The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan (2005)

[Album 70/1001]

Over-rated (clap-clap-clap-clap-clap)
Over-rated (clap-clap-clap-clap-clap)

I’ve never fully understood what all the fuss was about.  I applauded the 2-person gimmick, Seven Nation Army and We’re Going to Be Friends were both memorable, but beyond that…meh.

Seeing the National Ballet of Canada’s stellar performance of Chroma (partially set to The White Stripes’ music) inspired me to give them another chance.

Admittedly, I’ll have to eat a partial serving of crow on this one, as I did enjoy Get Behind Me Satan.  My Doorbell is sing-a-long catchy and As Ugly As I Seem sounds like a later-album track from The Hip’s Music at Work.

There’s still a fine line between boring and being simple, yet effective – Take, Take, Take walks that line exceptionally well, others, less so.

I don’t recall a band where one member is so revered (Jack White) and another endures such criticism (Meg White), even being zinged by the student drummer in the film School of Rock.  Nothing stings quite like scripted dialogue delivered by a child actor.

I’ll be much less harsh in saying her drumming here is like Paul McCartney’s on Back in the U.S.S.R. & Dear Prudence: there are better drummers (Ringo for one!) but the playing fits the songs.  Although Neil Peart-style drumming would certainly fill out the sound, I don’t know if it would be appropriate here.

So, expectations exceeded.  Based on this record, I’ll elevate them from the clapping ‘over-rated’ to ‘probably wouldn’t seek out myself, but won’t complain if it’s playing in a friend’s car.’