I don’t know any rock critics. I don’t really read any either. I don’t know any by name or reputation. The closest I know is my friend Rich who can write a review and keep it funny and honest; usually spot on. But, birds of a feather, right?
So, I’m reading the LA Weekly and see that there’s a little something on White Stripes. OK, I know White Stripes, but I do love me some good candy. Shit, I’ll even go as far as defending the motherfuckers. So, that’s where I am today. Defending the White Stripes. Oh, God, how far I’ve fallen. Well, it’s not necessarily defending White Stripes as it is questioning rock critics. And, my opinion is and will always be livelihood.
Anyway, I’m reading Ms. Kate Sullivan’s “Trying to Shake the White Stripes Icky.” Yep. Here’s a sample:
A lot of great songs sound icky the first few times you hear ’em. For me, Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” would be a prime example. In fact, a lot of Zeppelin’s most important stuff is like that. This superficial ugliness is often a harbinger of a song’s enduring quality. The first 74 times you hear it, it sounds ugly.
["Black Dog" kicked in after about two measures for me - oh well.]
Weirdly, for all the ways I have loved the White Stripes, they’ve never been icky like that for me.
[Stripes have always been icky, by design]
But this time, I’m not digging the “Icky Thump,” and given my history with the band, I’m worried. Compare this moment, for example, to the release of “Seven Nation Army,” 2003’s advance single…That was the type of song that you “got” right away, though it was somewhat complicated.
[I believe this is what compelled me to write about this. Calling "Seven Nation Army" "complicated" is like calling Taco Bell "Mexican Food"]
But I’m starting to think that my initial icky feelings for the song are not going to evolve. The music isn’t bad or anything, but I am surprised that this is the debut single they chose. You hear it, and you say, “So... that’s it?””
[That's too bad. You could really expand here by not self-handicapping something you don't "get"]
Do what, now?! I think she has it all wrong and I believe I could help her “get” it. I mean, I don’t know Kate Sullivan nor have I read many of her reviews (if any), but I feel that I could argue a point – but I’m not going to do that here. I'm not that motivated. I could guess, though, based on her photograph with her dog, that she and I represent a completely different demographic along many dimensions (like carrots and school buses).
Hey, it’s fine to not like something. I love people who don’t like things. I dislike plenty myself. It’s fine to not get something either. I know and love people who don’t get a darn thing, and they are so cute. But, to publicly limit yourself by saying that you “got” “Seven Nation Army” right away and feel that “Icky Thump” just chugs along (and that you don't get it) is too bad.
When I first read the review, I was all like, “dang, I was hoping that the new album wouldn’t suck.” But, I held out hope that maybe the pre-release (advance) single was just the dud of the bunch, like “Seven Nation.” But, I heard it first in the shower and was plenty prepared to declare it over with them. I had to stop showering because it was striking. That song is damn good.
First of all, to say that “Icky Thump” has “a decent Zeppeliny riff and some cool-ass guitar effects” says a lot about the author. It doesn’t say anything bad, just it appears that the writer's pop/rock music education is incomplete and that they might be trying to impress (someone) by demonstrating their chops by invoking Led Zeppelin.
Uh, it sounds very little Led Zeppelin. Sure, there’s the hooky riff that could be compared to something out of Jimmy Page’s ass, but it could be very Motley Crue-ish too. It could be the London fucking Sympathy Orchestra too. I mean, the entire column is dedicated to comparing a White Stripes single (a carrot) to Led Zeppelin (a fleet of Greyhound busses). There’s nothing to compare except each musical group (aka, “band”) use guitars, microphones, drums, and somebody sings. Oh, somebody pushes the “record” button too. Well enough of this nonsense; you can’t be a pimp and a prostitute too.
Anyway, here’s what I like about the “Icky Thump”:
- Good sounds.
- Sounds good.
- Execution wise, it’s the tightest Meg/Jack performance execution yet (uh, Jack).
- Meg doesn’t try to play the drums – at all. Thank goodness. Keep a nice quarter note, Meg and you’re gonna retire young.
- Thoughtful production.
- Nod to metal, nod to prog, nod to math rock.
- Most of all, I love that if this is the advance single, there’s a chance that the record will be a motherfucker. I hope nobody gets it and Jack loses a million dollars. There’s a chance for art here.
Whatever and, cheers, gov’nah!
