7th June - The White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan

Artist – Album: The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan

Released:  7^th June 2005

Sounds Like: The White Stripes start getting behind

Since bursting out of the pub scene in Detroit Michigan with their 1999 self titled debut album, the White Stripes followed a seemingly unstoppable upward trajectory, receiving widespread critical acclaim for their second album De Stijl, third album White Blood Cells and the power punk classic single ‘Fell in Love With a Girl’. Taking up the blues rock mantle that had remained mostly untouched since the early 70’s, the group were critics darlings and had garnered a considerable audience, despite their generally cult-ish leanings (try the fact that the divorcees pretended to be siblings early in their career). In 2003, they absolutely exploded, releasing the incredible album Elephant - subject of 1 April's blog and recipient of a rare-ish ten out of ten, check it out!) and the ubiquitous ‘Seven Nation Army’ (now heard worldwide in sports stadiums, in what most be one of the most unimaginative and annoying chants ever. Aaaaaaah Robin Van Persieeeee). Not long after, Jack White married a British model and wrote the theme tune to a James Bond film so, you know, things were going pretty well. With their 2005 release Get Behind Me Satan though, things felt like they had kind of plateaued.

As commendable as the change of style to electro-rock on lead single ‘Blue Orchid’ was, The White Stripes have always been masters of simple blues songs, and this feels stilted and edgy. In fact, slight changes to the group’s signature sound is one of the main points of focus here and, while nothing’s offensive to say the least, it’s the tunes that are effectively more of the same that work best. The spindly marimba sound of ‘The Nurse’ is interesting and the poppy ‘My Doorbell’ is a real highlight, but otherwise its the same old same olds such as 'The Denial Twist', 'I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet) and 'Little Ghost' that are the stand outs.

For me, this is a good record but, following the brilliant ascent of the band from their humble beginnings, it contains just a whiff of stagnation. 

Albumaday... rating: 7/10

1.       Blue Orchid – 2:37

2.       The Nurse – 3:47

3.       My Doorbell – 4:01

4.       Forever for Her (Is Over for Me) – 3:15

5.       Little Ghost – 2:18

6.       The Denial Twist – 2:35

7.       White Moon – 4:01

8.       Instinct Blues – 4:16

9.       Passive Manipulation – 0:35

10.   Take, Take, Take – 4:22

11.   As Ugly as I Seem – 4:10

12.   Red Rain – 3:52

13.   I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet) – 4:19

Listen to ‘My Doorbell’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlcMRq3gb1s

Also released on the 7^th June:

2004: Junior Boys – Last Exit

Also released on the 7^th June:

2004: The Killers – Hot Fuss