Music Monday with PLC is a weekly feature written by my husband, Pat.
Find out the back story + check out the full archives HERE .
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Jack White
[photo by jennifer; review by pat]
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Rock and roll has a certain look to it. I remember being back in high school and coming downstairs ready to go to a party with some friends. I finally had a pair of jeans that had frayed enough to have made holes near the knees. I thought, “Oh, these look kind of cool like this.” My mother looked at them at immediately said, “Your pants are all ripped.” I know. Then my father told me a story about a friend of his who went on a trip out West, and when he returned from then on he always dressed in cowboy hats, boots and bolos. I went upstairs and put on a pair of khakis.
Jack White burst on the music scene in 1999 as a fully realized red and white artist. Now, with artistic integrity still firmly intact, he has just released his first solo album “Blunderbuss” (Third Man Records 2012). The idea of White releasing a solo album at all seems kind of strange since he has been in complete control of all of his previous bands. It would be similar to Billy Corgan releasing a solo album. But, in true artistic fashion, Jack White always does the unexpected. And since apparently John Mayer is attempting to steal his look, a man has to stake his claim. In another interesting move, on this new tour he is accompanied by both an all male and an all female band.
Watch Jack get in tune with his feminine side on the album’s great first single “Love Interruption” -
Blunderbuss is a very honest-sounding American rock record. White mixes it up with a little country, a little blues, and a little pop punk, never dwelling too much in one style so as to isolate the tracks on the album. Rather, the styles are united by Jack’s great production ear for absolutely killer guitar tones and use of warm acoustic instruments, coupled with his choice of great bad ass back up musicians. A true knockout punch.
Class is in session, kids: watch Mr. White tear the roof off of SNL with “Sixteen Saltines”-
After years of careful cultivation, Jack White has released his first solo record. It is confident and well-executed. Much like the man himself.
- PLC
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MORE:
- last week - Alabama Shakes
- last month - The Golden Dogs
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