White Stripes: Elephant (2003)

A drummer and a guitarist. How can this add up to great music?

Jack and Meg White, Detroit-born siblings, or so they say. But don't mention Eminem to this pair or they'll flip. Both of them seem pretty reserved, or so it seemed to the hordes of fans worldwide. Having a celebrity girlfiend and appearing in court charged with assault has a strange way of twisting the way that people see you.

The fourth installment from the White Stripes was eagerly anticipated. In fact, some were so eager to get it that some of the tracks were released on the internet a little while before the album was released. Something that Jack White was not happy about, judging by his comment on the band's website ("I'm very sad at some of you for peeking at you christmas presents before christmas morning, can't you wait?") Apparently some people couldn't.

Elephant arrived, and with it came praise from all directions for the catchy baseline of 'Seven Nation Army', which provoked some fans into thinking that the Stripes had hired a base player (they hadn't, it was Jack's guitar lowered an octave using a foot pedal)the cocky, self assured tone of 'Ball and Biscuit' and my all time favourite 'Black Math'. For the first time, Meg White has her own solo song, 'Cold, cold night' in which she sounds incredibly nervous, as though she isn't entirely comfortable with the task of singing solo for the first time instead of providing backing for Jack's high pitched tones.

I think it's safe to say that the White Stripes can count themselves stars. Brawls, high-profile relationships and parts in films are only the beginning for the two. Being considered 'big' enough now to have their songs covered and to guest star on tracks with other bands, I can't help wondering if this will change the Whites and send them on a downwards spiral. I can only hope, because it would be a massive let down to the fans who were always promised that the White Stripes would not be like those who went out partying, drinking and doing drugs every night.

For more info, visit their website http://www.whitestripes.com