Sometimes you set out to write about something, but then realize that someone else has already said it much better than you ever could. That is what happened when I went out to write a review on Jack White’s new record, “Lazaretto.” Dotty McDot of the website www.musicvstheworld.wordpress.com pretty much nailed it in her review. So, with Dotty’s permission, we are proud to share that review with you all right here. Be sure to check out musicvstheworld.wordpress.com for more great reading!
I think everyone knows how much I like pretty much everythingĀ Jack WhiteĀ has ever done (bar one cover ā Iām not a complete sycophant, just a partial one), and that I have been very excited indeed about his second album, Lazaretto, which has been 18 months in the making. He rarely spends that long making a record, and I have a feeling a lot of blood, sweat and tears were shed on this one ā at the very least, an incredible amount of retrospection and personal change seems to have happened between the start and the end of this process.
If Iām completely honest, Iāve still not stopped the hype about his debut,Ā Blunderbuss, and now Iāve got to find space and time for the new music! Iām sure I can manage thatā¦
Track one is a rewritten version of Blind Willie McTellās āThree Women Bluesā. Jack has definitely put his inimitable stamp on it with exhilirating guitar sounds, bluesy drum beats and Hammond-esque keyboards, at the same time updating it to a slightly less controversial opening lyric. Well done, that man.
The next song is the title track, and youāll have heard this a lot if youāre a BBC 6 music listener! Bold, energetic, dense, lyrically dark, ā āAnd all of my illegitimate kids have begotten, thrown down to the wolves, made feral for nothināā- and incredibly powerful, this song has everything anyone could ever want from White.
āTemporary Groundā is a complete contrast to the previous track ā a gentle, country style with pedal steel and violin provide the folky feel. Jack, along with Lillie Mae Rische, sings a harshly lyricised, yet beautifully put together, lament about the impermanence of life and the world.
Next up is āWould You Fight For My Love?ā featuring Ruby Amanfuās soulful tones throughout. This is probably the closest to a ballad youāre ever going to get from Jack White (excluding the ever cynical Love Interruption). He has bravely worn his heart on his sleeve with the lyrics: āBut Iām afraid of being hurt thatās true, but not afraid of any physical pain. Just as I am always scared of water, but not afraid of standing out in the rain.ā Itās a song to identify with, I think, and most definitely an insight into Jackās romantic history if you donāt know about it already.
āHigh Ball Stepperā is an anxious, spirited, moody, stop-start rhythm, encompassing the dirty guitar noises JackĀ favorsĀ soĀ frequently, all of which make this a very nicely placed instrumental tune.
The next track is āJust One Drinkā. Thereās a very sexy feel to this song that reminds me a bit of The White Stripesā Ball & Biscuit lyrically ā not the actual words used, obviously, itās completely original in that respect.
āAlone in My Homeā kicks off with a lovely piano melody which is almost nursery rhyme-like in its nature. In comes Jackās voice, which on this song seems a lot more mature than usual ā heās definitely decided not to include the more quirky edge here, and I kind of miss it, actually. Having said that, this style could appeal a lot to people who dislike his more screechy tendencies.
I really adore the next song, āEntitlementā. Itās very country and western (suits Jackās voice perfectly), and I love the message in the song ā the conclusion of the song states quite succinctly: āI guess nobody on earth is entitled ā not mothers, not children, not kings. Not a one single person on Godās golden shore is entitled to one single thing. We donāt deserve a single damn thing.ā Yep. I agree.
Next up is another complete change in pace in the form of āBlack Cat Licoriceā, a detailed, witty, daring song which showcases Jackās secondsĀ humorĀ and love for all things musically diverse clearly and concisely within 3 minutes and 50Ā seconds.
The penultimate song, āI Think I Found the Culpritā is largely acoustic, but towards the end of the song it experiences a short burst of energy, including an injection of vocals from Amanfu, which rouses the heart and the mind before easing off into calm.
Lastly is āWant and Ableā, a light hearted, appealing end to the album, with another good message within. Jack sings a story about Want being taught the ways of the world by Able. āBeing able is to freedom what wanting is to cruel. Itās hard to tell, it seems, which one of themās the fool. Is freedom a gift, that we only give to the ones that say I love you?ā I can imagine this as a gig ending song ā maybe Jack will start using this instead of Goodnight Irene. Or maybe not.
Every time Jack White brings out another record, it feels special, wanted and well loved. This record is the one that I can personally relate to the most, quite possibly out of all of the albums Jack has released under whatever guise, except possibly Sea of Cowards by The Dead Weather. The lyrics resonate with me, and thatās on top of the usual feeling of being magnetically attracted to Jackās innovative ways with music.
Lazaretto has got a depth to it that is on a whole new level, I think. ItĀ isn’tĀ as urgent as Blunderbuss ā Jack has mulled thisĀ one over, he really has taken his āsweet little time about itā, and the result is, I think, outstandingly heartfelt.
As I write, Iām sure Jack White is considering his next move. Nothing is obvious. Nothing is predictable. We must simply wait, and wonder.
