The era-defining guitar genius returns with another rough and ready garage-rock album.
What can you say about Jack White? The White Stripes were one of the defining bands of their generation. A back to basics response to rampant overproduction values of bands at that time. The chances of a White Stripes reunion seem unlikely given Meg’s off grid status for a large number of years now. Jack White has remained prolific ever since, in other bands and in solo-albums. His record label, Third Man Records, invest in a great deal of new talent and are one to be respected. Anyone who has seen Jack White play live knows they have seen one of the most immensely talented live guitar players of all time. Only Johnny Marr and Jonny Greenwood leap to mind instantly when we consider comparable level guitar geniuses that we have had the sheer joy of watching in the live arena.
Frozen Charlotte feels very much a continuation of No Name, a real return to form that came in at number 10 in our 2024 album’s of the year. This newer offering isn’t quite on that level but there remains plenty to enjoy about it.
‘G.O.D. And The Broken Ribs’ was the funk-blues-tastic lead single that riffed off of the bible story of the Garden of Eden. ‘Derecho Demonico’ is equally blues heavy, like The Black Keys at the heaviest end of their spectrum. The interesting, Hendrix-esque noodling during the middle section really couldn’t be anyone but Jack White though.
The middle section of the album is never less than professional, though doesn’t hit the giddy heights of White at his out and out best. Single ‘Dollar Bill’ lifts things right up again. Whilst there is much impressive guitar playing on display, ‘All Alone Again’ stands out as a fine entry, the hugely difficult made to sound impressively easy.
This is a rough and ready entry, not overthought and not overproduced. White remains on a high quality run of form and that means another highly enjoyable album, a quality that most mortals would not be able touch even on their best day.
Essential Tracks: ‘G.O.D. And The Broken Ribs,’ ‘Derecho Demonico,’ ‘Dollar Bill’ and ‘All Alone Again.’
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