LP, Reissue, 180g
Third Man Records (2021) US
180g Vinyl LP Mastered from the Original Analog Source by George Ingram with Input from Third Man Records!
The record that kick-started the garage-rock revival, The White Stripes' White Blood Cells serves as the band's commercial breakthrough, going gold and yielding the Top 20 modern rock hits "Fell In Love With A Girl" and "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground." While the band retains the characteristic elements of its previous two albums, the duo evolves, turning in more tuneful material pregnant with dynamic hooks, scorching riffs, and more pronounced vocals.
Signs of the co-ed pair's genius abound, whether on the acoustic-flavored ditty "Hotel Yorba" or the inside-out perspective of the moody "The Union Forever." New wrinkles appear in the band's sound, yet urgent vibes and modern updates of traditional blues resonate. Several songs find the White Stripes turning away from fun albeit simplistic punk stomps in favor of more complex, emotional, and involved arrangements steeped in aura and melody. No wonder White Blood Cells is on many best of the decade lists.
The White Stripes' use of analog and low-fidelity equipment in the recording process partnered with a DIY approach created a simplicity of composition, arrangement and performance that sets them apart from their contemporaries. White Blood Cells sounds better than ever here remastered from the original analog source!