Album Review: Get Behind Me Satan – The White Stripes

Mark Norton, singer of The Ramrods, recently paid a visit to Young Soul Rebels Records & Tapes. YSR co-proprietor Dave Buick played him the White Stripes‘ forthcoming release Get Behind Me Satan, and we asked Norton how he dug it.

The new White Stripes’ album is quite painterly – it’s the sonic equivalent of de Kooning’s “Excavation” [left]. This album proves that Jack + Meg are the Real Deal, and anyone who disses them is merely jealous or is incapable of “getting” it. It also proves that great songwriting beats technology every time – Bobby Harlow is right.

Slower tempos, great arrangements… Jack’s phrasing is amazing… like on that song with marimba + drums. He does this other slow song where he sings at a gallop, it’s very intense. It’s moodier, darker than the other albums. I was surprised at how low-fi it actually is, kinda like he’s saying, “Okay you garage weasels – suck on this.” Buick said they recorded some of it (all of it?) in the hallway at Jack’s house, which if not true, certainly sounds like it was, and I gotta say it works for me. The kiddies may have a bit of trouble with it cos it… challenges the listener (at least this one) to approach the White Stripes‘ body of work from a different perspective… it illustrates Jack’s maturation as a songwriter, he drops compelling rhymes all over the place like he can’t get the lines out fast enough… the man’s brain is on fire.

I think it’ll take people more time to get into, cos like I said it’s dark, pensive, moody… but I think it’ll also stick around forever cos Jack layered the album with a lot different meanings, flavors, nuances. I always like albums that are a bit more challenging, and this one is, for all the right reasons.

The White Stripes have launched a new website. Visit it here.