The White Stripes
“ICKY THUMP”
(3 1/2 SOUND LEVELS)
“Icky Thump” returns the White Stripes to the more tuneful blues by way of Led Zeppelin and psychedelic rock by way of The Beatles that marked Jack and Meg White’s earlier albums. The title track sets a high standard right off the bat, packing a mighty wallop of chugging guitar and Jack’s passionate yowling of some of his best lyrics in years, a concise indictment of anti-immigrant sentiment set as an easy singalong. Pairing it with the irresistibly catchy classic rock of “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You’re Told)” lets listeners know what to expect for the rest of the ride. “Icky Thump” shows Jack has recaptured his love of melody and direct choruses as he packs each song with a sturdy enough hook to snare you right away, even before the deconstruction of his fine lyrics and his “how’d he do that?” guitar-playing begins. It’s more than a return to form. It sounds like the start of a whole new career.
