Rating:
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 07/01/2008

Despite the seemingly instant attention surrounding them -- glowing write-ups in glossy magazines like Rolling Stone and Mojo, guest lists boasting names like Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson, and appearances on national TV -- the White Stripes have stayed true to the approach that brought them this success in the first place. White Blood Cells, Jack and Meg White's third effort for Sympathy for the Record Industry, wraps their powerful, deceptively simple style around meditations on fame, love, and betrayal. As produced by Doug Easley, it sounds exactly how an underground sensation's breakthrough album should: bigger and tighter than their earlier material, but not so polished that it will scare away longtime fans. Admittedly, White Blood Cells lacks some of the White Stripes' blues influence and urgency, but it perfects the pop skills the duo honed on De Stijl and expands on them. The country-tinged "Hotel Yorba" and immediate, crazed garage pop of "Fell in Love With a Girl" define the album's immediacy, along with the folky, McCartney-esque "We're Going to Be Friends," a charming, school-days love song that's among Jack White's finest work. However, White's growth as a songwriter shines through on virtually every track, from the cocky opener "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" to vicious indictments like "The Union Forever" and "I Think I Smell a Rat." "Same Boy You've Always Known" and "Offend in Every Way" are two more quintessential tracks, offering up more of the group's stomping riffs and rhythms and us-against-the-world attitude. Few garage rock groups would name one of their most driving numbers "I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman," and fewer still would pen lyrics like "I'm so tired of acting tough/I'm gonna do what I please/Let's get married," but it's precisely this mix of strength and sweetness, among other contrasts, that makes the White Stripes so intriguing. Likewise, White Blood Cells' ability to surprise old fans and win over new ones makes it the Stripes' finest work to date.

~Heather Phares, All Music Guide

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Fred Kevorkian - Mastering
Patrick Pantano - Photography
Stuart Sikes - Engineer
Stuart Sikes - Mixing
3rd Man - Design
3rd Man - Layout Design
The White Stripes - Main Performer
Meg White - Drums
Meg White - Vocals (Background)
Jack White - Guitar
Jack White - Piano
Jack White - Vocals
Jack White - Producer
Jack White - Mixing
Twirly Red - Design

Lack of Communication
    The Von Bondies / CD / 2001
Is This It
    The Strokes / CD / 2001
It's the Black-Eyed Snakes
    The Black-Eyed Snakes / CD / 2001

Release Date: 07/01/2008
Genre: rock