The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan (2xLP)

"Elephant", the duo from Detroit achieved a worldwide commercial breakthrough. After all the platinum and gold awards (the latter also in Germany), the White Stripes have made themselves a little rare as a band. Jack White has produced albums (e.g. Loretta Lynn) and won Grammys. Meg White gave guest appearances in videos (Detroit Cobras) and together they stood in front of the camera for cult director Jim Jarmusch.

With "Get Behind Me Satan" they now provide us with the fifth chapter of their total work of art and break new ground both visually and acoustically. The 13 songs, composed on piano, guitar and marimba and in good tradition not played live in public before, were recorded in their own Third Man Studio in Detroit. Their tried and tested live sound engineer was at the controls and although some tracks sound as if a complete orchestra is active, it is only Jack White's sophisticated arrangements of piano and bass that give this impression. For a vinyl version to be released later this year, Meg and Jack will again visit a studio and re-record all tracks "live on tape".

Reviews

J. Hentschel in Rolling Stone 6 / 05: "A leap forward that one would not have expected the White Stripes to make. The White Stripes are at least as much a hip hop group as a blues group: The beat must be there, the hook must be good, the rest is association, performance, sometimes pure rustle of peacock feathers."

D. Beric in stereoplay 7 / 05: "On 'Get Behind Me Satan' they impress with new ideas and interesting song constructions, but do not lose their cheeky joy of playing and their clear directness