[.ca] Icky Thump

Don't forget me:
All "Icky Thump" initially brought to mind was Graham Chapman telling Terry Jones how to say, "Eee, ecky thump!" into a mike. But it's also the title of the White Stripes' sixth album, and after the mediocre dry spell of "Get Behind Me Satan," it's nice to hear that the Stripes seem to have regained their creative juices. This time they pack the album with dark seventies-style rock'n'roll and some traditional folk flourishes. It kicks off with the dark, plodding guitar that blazes up to life every few seconds, and a sinuous synth ripple that slithers through the melody. "Icky thump/Who'da thunk?/Sittin drunk on a wagon to Mexico?" Jack yowls, describing the less pleasant corners of Mexico, and taking a moment to jab at Americans ("Why don't you kick yourself out/You're an immigrant too!"). It softens up a lot for the catchy, bluesier rocker "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)," and the mellow gritty "300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues." Then the album goes through two phases: the first is one of British and Scottish folkiness, and a trumpety rocker that sounds like a B-side from Beirut. Then the last leg of the album slips back to blazing rock'n'roll, full of dark energy and retro organ. I never quite figured out what was going on in the halfhearted "Get Behind Me Satan," except that every band has their dud. And fortunately "Icky Thump" is everything that album wasn't -- spirited, creative, enthusiastic, and full of those little moments and brilliant instrumentation that bring it alive. Nice to see they haven't run out of juice yet. Yeah, we have Jack blazing away like a forest fire on his guitars, whether it's softer blues riffs, ringing blasts or hard-rocking swirls. And Meg smashes the drums like no other. But their music is festooned with a colourful array of extra instrumentation -- sweeps of eerie, vintage psychedelic synth, sprightly gypsyish trumpets, and even bagpipes for the mesmerizing "St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)." Jack seems to have regained his verve as well: he sounds assured and a little sad, and his quirky voice has a new depth and power. But he hasn't lost his melancholy edge, singing of Mexican robberies, stream of consciousness love songs, the rag and bone man, and a man who loves a woman so deeply, he lets her go so he won't make her unhappy. And Meg gets to display her clear voice a few times -- she gets to talk with Jack in "Rag & Bone," and the eerie Scottishy ballad "St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)" has her murmuring a prayerlike song over a bagpipe/drum melody. ("This battle is in the air/I'm looking upwards/where are the angels?/I'm not in my home!"). "Icky Thump" is both a wonderful return to form, and a foray into new territory for the White Stripes. A glorious experience, and it only gets better with repeated listens. A triumph.

a led zep tribute:
Well, no one else than Jack White could make a led zep album style in 2007 If you like this album, find the first led zep lp and you'll understand ! The title track is evidence and some others too. Be clear, it's a compliment! But some track on the album make me think that Jack feel a lot destroy and heavy. Alone, he can make noise like some metal band. But the melodies are still present and the last song is a folk one with good lyrics. For me, this not the chef d'oeuvre we hope, but not far away. Thanks for it Meg and Jack. Rock n roll will never die !

Icky Dump:
Fans of real artistry and pure musicianship should stay away from this "make me take too many laxatives so I don't have to endure the soul crushing turd music that has remained the same the last 5 albums of feces in a row from an overrated generic mainstream corporate poop puppet rock band that the confused teenagers and 20 somethings will fall for as underground "real" music that is just another bowel movement marketing ploy to dump on the masses to keep them constipated from the real issues. The white stripes really took an icky dump with this crap...

Another Stripes Classic:
What I love about the White Stripes (besides their epic cross-Canada tour that demonstrates a respect for their fans and a love of performance) is their almost innocent-in-nature lyrics that are layered on top of some of the sickest licks in rock music today. There's a playfulness in their songs as well, even a strange sense of humor, and a juvenile feel, contributed by Meg's amature drum skills. For these reasons, I feel like the Stripes are going to be one of the few bands today that people will remember fondly in 30 years as a classic and wonder "how come music isn't that good today"? 'Icky Thump', could be described as one of the White Stripes' most "experimental" and "produced" albums to date, not just because of the almost poetry-on-music style tracks but because of the inclusion of horns, keyboards and even bagpipes. On the first listen, it is a strange album. Songs about cause-and-effect and rummage sales (the masterful standout, "Rag and Bone") have random subject matter, reminiscent of songs like "Take Take Take" and "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine". Many people have chastised White's songwriting... I love it. There are few other lyricists who can (or at least, who will) blend that kind of innocent fun with far-reached politics. 'Icky Thump' is a bluesy, hard-edged, well-crafted, fantastically sung, unique piece of work. It may take a couple of listens to soak in the gist of what it's all about, but when you get there, you'll realize why Jack White is regarded as one of today's best rock talents for a reason.

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