Lazaretto

All good tunes overall - but nothing jumped out at me...

Regardless of what you think of him, Jack White is perhaps the quintessential 21st century rock (he's perhaps the only 21st century rock star), a tireless, ambitious, and somewhat polarizing figure. The White Stripes were one of my favorite bands and they managed to do more with just guitar and drums than most bands do with a full line-up. Part of their strength was their self-imposed limitations, as well as the high-wire act that was their incendiary live show. The band pushed that format as far as it could go, so it was only logical that White, after the demise of the band, would go a more traditional route and start recording with a full band. "Lazaretto," his second studio album is solid without being especially inventive. The country influences are more pronounced and the full rhythm section gives the music more swing than the stomp of the White Stripes. But I can't help but feel that what make the Stripes special has been lost or compromised. Still, this is way better and more interesting than other mainstream rock acts like the Black Keys or the Killers.

This is a fantastic album!