After much anticipation, the rumors are indeed true: Jack White has released his sixth solo record, a thirteen-track juggernaut entitled, No Name.
Having first popped up on the music industry’s radar towards the end of July via a surprise gift sweepstakes, the record first became available on August 1, 2024 at retail stores affiliated with White’s own record label Third Man Records, and then subsequently on August 2nd to all other vendors. The record was recorded, produced, and mixed all by White himself between 2023 and 2024. Although initially a surprise, the world has been electrified and now stands at attention for the Ruthian return of Jack White and the wonders of his guitar work.
Recorded with White handling vocals and the guitars, he teams up with several talented drummers; including Patrick Keeler (The Greenhornes, The Raconteurs), Daru Jones (PeteRock, Black Milk), and Carla Azar (Autolux, Ednaswap). Additionally, there is also the ever-so-talented Dominic Davis on bass guitar. With such diversity within the percussion section of the record, one would think that chaos or a feeling of being unorganized would creep into the musical prowess of the record, but on the contrary, the seasoned mix of drummers is akin to the notes and tannins of a finely aged wine: different, yes, but all imperative to the final product.
No Name plays as a flashing billboard for music fans who wondered – is Jack White remains one of the last true guitar heroes of our age? Well, the answer is yes, and this album is pure White all the way through. A fast-romping, high-speed chase through guitar heaven; complete with atomic riffs that will rattle speakers for decades to come, the influences that led to The White Stripes and now his solo efforts shine through track after track.
Opening with “Old Scratch Blues,” White wastes no time erupting into a heavy, drum-laden riff, coupled with vocals that scratch at your heart. Pulses immediately begin to race, heads begin to bang, as White showcases why he is a true master of the Garage/Riff Rock style centered in rhythm & blues that he and Meg White perfected as a duo in The White Stripes. Moving forward into “Bless Yourself,” huge riffs come like waves, as White screams “if God is too busy, I’ll bless myself,” letting fans and critics alike know he knows he is operating at the height of his powers. Like perpetual motion, White just does not stop on this record. At times, you will close your eyes, wishfully thinking that it is indeed the White Stripes jamming together again and all is right in the world, again. Fittingly enough, the fourth track of the record, “Tonight (Was a Long Time Ago),” directly appeals to the fondest of these memories, drawing recollections of “Hello Operator,” and bringing you into the middle of the record in a foot-stomping frenzy.
Simply put, throughout its entirety No Name does not disappoint. That said, a sleeper picks for top track on the record, “It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking),” teleporting you back to 1969, with flashes of Led Zeppelin II flitting. A true testament to the time-machine skills that White’s influences and obsessive practice have manufactured, it is a track that centers around a wailing Blues slide guitar and is purely Jack White. Furthermore, it will set festivals, amphitheaters, as well as stadiums ablaze, and may very well be the best song of the year.
As the record comes to a close, the pace does not dip, in fact, at times it even quickens; working to raise our emotions and our heart rates just before White says goodbye until next time, specifically on the track entitled “Missionary,” which refuses to take its foot off the gas, punching and punching through until you start to think that the vinyl record may be in danger of failing the music is so powerful. On the contrary, White chooses to incorporate elements from his beloved Beatles on “Terminal Archenemy Ending,” the final song on the record, periodically crooning like Paul and John and riffing along like George would, only to quickly shift and unleash a solo so packed with lightning you fully expect to see Zeus handling the six-strings in his place.
Jack White is back and better than ever and No Name deserves endless praise, but more importantly, it deserves endless listens. Each repetition of the record reveals some golden nugget of genius that you will have missed on prior listens, and the journey that White takes us on should be cherished and savored. Hear each lick, each snap of the drumstick, slide of the bottleneck, and let the sounds transport you to another place and time.
The one must-listen record of the year so far is Jack White’s No Name, and with an output of such power Cryptic Rock gives it 5 out of 5 stars.
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