Just so no one mistakes me for a real music critic, you should understand that I don't know a treble clef from a kick to the eye. Also, anyone who's heard my rendition of "Grace, too" knows my musical aptitude ranges from kid-with-pot-and-pans to monkey-with-accordion-on-street-corner. However, I do know what I likes and I likes "White Blood Cells" by the White Stripes. The brother/sisteJust so no one confuses me with a real music r duo of Meg and Jack White have come up with an album that, when combined with that of the Strokes and Weezer, reassures us all that good old rock 'n' roll is not dead, despite the efforts of Nickelback and Linkin' Park and the like.

Known for their soon-to-be-huge single "Fell in Love With a Girl" that gets in yer pants and out the door in less than 2 minutes, the White Stripes are making a name for themselves. Their unconventional band size with only 2 members makes them very distinct, with Jack White providing the vocals and guitar work and Meg White on the drums. Often sloppily compared with the Strokes, the White Stripes have definitely their own sound. Blending elements of blues, grunge, rock and country, they come across as wanting to sample something different with each song. This works well because unlike the Strokes, where every song sounds more or less like the last one, each White Stripes' song has its own identity.

One way that the comparison with The Strokes and Weezer is fair is their tendency for short songs. "White Blood Cells", with 15 songs, clocks in as just over 40 minutes. In my opinion, the first 4 songs on the album are the best. However, there are good songs all over this album and only a few which I don't like much. Themes focus mainly on relationships and girls, but they also manage a small ditty called "We're going to be Friends", which talks about going back to school in a very innocent manner.

While I admit that their sound is not for everyone, I find that this is a really good album. Their lyrics are unpretentious but that masks a depth and insight to them. A side advantage of buying this album is that it's just mainstream enough for other people to have heard of them, but underground enough for you to mock those who haven't. If you liked the Strokes, you'll like the White Stripes. I give them a queen.... watch out for them to break huge.

Hitch_n_Ditch
Queen