White Stripes Interview: Meg White interviews her
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Don't be mistaken by the modernist cover and obscure title, The White Stripes' De Stijl certainly doesn't deal in the abstract. Primarily interested in the raw, passionate sounds of the blues (cited influences include legendary guitarists Robert Johnson and Charley Patton) as well as blues influenced 70s rock, Meg and Jack White create their own punked-up rhythm and blues that is direct and incredibly soulful. Singing of childhood memories, injustices and lost loves with tracks such as "Sister, Do You Know My Name?" and "Jumble, Jumble", they seem to inhabit an innocent world which fits oddly well with the type of fervent, shambolic music they make and, you suspect, could sound positively "twee" without it. From the disjointed thrashy, stop-start rant of "Hello Operator", the 60s beat pop of "Pretty Good Looking" and the Blind Willie McTell cover "Your Southern Can is Mine" De Stijl shows a band beginning to carve out a sound for themselves. Less heavy than the guitar crunching follow-up--White Blood Cells, De Stijl is a more diverse collection of songs, hinting that there is much more to the Detroit duo than first meets the eye. -Caroline Butler
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Extraordinarily rarely, I enjoyed this album on the first listen. It's hard not to when you're strummed into an opener like You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) and smashed into the second track Hello Operator. Apple Blossom is one of the most tender, meaningful songs I've ever heard; I'm Bound To Pack It Up tells of a yearning frustration of dead-end feelings; and Truth Doesn't Make A Noise has recently sunk into my head as being achingly brilliant. Death Letter is ace as is the Blind Willie McTell cover Your Southern Can Is Mine, where drummer Meg sings with Jack during the chorus. Why Can't You Be Nicer To Me?, Jumble Jumble and all the rest are top, but those are just the ones I've decided to name.
If you like the more stripped-down, bluesy side of The White Stripes, De Stijl is the one to go for first. If you like the raw punk, go for the self-titled LP. White Blood Cells is a rockier mixture of the two, and the one I'd recommend most people to start out on. In fact, I'd buy them as I did, in reverse order of release dates. I think that aids a full appreciation of just how ace this band are.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Most probably your looking at De Stijl because you have listened to White Blood Cells to death and you can't wait for the new album to come about, and because of all the hype around them you thought you might check out their back catalogue. Fair play, but don't just take De Stilj as an album to fill the time gap. This is an awesome album that shouldn't just be treated as a quick history lesson to the band. It should be treated as a lesson in dirty filthy garage rock at its finest.
The album is more raw and edgy than W.B.C and when listening you feel a certain air of intimacy with it. Each track is so personal and performed with so much soul that you almost feel rude for listening, as if you were spying on the man's diary.
I don't feel I have to go through the album track by track to explain why you should buy this album. All I can say is if you’re a music fan then you should give this album a listen, and if you're a White Stripes fan then in the words on Donnie Brasco 'Forget about it'
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you're considering this album having bought White Blood Cells, thinking 'Could it possibly be as good?', then read on. The news is positive.
The cover suggests a band looking to extend their artistic depth into new fields and the music does not dissapoint.
It kicks off with the quite magnificent 'You're pretty Good Looking For A Girl' and doesn't let go from then on. The songs are so good you almost will them to invest in a different in a new production team, as the mix sometimes muddies the quality of the songs.
In some ways it is difficult to qualify exactly how good The White Stripes are without seeing their live show, but this record will take you somewhere close. It is literally impossible to pick out a standout track, because it flows effortlessly from one to another. However, if you've seen them live before, then 'Hello Operator', 'Apple Blossom' and 'Jumble, Jumble' will be familiar.
The White Stripes are one of the greatest bands of our time. All their albums are special, but this, arguably is the best of a brilliant bunch.
The cover suggests a band looking to extend their artistic depth into new fields and the music does not dissapoint.
It kicks off with the quite magnificent 'You're pretty Good Looking For A Girl' and doesn't let go from then on. The songs are so good you almost will them to invest in a different in a new production team, as the mix sometimes muddies the quality of the songs.
In some ways it is difficult to qualify exactly how good The White Stripes are without seeing their live show, but this record will take you somewhere close. It is literally impossible to pick out a standout track, because it flows effortlessly from one to another. However, if you've seen them live before, then 'Hello Operator', 'Apple Blossom' and 'Jumble, Jumble' will be familiar.
The White Stripes are one of the greatest bands of our time. All their albums are special, but this, arguably is the best of a brilliant bunch.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Stripes Come Out of the Garage
I guess the first thing that struck me was the overall look of the album; a cover containing simple shapes surrounding Jack and Meg (Meg looks about 13) and a Dutch name. De Stijl. Read more
Published on 30 July 2008 by Dean M. George
Too uncomplicated to not be beautiful...
'Even if the goal of ahieving beauty from simplicity is aesthetically less exciting, it may force the mind to acknowledge the simple components which make the complicated... Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2006 by Conspicuous
De best White Stripes album
It´s extremely difficult to pick between The White Stripe´s releases and although they all follow more or less the same formula they have this uncanny knack of being... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2006 by David Johnson
A peach of an album
De Stijl is the fifth White Stripes album I've bought in recent months and I'm embarassed to think that it has been floating around since 2001 without me owning a copy - it is a... Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2005 by "oldsofas"
Grows on You
When I first got this album I wasn't sure, the cover is not what you'd expect and the songs don't really sound very good on the first listen unlike the songs on the White Blood... Read more
Published on 8 April 2005
An absolute gem
De Stijl has deservedly gained a reputation among Stripes fans for being their album that you claim to be your favourite just to show you're cool and in the know. Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2004
Breath Takingly good
When I first listened to this CD, I was unsure whether I liked it or not, but after about 3 listens I realised how amazing it is, now I cant get enough. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2004
possible the most underated album ever
This is probably the white stripes best ever album (altough there all great). the injustice is the number of copies it sold. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2004 by "fjb2004"
This is the best album released for years
I had the pleasure of seeing the White Stripes live in January, and they were the most amazing thing I have ever seen, I think it is just increadible how 2 people can make such... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2004 by Mr. L. Southgate
The White Stripes' best
I have all four Stripes albums and this is definitely the best (closely followed by Elephant). I instantly fell in love with this album and have played it relentlessly since buying... Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2003 by Philippa Christmass
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