(Live from home via SimpleText/Apr. 2nd 2003)
The White Stripes
I'm waiting for music critics to stop downplaying how Meg White plays the drums. However "simple" and "primal" it may seem, I think she's really skillful at what she does. I mean, it's just her and Jack up there...they both have an equally heavy load when it comes to conveying emotion. Jack is a dope guitar player, and Meg has wicked timing. I don't think I've ever heard someone play a tom like her.
And dammit, she's fuckin' hot! Girls like her are the reason that I love pigtails so much.
The reason I'm goin' off like this is because I just purchased their self-titled debut, and their brand spankin' new album(their fourth), Elephant. The first one is playing as I write this, with the new one on deck. I'll admit to not having payed enough attention to them until White Blood Cells started to send critics reeling. It's not like I was unaware of them...their previous label, Sympathy for the Record Industry is one of my favorites. They've put out some dope albums from their fellow Detroit ass-kickers Bantam Rooster and the Detroit Cobras. But, what can I say...I'm allergic to hype. Blame Public Enemy for that. :)
One thing I've learned though, is that when you're confronted by mouth-foaming critics, you gotta seek out the truth. And thanks to fellow Stripes fan, Nick Iskierski(this dude is dangerous...artistically. Be on the lookout in the future, man.), I now believe the hype(he lent me all their previous albums last year).
Did I mention that I'd drink Meg White's bathwater, given the chance? Just checking.
Her and Neko Case's.
(sound of me gargling saliva)
Thinking of their first album, I gotta shine some light on Ghetto Recorders. As far as I can tell, there's no such thing as a bad album coming out of there. The White Stripes recorded their first one there, so did Montreal's Les Sexareenos(a party on 8 legs, yo. See 'em when they hit your town). Other bands/artists include the New Bomb Turks(thanks for the memories), the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Bantam Rooster, Andre Williams, the Mooney Suzuki, the Dirtbombs, and the Gore Gore Girls. Props go out to Jim Diamond, the house producer and owner.
Meg and Jack recorded their latest at Toe Rag studios in London, which I found out today(thanks HMV. Heh..."thanks HMV". You'll probably never hear that from me again.) has no equipment that dates past 1963. That's pretty cool. Some of England's finest "garage" has come out of there, including Billy Childish and Holly Golightly(who makes a guest appearance on Elephant. She's wicked. I met her after a show in Chicago...great lady. If I remember correctly, she has the sound holes of a bass violin tatooed on her back. Sexy!). I'm not sure if it's out yet, but the aformentioned Sympathy folks are putting out a Sympathetic Sounds of... comp dedicated to Toe Rag. I'll be on the lookout for that one, believe me. There's a Detroit one out already, and a Montreal volume when Long Gone John(the label owner) sees fit to release it.
They put the voice of WDIV's Mort Crim at the beginning of "Little Acorns"...that's a pretty cool gesture, I think(we had Detroit TV out here for 10 years). He's got the classic newsman voice...firm, but warm at the same time. On this track, he tells the story of a lady that was ready to give up on life until she saw a squirrel gathering nuts. See, now if we didn't have a weak dollar and a shitty amusement tax(don't ask), and I had the connections to do so, I'd come up with a wicked poster for a show if they decided to come here. I LOVE squirrels, man!
Jack is fixated on the number 3 for some reason, and has been for a long time. His label and studio are called Third Man, he signs liner notes and website messages with "III", and the E's in the type treatment for Elephant are backwards 3's. Hey, I dig the number 11, but I ain't putting it on everything!
Whatever.
It's a dope album. If "garage blues" is your thing, you won't be disappointed.
No comments:
Post a Comment