I don’t know whether I should do this or not but I tend to group certain bands together and the White Stripes come firmly attached to a select group of other bands, one of which is Queens of the Stone Age. The two American giants both released albums this June and I knew there was going to be, in my own mind at least, a bit of competition between the two. Which one would come out on top was going to be a difficult decision, especially as they seemed to strong to start with. In the end, though, if forced to come to a decision, I’d pick ‘Icky Thump’. Now, allow me to explain why.

Casting aside any petty competition with other albums released around the same time, the White Stripes have come out with an incredibly inventive and original album that’s simply astounding, even before you remember that there are only two people making this brilliant music. Not that you’d ever realize this from the songs, though, as the album thunders to a start with lead single and title-track, Icky Thump. It’s typical White Stripes style, too, with roaring guitar riffs, pounding drums and clever lyrics. The track had cast doubts over the album’s quality when first heard, not being quite as traditionally catchy as some of their earlier singles.

After You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told), which makes up for the lack of catchiness in the previous song, and a slightly down-tempo 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues, we’re treated to Conquest, one of the albums greatest songs. It contains Jack White’s trademark vocals pouring out some brilliant lyrics and Meg’s thundering drums pushing themselves much further forward than the drums usually find themselves on an average record. As well as this, you also start to feel sorry for the organ being hammered to pieces in between the raging guitars. Bone Broke, the next track is very similar in the way that it tears down anything in its path with some fantastic guitars and more quality lyrics. What more could you expect from the dear White Stripes?

Well, not bagpipes, that’s for sure. Yes, it’s true, on the next few tracks they over-indulge themselves in some wailing bagpipe tunes that come very close to ruining a good album. You can’t blame them for wanting to try something different and not let their low numbers tie them down but it doesn’t really make for pleasant listening. Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn is probably acceptable as it has some really catchy ‘lieyde-lieyde-lie-lie’s in between choruses but apart from that, the bagpipes are a real turn off. The following track, St. Andrew, is a near catastrophe and is often skipped when I listen to the album.

At this point, you may be wondering why I still prefer this album to ‘Era Vulgaris’ when the latter contained no such oddities in it. Well, ‘oddities’ are what the White Stripes do best and rather than the rest of the album fading away into indulgent nonsense, they get back to basics for five-point combo of good old rockin’ tracks for the album finale.

A Martyr For My Love For You is the album’s most beautiful track and penultimate track, Catch Hell Blues, is…well, Catchy as hell! Add to this the brilliant Rag & Bone, which is part song, part banter between the two band members and you’ve got something special. Finally, the album draws to a close with Effect and Cause, jam packed with some tremendous lyrics that are quite funny, as well as being up to Mr. White’s usual witty standard.

I think the reason I find this album more enjoyable than the Queens of the Stone Age album is that despite there being some annoying moments, specifically around the central point, there’s not one time you start to get bored, which ‘Era Vulgaris’ verged on in some of its tiresome final tracks. The White Stripes can make some impressive tunes and ‘Icky Thump’ is a bizarre mixture of different styles, varying from catchy guitar-pop songs to traditional blues tracks (via some muddy bagpipe songs that we could have quite easily done without). My main point being that this album has longevity, and lots of it.

While you’re at it, have a watch of this video of the White Stripes playing Effect & Cause on ‘Jools Holland’.

B.

Album Rating: 8.5/10