WHAT YOU NEED NOW - CONTENT UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY
June 8, 2005
MUSIC REVIEW: The White Stripes 'Brings the Rock' in 'Get Behind Me Satan' CD
by Maura Conway
Huntington News Network Contributing Writer
Huntington (HNN) – Have you ever heard the term "bringing the rock"? Basically, it's giving a nod to those who tap into the spirit of what makes rock exciting - the intensity, freshness, emotive lure. The White Stripes, with their 5th full-length album Get Behind me Satan, bring the rock out from the stale cold it's been exiled to for some time.
While not a steady electric assault, the album begins with the rowdy single "Blue Orchid" and holds you captive through 13 tracks of modern rock salvation. During the ride there are marimbas, pianos, blue-grassy riffs, Meg's unrefined but pure drumming, 70's arena-rock simplicity, and all the while the driven but crafted songwriting that has brought them multi-genre laud. It's bluesy, it's quirky, dreamy, but above all honest and sincere in its invitation. The sure scrutiny of this album, following their rise in popularity and celebrity, will reveal that not only is it on par with Elephant (2003) but is reminiscent of the fan-favorite White Blood Cells (2002) in it's variety and intimacy.
Like Elephant's "Ball and Biscuit", Get Behind Me Satan has "Instinct Blues" which builds has a similar erotic timing. What might be missing is the heart-wrenching tune, such as Elephant's "You've Got Her In Your Pocket" and WBC's "We're Going To Be Friends" but "As Ugly as I Seem" offers similar introspection and revelation, like reading from the same diary. Get Behind Me Satan proves, over all else, that the heart of the band is intact and determined to thrive despite cultural trends and all opportunities to "sell out".
Since 2000 they have stretched the variety in a post-alternative era where corporate rock not only "sucks" but dominates the airwaves. Perhaps that is the Satan of which they speak, and this effort promises that what prevails is a promise only the rock could bring.
