![]() This late 1950s tribute to sexual prowess becomes the soundtrack to a Tarantino or Rodriguez film as the hyperactive Jack screeches around the furious trumpet/guitar duel fighting through the whole song. It also serves as an intro to the blown-out, well-publicised use of the Mariachi trumpet in 'Conquest'. Rather than fretting over expanding the repertoire, Jack just concentrates on delivering a bubbling, chilled-out lament interrupted by shocking, controlled squawks on his guitar. Luckily there’s an almighty jump forward for '300 mph Torrential Outpour Blues'. One of the weakest tracks on the album – it’s just a lazy by-the-book 70s pastiche. If you’re a fan of that then fine but this has none of the humour, bite or edginess associated with the Whites’ best output. Next up, is the unexpected Lyrnd Sknyrd 'Southern Belle' guitar intro and hook to 'You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)' – and then the Jack starts singing and you really do wonder if he’s moved down to Alabama. Despite the stark political message it just doesn’t quite make the musical statement we’re all used to for the opening of a Stripes album. It’s fussy prog-Stripes and the arrangement ends up sounding messy rather than a new and exciting direction. To be honest, it’s a disappointment compared to 'Hotel Yorba' or 'Blue Orchid'. "Well, Americans/What, nothin' better to do?/Why don't you kick yourself out?/You're an immigrant too" – no need to over analyse the message there. The playful guitar solo belies some of the most overtly political lyrics the Stripes have produced. ![]() Opening and title track 'Icky Thump' with its 70s stomp a romp guitar and some fucked-up synth certainly goes out to stamp a message of intent for the album from the start. The question is how will the Stripes emerge out of this? 'Icky Thump' sounds brave, experimental, passionate, political but it’s also risky, bloated in parts and the Detroit garage sound that remains their building block has never been so under threat. Instead, the balance between staying true to the principle of recording an album within a couple of weeks with simple equipment and dealing with the need to experiment and continuously develop the band. Not the endless critical acclaim or multi-million selling albums or the marriage to a model, they probably enjoy that. It must be a huge struggle being The White Stripes. ![]()
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