on the link to go to the music video! Which in itself is just as badass as the song.
