Jack White's "No Name" Album :: Review
Jack White surprised everyone when he started to slip untitled LPs into store purchases at his Third Man Records locations. There was no press release and no marketing plan. White decided it was just going to be out in the world. "No Name" is the sixth solo effort by Jack White and arguably one of his best works to date.
First impressions of this album: This was the Jack White we know and love. He brought back this garage rock vibe, much like what he did with The White Stripes, but added a bluesy, quirky vibe that makes Jack, Jack. Being the King of Distortion himself, White shows off his creativity and ingenuity as he does. So, how does this album stack up after listening to it for a month? Let's dive in.
No Name starts with Old Scratch Blues, setting the tone for what's to come. Signature Jack White riffs and soloing, and then "Bless Yourself" and "That's How I'm Feeling" come on, and that's when that bold, dare I say, punk energy comes through. It's angsty in the best way possible.
One standout track in particular is "What's The Rumpus?" This track (and, quite frankly, the entire album) brilliantly blends who Jack White was and what he's evolving into as an artist and a musician. No Name is a 180 from White's 2022 Fear of The Dawn effort. Anyone who listened to that album would know it's a masterclass in pushing the envelope on distortion and became a Frank Zappa-esque passion project. Jack White's purpose with No Name is simple; he returned to his roots by revitalizing his signature tones and sounds.
Jack White has been brilliant in introducing this project to the world. He brought us back to the nostalgic days of discovery and word of mouth. This album was slipped into Third Man Record sales for a period of time in mid-July and was formally released digitally on August 2nd, 2024. Select indie record shops sold blue variants of the album on vinyl and standard black vinyl everywhere else. (Yes, ya girl got a blue variant; shoutout to Dan at Mystic Disc in Mystic, CT)
Jack has been on an unusual "tour," playing small (but notable) venues nationwide. Here's the catch: there always is one... He announces the dates in small batches, just days before they happen. Again, bring back the idea of word of mouth—no Ticketmaster wars. No planning. I wanted to catch him before he got this tour to England, but that didn't work out for me.
Long story short, this album has me excited. I haven't been this excited about a new release in months. Jack White's No Name album is worth listening to, especially if you're a fan of his early White Stripes catalog or love the sound of nostalgic garage rock. I will be sorely disappointed if this body of work isn't nominated for a Grammy. Yes, I said it. It's THAT good.
Lexx Score: 9.5/10
Below are links to Jack White's socials and websites.
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