Jack White "Blunderbluss"

 Released 04/24/12

Many of the tunes on Jack White's first solo album could fit on a new White Stripes, Raconteurs or Dead Weather album but they would sound very, very different.  White is a first rate collaborator who brings the sound of the whole to the fore yet retains that unique Jack White quality.  The sound on this album is all his.

And what a sound it is.  His lyrical cadences are intact along with the diverse instrumentation.  Fiddles, clarinets, pedal steels, upright basses and mandolins show up with the guitars, keyboards and drums.  Yes, the crunchy guitar is there ("Sixteen Saltines") and it does show up sometimes where not expected.  It's reported that he prefers old cheap department store electric guitars and given the sounds he wrenches out of those poor souls that is probably preferable.  More keyboard heavy tunes are prevalent but they certainly don't wimp out.  This is a strong album.

The roots of the songs are all over the rock and roll map.  One could probably spend a long time writing a track-by-track treatise on those influences.  But what the hell, just enjoy.

Album of the year contender.