WHITE STRIPES White Blood Cells |
| * * (two stars) |
While sitting in a friend's kitchen the opening riffs to the most terrific stomping rhythm I've ever heard erupt from the nearby stereo.
Heads will involuntarily bop to the infectious beat. Mine most certainly does. A force takes over my body: as I spring from my chair and improvise the moonwalk/funky chicken.
Later, I feel painfully embarrassed. "Hello Operator", the second song off their second full-length album, "De Stijl", is my introduction to The White Stripes. Unfortunately this is not the cd I have been assigned to review.
Critics adore this brother / sister combo. Fans describe their shows as life-altering experiences. Personally, I, cannot get enough of that simple, primal rhythm. I was understandably disappointed, then, to discover that their new album is, to put it lightly, a bit of a bore. Armed with a guitar, drum set, occasional piano, and one hell of an energetic yelp, the highly acclaimed Detroit duo belts out song after song of raw, blues-y indie rock on their third longplayer, White Blood Cells.
Though well-crafted and pretty neat to listen to at maximum volume while driving through suburban Jersey, the album leaves something to be desired. Formulaic songs eventually become repetitive and tedious, which unfortunately is the fate of the second half of this album.The best songs tend to be the tamer ones. "Hotel Yorba", a foot-tapping, guitar-strumming folk number, stinks of the Kinks, and "We're Going to Be Friends" sounds catchy enough to be a Beatles song. A few other songs stand out as fun and enjoyable, but overall, a cloud of blandness hangs over the album.
Despite a desire to like it, and no matter how many times I try a rain dance around my stereo, White Blood Cells keeps falling short of my high expectations for this band.
- Tami Fertig
