‘Horehound’ by The Dead Weather

 There is no doubt that you have heard about this band. This “super group” consist of Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) on guitar, Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs) on drums and the girl of the group, The singer from The Kills, Alison Mosshart. We have a track here from their first album ‘Horehound’, a dirty, modern electric blues joyride on wax.

 This band formed after Jack White blew out his voice on tour with The Raconteurs that The Kills just happen to be the opening band for. This lead to the members meeting to jam at Jack’s Third Man Studios to just jam. About two weeks later they had made this album and set out on tour. The album has dirty synths and muddy guitars (which we all know how much I love muddy guitar) and tons of low end. White plays drums like he has never played anything else. Now, what’s most interesting about The Dead Weather to me is their live performance. 

 Without sounding too insulting to all the members, the most famous name in the group is Jack White. I’m sure tons of White Stripes fanatics went to see The Dead Weather preform just to see Jack. I’ll admit, I’m guilty of just that. I went to see them their first time in Michigan at The Fillmore just because Jack’s name was attached. I’m a fan boy, sue me. Anyway the fact was after about two songs, I forgot Jack was there. Alison completely steals the show. It wasn’t until Jack came upfront to play alittle guitar that I remembered he was in this band. It’s not that he’s a bad drummer by any means. I’m pretty sure whatever he touches, he masters. It was just the way Alison commanded the audience, you couldn’t look away. She displays her sexuality in such a way that leaves the average man drooling. She goes up on stage and without taking off any cloths or dressing slutty, makes you sweat. Unlike most female pop stars who play the role of girl looking for someone to do what they will with her, Alison carries herself onstage in a way that says ‘I’m in control. You want me. I am powerful, sexy and untouchable.’. A very dangerous thing.

 By the end of the show, the whole band had completely destroyed any mind in the place. The very next day I picked up the record, which again is another album meant for vinyl, and I could almost hear the Delta traced throughout time from Robert Johnson to this record. It’s the blues for a new generation and this time, it’s loud and female.

Song: ‘New Pony (Bob Dylan Cover)’

‘White Blood Cells’ by The White Stripes

I’m going to warn you. I’m a pretty big Jack White fan, with the exception of The Raconteurs. If Jack White is involved I’m there. This was my first exposure to The White Stripes and like most people, it absolutely floored me.

I was 13 years old when this album was released. It’s the third from the Detroit duo and their first taste of fame. I didn’t seek out this album. My dad had bought it because he heard good things about it. He listened to about six seconds and decided he didn’t like it so he let me have it. So before I even put it on it has my dad seal of disapproval going for it. About 40 minutes later my life was changed.

It all starts with what I still consider to be one of the best album intros in history. Just a few clicks of Megs drum sticks and then blaring feedback to wake you out of your music coma. This was the first time in my life I realized music could be raw and ugly but still maintain emotion and beauty. Jack can’t sing, but it fits and he has something to say. The guitars are loud but they fit and express something words can’t. Meg drums are simplistic but IT FITS. Imagine any White Stripes song with complex drums. It doesn’t have that same punch. Megs drumming allows the song to cut through bullshit and get right to whatever part of you they’re aiming at. The fact is the drums need to sound simplistic just because that’s what’s best for the song. Doing what’s best for the song should be any musicians goal. That makes Meg one of my favorite drummers.

I’m pretty sure I listened to that CD so much I started to memorize the gaps between songs. Every note seemed to penetrate my skin and flow in my breaths. The way Jack seemed to be writing about me without saying my name. The juxtaposition of loud, abrasive garage rock with innocent acoustic songs like ‘We’re Going to be Friends’ that flowed so seamlessly. This was the first album I had heard that was just meant to be that, an album. It wasn’t songs put together to be released that had nothing to do with each other. This was one big piece of art. Every songs building around the rest to make a complete piece. I knew that was the way it should be from then on.

After this album I felt like I could do anything I wanted with music. It was so freeing. Later in life I would discover punk rock and that feeling would only be multiplied but this album was my first step into much broader taste. For that I can never express my gratitude.