THE WHITE STRIPES - ELEPHANT

I know I will have already driven many blues traditionalists running from this page crying 'heresey' and for any remaining this may well be the last straw but I'm not worried about them. The blues is alive and well, and continues to be the foundation for innovative and entertaining performers. Elephant has been around for a while now but I have included it here both as a mark of respect and with the hope that it will provide a new avenue of enjoyment to some visitors to blues crazy. Personally I discovered this album some time after its release as I found the initial wave of euphoric hype a real turn off.
It is not apparant Whether this overkill was the result of the commercial tentacles of the music industry or due to the lack of spirited and talented musical acts that are taken on and promoted by narrow minded corporations. What is clear is that this album is a collection of lyrical, melodious, rhythmic, raucous blues for the 21st century. These guys play for their lives, it is clear that Jack White simply had no choice but to make this music and while it is not their first album it is the first in which their is a true balance between songsmanship and pure energy. I would be surprised if some of the elder generation of blues traditionalists really appreciated this album, but then life is full of suprises.