Jack White - Blunderbuss

The first "solo" album by Jack White seems to be somewhat of a misnomer, as it's difficult to ever assume that the third man doesn't have complete control over every project he touches. But this does fit the "solo" trait of being outside of the band-guy's public norm. This is a collection of tunes that run the gamut of styles whereas each of the other groups have a cohesiveness to them. But I'm not slighting anything. This is a brilliant set of songs front to back.

The first track, a 70s pop-rocker which reminds me of some more rambunctious Paul McCartney. "Sixteen Saltines" is straight-up old school White Stripes guitar rock. It's really the only ROCK tune on the record, and is one of only three songs with any guitar solo to speak of. Another, "Freedom at 21", has a frantic psychedelic drum beat and a rhytmic vocal that recalled me to Janelle Monae.

"Love Interruption" is a great example of Jack's lyrical style. There are turns where he seems to be rhyming just for the sake of having a word there. That has value to help make a song more memorable. As the Beatles, Bob Dylan, etc. On the other hand, when you get to the end; you have been told a complete story.

The title track story would have been a perfect additon to my last album about infidelity. It's romantic, and the slide guitar adds a country-western element to the waltz which would make the most ardent adulterer blush.



I think it's the snottiness that makes "Hypocritical Kiss" my current favorite. And then "Weep Themselves to Sleep" is somewhere between "Delilah" and the Stripes' own "...Martyr..." The lone cover on the record is a old Little Wille John blues track called "I'm Shakin'" that also gets to be the most playful song, Also playful, but lyrically less hopeful, is "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy", a Harry Nilsson-ish shuffle.



On the other hand, I'm running into another huge favorite with "I Guess I Should Go To Sleep", another country tinged-tune about giving up now to fight another day later. It's got an old-school brilliant Hank-Williams melody, but a jazz-piano riff. Similarly, the album's closer, "Take Me with You when You Go" sounds like Jethro Tull recorded asong in Nashville.The fact that they work so well together is another diamond in Jack White's crown. (5 of 5 stars)