Jack White "Blunderbuss" (2012)
Jack White didn't really need another project, what with the White
Stripes, the Raconteurs, the Dead Weather, and his various production
jobs. But it was during one of these 'hired hand' recording gigs where an
artist didn't show up and White started using the band he'd assembled to
record some of his own compositions instead. It sounds as though he enjoyed
the experience of being able to direct musicians to play what he wanted
instead of having to work around other bandmates' ideas and wants, and that process led to this album.
The album starts in familiar enough territory for White with some rocking tracks, but mellows as it goes. The title track
is a nice string-backed country-tinged 3/4 piece, whereas "Trash Tongue
Talker" picks up the pace again and has the bouncy hollerin' blues of
mid-era Rolling Stones.
"Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy"
almost sounds like it could have fit on Paul Simon's "Gracelands" album
with its acoustic guitar and bouncy rhythm. "On and On" is a mellow,
rolling, piano-backed groove. Closer "Take Me With You When You Go"
starts with thick vocal harmonies over a Dave Brubeck-esque jazzy groove
which eventually moves into a Southern Rock vibe.
It really feels like White took a lot of stuff that he'd learned from his various projects and put it on display here. I'm still not a Jack White fanatic by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd certainly listen to this again if someone else put it on.
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