It’s fitting that the alleged brother-sister duo of Jack and Meg White attracted attention and outrage saying they were married. The pasty-faced Whites are a logical offspring of the incestuous coupling of pasty post-Mod Brits like The Kinks and Led Zeppelin. But like how trash-rock dopplegangers Royal Trux throw some Ornette Coleman in with their Rolling Stones, there are just enough variants in the gene pool to keep The White Stripes sounding fresh.
Despite their British influences, they sound distinctly American, like fellow Detroit rockers, the Who-obsessed MC5. The guitar sound is thick and brash. Those expecting the simplicity of similarly sparse outfits like Cash Audio and The Demolition Dolls will be surprised by their full sound, occasionally augmented by piano. Don’t be fooled by the way the lyrics and riffs seem tossed off like second thoughts. The arrangements often belie a fussiness that would rival Paul McCartney. “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” “We’re Going To Be Friends,” and “Now Mary” are highlights that’ll have the staying power, but every track is distinct. Even when they seem to often lurch at slow, plodding pace, they maintain a groove that flows and ties it all together.
White Blood Cells is a carefully conceived album that transcends the more familiar blues ‘n’ ballads of last year’s De Stijl and comes up with their own brand of garage pop. Listen to all three of their albums, and you’ll hear the most astounding body of work of any three year-old band currently in existence.
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