Jack White is a man who is always busy making some new music. He is obviously best known for his rock duo The White Stripes, which officially split in February, 2011. He is also known for his work with The Racounters, The Dead Weather and many other occasional collaborations.
He announced that he will release his debut solo album in late 2011 and everybody was really excited about it. When this very anticipated record came out in late April, it got mostly positive reviews. Although, fans may have expected more rock on the record and sound similar to early White Stripes. But honestly, we couldn't expect that from this man.
The record is influenced by jazz, blues, rock and even country music. Basically, the record is mixture of all his musical influences. There are definitely more keyboards on the album, which doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing though.
Tracks were written for other artists, however, he decided that these songs best fit himslelf so he decided to finally released a solo album. The record contains 13 tracks. The first one called "Missing Pieces" is a great opener with great guitar work and solo. Also, the keyboards kind of remind me of The Doors.
Second track on the album "Sixteen Saltines" is my favorite song of the record. It was released before the whole album came out and it is by far the heaviest song on the album with great and crazy music video, too. This track is probably the only one that kind of reminds the early White Stripes.
Third song "Freedom at 21" was released as a single little unusually -
via helium balloon. What I like about this song is the retro sound of it.
Fourth track "Love Interruption" is the first acoustic track of the album and the first song released. It features female singer and it is just great mellow song, which got into me more and more as I listen to it.
Fifth track is title track and another acoustic song with nice piano. "Hypocritical Kiss" and "Weep Themselves To Sleep" are tracks that continue in that piano sound like "Blunderbuss". Especially "Weep Themselves To Sleep" has sick piano line.
Eighth track "I'm Shakin'" has awesome drums at the beginning. It is track featuring electric guitar after four acoustic track. It's got really good rhythm that makes me want to dance.
I kind of feel that five last tracks are losing their power and are not as good as previous ones. However, the ending of the last track - "Take Me With You When You Go" is just awesome. It is a great closer of the album.
Overal, I like the record a lot. I'm not saying that it is Jack White's best work, but it is pretty decent record. I like that it contains variety of different sounds and genres, which makes the record colorful.
Tracklisting:
1. "Missing Pieces"
2. "Sixteen Saltines"
3. "Freedom at 21"
4. "Love Interruption"
5. "Blunderbuss"
6. "Hypocritical Kiss"
7. "Weep Themselves to Sleep"
8. "I'm Shakin'"
9. "Trash Tongue Talker
10. "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy"
11. "I Guess I Should Go to Sleep"
12. "On and On and On"
13. "Take Me with You When You Go"
