There are a few artists where I know that whatever they do next, I’m going to love it. Bands like Arctic Monkeys have had a hold on me for almost two decades, I’ve been a card-carrying Swiftie for years now and Jack White has been fueling my love for angry guitars since I first heard “Seven Nation Army.”
In the years since, his projects like the Raconteurs and Dead Weather have done a good job at filling the White Stripes-shaped hole in my life, and White’s solo albums have all been bangers. Now, after a two year gap following double releases in 2022, he’s back with another solo album that’s packed with more raucous riffs, angry vocals and driving drums to make my little heart sing. It’s great.
“No Name” has had a bit of a weird launch and isn’t really that new now, but I’ve had it on repeat all week after scoring tickets to see White in the new year. It’s been making my mornings a lot more lively and reignited my love for dirty guitars. Sorry Taylor.
While I would strongly suggest just putting the full 43-minute album on to soundtrack your drive to work, there are a few standouts that you can skip to. “Bless Yourself,” “Tonight” and “Underground” are classic Jack White songs, and already set the new album ahead of his last effort.
It’s today’s T Jam, “Archbishop Harold Holmes,” however, that’s the real highlight for me. It’s a tricky song to describe, but is meant to be written like junk mail that’s out to bring you around to the way of God. It’s preachy, angry and awesome on all kinds of levels, and is a brilliant song that you should listen to right now.
