Artist:Jack White
Album: Blunderbuss
Release Date: April 24
Label: Third Man Records/Columbia Records
Grade: A-
Being honored with a spot as one of Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" has helped rocker Jack White vastly. His first solo album, Blunderbuss, hit shelves Tuesday following the disbandment of The White Stripes last year.
Blunderbuss highlights White's musical diversity with lessons from his time living in Nashville, as well as his past collaborations with artists Alicia Keys and Bob Dylan, and his experience with the rock band The Raconteurs.
The loudest track on the album, "Sixteen Saltines," is ripped from the past. It could fit in any previous White Stripes album with White's falsetto cascading throughout the guitar riffs and bitter lyrics.
"Freedom at 21" showcases White's distinct voice among his guitar skills. The solos have a precise quantity of rock mixed with some blues, while White nearly raps the verses, contributing to the songs replay value. Also, White's harmonious strumming through the track makes the song nearly unforgettable.
The album's most apparent failure is "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy." The song is reminiscent of elevator music with beats that emit yawns.
"Blunderbuss" brings listeners sounds of fiddles and Nashville influenced rhythm. It seems natural to White, as his voice blends into the soft cadence of the track. "Blunderbuss" is not a random juxtaposed song, however, it meshes well with the diverse album.
The highlight of the album, "Love Interruption," exposes White's tormented and vulnerable mind through his words. The song reveals his personal struggles with love along the acoustic guitar notes and the eerie a cappella segments.
"I want love to grab my fingers gently/Slam them in a doorway/Put my face into the ground," White sings.
Ultimately, fans of White's previous work will be overjoyed with his solo album and beg for more. His unique voice, fascinating lyrics, and sense of mystery are the perfect formula to keep fans hanging on his every move.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
