Jack White
 

For awhile I posted nothing about the man in these forums for a few reasons. Blues isn't a mainstream genre and when this happens those who listen to it are purists and refuse to let anything that isn't 30+ years old be called (in this case the blues) or an outright tribute to the aforementioned be labeled as "blues" but theres alot of White Stripes material that is blues and I wanted to put a thread here that brought attention to a man who is otherwise known for rock CD's the blues credit he deserves.

If you're unfamiliar with his Blues works try Instinct Blues, Hello Operator, Ball and Biscuit, and the covers of "Southern Can", "Death Letter" and even Dylan's "One more cup of coffee."

I feel he's as consumate a bluesman as the next guy whos playing in a time when the genre purists say it has all passed.

I'd also like to throw out the contraversial statement that I think he writes better lyrics than most anyone who's ever "played the blues".

The purpose of this was to give credit where I think its due, and yes im fully prepared to defend this against what I expect to come in responce.

I`ve always thought the White Stripes bluesy material was better than the rest of their stuff.

I`d like to see then do a full album of it

I have listened to quite a bit of the White Stripes(mostly live stuff off their web site) and while I enjoyed their music(yes, even their treatment of the blues) to use the words "consumate" and "better than anyone who's played the blues" in describing Jack White is a bit much. Because a band or artist covers a blues song does not automatically make them a blues artist, much less a "consumate" blues artist. I don't consider myself a purist by any means, but to use terms that apply to people like Buddy Guy, B. B. King, maybe EC and SRV in reference to Jack White at this stage in his career is at the very least premature.

I quite like the blues side of the stripes too.

You misunderstood, I said he was better than anyone else as far as lyrics go. Certainly not music or catalouge.

As strictly a lyricist(and at the risk of being labled a "purist") there is still the hurdle of one Willie Dixon to overcome. Don't get me wrong, I like the White Stripes, but at this point they occupy an extremely small niche in the blues.

Again, agreed, but I think he frog leaps as far as lyrics are concerned.

While I can't say that I share your opinion of him as a lyricist, I do hope he continues to at least dabble in the blues. Right now, the blues needs all the help it can get to remain relevent and its guys like Jack White, who have a high visibility, that can bring some attention to the blues, even if some of us old farts don't always fully appreciate the way in which it is done.

I think Jack White is amazing, his voice, the way he plays guitar.. and those amazing songs he writes.. it amazes me really at how amazing he is at all of those things

i also agree with some of you that the blue's stuff is really good, i like it alot, there normal songs are like a build up to there good blue's stuff.

i have more to say but i'm in my own little world...

I'm pretty sure you meant keeping people listening to actual blues music, but considering that it's the basis of all modern music (excluding classical), I'd say the blues will always be relevant.



As for Jack White, he is probably the best mainstream modern musician around these days. I don't know of anyone else with the level of mainstream popularity he has that actually sounds like they're going places and realizing their full musical potential, experimenting with themselves and their audience, and keeping their sound fresh. Frankly, I'm not well-versed enough in blues music to determine whether he's the best lyricist, songwriter, or whatever, but he does write (songs and lyrics) very well.

The first two Stripes albums are jam packed with Whites take on the blues and i think they are his two best albums.

Jack White is seriously underrated as a guitarist. How can anyone listen to the solos in Ball and Biscuit and say that Jack doesn't know the blues? Great feel and pure emotion.

I think the way that he's gone about updating the blues is great. He's got a very very very individual lyrical style that is unlike anything Ive heard from anybody else. Its tempting to say Dylan for the poetic side and Johnathan Richman for the childlike side but its not even accurate.

Sound wise he's pretty much taken something of the Gories garage band approach and combined that with blues. Great stuff.:)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YowxSpazMD0