25 Records of Christmas, Day 5: Jack White

This year saw the end of one of my favorite groups, but it also saw the establishment of Jack White as a solo performer and collaborator. I'm sure when people picked up Blunderbuss, they were hoping for more of a White Stripes feel, stripped down and raw, like the band had always been. I think Jack White expected people to think they'd be getting that as well. With Blunderbuss, he was able to prove he can do so much more than The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, or even The Dead Weather.
"Sixteen Saltines" is the closest we get to something like The Raconteurs, and to be honest, that's okay in my book. The raw guitar and drum style of the White Stripes is gone, in most respects. But that's because this isn't the White Stripes. This is a Jack White solo record. And to me, that's exactly what it sounds like. Percussion and guitar driven, yes, along with Jack's high-pitched vocals. But it's more polished, and sophisticated. 

With the White Stripes, and particularly during the final tour they did, you never knew what you were going to get. You might get Jack White running around on stage screaming at just about any time during the concert. He even said during the interview in Under Great White Northern Lights that he would purposely set up the stage and locations to make it harder on himself. That isn’t to say Blunderbuss is predictable, but the album is more what we’ve come to expect from Jack White: nothing we’d think he’d do. It’s every bit exciting and new. 

The cover for Jack White's first solo record, Blunderbuss.

The simple sounds of the acoustic guitar and vocal on lead single, "Love Interruption" are so bluesy, leading into the title track with such intricate strings and fade ins, making the transition nearly seamless. Piano solos and intimate moments abound during “Hypocritical Kiss”, and glitchy guitar sounds fill the bridge over the piano keys while “Weep Themselves to Sleep” plays. This album is proving the extension to which Jack White can stretch himself. While it may not be the masterpiece some were expecting, I think people were wrong thinking that’s what we would get. Many critics have been displeased with the record, and what's funny to see is the Jack White website has some of the negative reviews up there. Clearly, he doesn't care. He's going to keep doing what he does, despite how critics look at it. The solo record is allowing Jack to make his own history, and to be honest, when you’re Jack White, who’s going to tell you no?