Jack White "Blunderbuss"

Without checking to be certain, I believe this is the first #1 album for my music blog.  I really, really wanted to like it.  Never understood the popularity of the White Stripes but they struck a chord with my young staff @ Music 4 Less.  Thought I would like the Raconteurs but they didn't click for me, either.  Absolutely blown away by The Dead Weather but that's probably never going to happen again.  Now Jack White is just plain ol' Jack White,  musical icon to many of you under the age of forty.  And yes, I bought it out of respect for his unique vision and the fact that I really, really wanted to like it...

I'd heard two songs before making the buy, appreciating one more than the other.  They were wildly different and that's ultimately why I added it to the shopping cart.  He performed the two tracks on SNL, one with an all-female band and the other with dudes.  They are on his VEVO channel if you want to see them.  I don't need to link things with three and four million views for you!  He is taking both bands out on the road with him and if you have a ticket you will find out which one plays when you get there.  That works for me. 

As for the album, it's a mixed bag of styles, necessitating an unprecedented fourth spin immediately after the third. I NEVER hit replay on anything, but I really, really wanted to like this album...  Saw one review describing a song as melding... "golden-era country, porno-soundtrack jazz, and dream-theatre pop into something too sweet for words."  As I said, a mixed bag of styles...and that's one track!  I finally heard a bonafide winner at the halfway point in track #7, followed by another, and then the closer worked well.  Half the album is "take it or leave it" and offsetting the three winners are three turds, which mostly involve White's untreated vocals.  Run 'em through a processor and/or pair them with a female, but don't just "sing."  Therein lies his weakest link.  Musically, I believe the record is quite interesting.  There is just enough noisy guitar to make the faithful happy, but I found the keyboards to be the pleasant surprise.   

White has been quoted stating "the best albums take at least two or three listens..."  Well, I gave "Blunderbuss" four, so it must not be a "best album."