Killing the Dead
July 14th, 2009
So Jack White has a(nother) new music project…yay. If you haven’t heard about it yet, just listen for the tell-tale squeals of the radio DJs, or wait for the sure-sell magazine covers. If it weren’t for the King of Pop’s untimely demise, they’d already be there. This time, Jack’s called his project the Dead Weather. Their “debut” album Horehound, releases Tuesday, July 14th. Seems like the paler Mr. White gets, the more transparent his work is. Personally I feel like I’ve heard it all before so it’s a little tough for me to refer to this as a debut of any kind. If you’re still chasing the Raconteur wagon, don’t worry, you’ll get more of the same slugging blues, but this time, add a little Queens of the Stone Age to it as QOTSA guitarist Dean Fertita recycles some old riffs through a new hollow-body guitar.
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I initially thought the inclusion of the Kills’ Alison Mosshart would bring some life to the Dead Weather. The chain-smoking siren exudes all that is sultry when performing dark and tawdry Kills songs. Her work on the power-duo’s latest release, Midnight Boom, is the absolute pinnacle of their discography. Unfortunately, she has been leashed and caged in her new setting with vocals that are less her own and more of an emulation of what Jack White most likely sang to her in the first place. The catalyst for Mosshart’s involvement came when the Kills were supporting the Racontuers on tour and due to injury and bronchitis, Alison filled in lead vocals to finish the tour. These origins are painfully obvious in the bands single, Hang You From the Heavens, where Mosshart’s staccato delivery sounds like a White impersonation rather than original vocals. It becomes even more pronounced when White joins in as “backup” which is essentially just the same vocals laid on two tracks.
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The album is filled with artistic breaks, off beats and noise fills that are honestly more distracting than impressive. In little bits and pieces the songs deliver punchy rock and rollah that can certainly get you to bob your head, but as a whole it’s an over-driven muscle car in need of a tuneup and just doesn’t deserve the massive media blitz that seems to follow everything the ironically mustachioed Jackie White touches. What Horehound has is repetition, what it lacks is simplicity. Luckily Jack doesn’t care because all his audio masturbation has only lead to his own cow of a label pooping out loads of music for all the radio beetles to try to burrow into and suck from. What musical genius that Jack retains is wasted on the skins with the Dead Weather. At least put him back in front where can do something inspired. As far as I’m concerned Jack White died after his work with Loretta Lynn and this is just Thumping on a Dead horse.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
The Lady said:
Hmm, he’s looking more and more like MJ. I’m with you leDoux, it’s all becoming a bit of a yawn for me.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
SqueakyCleanTyroneGreen said:
“Jack doesn’t care because all his audio masturbation has only lead to his own cow of a label pooping out loads of music for all the radio beetles to try to burrow into and suck from.” Now that’s good music blogism!! Admittedly, I’m still a Jack fan–but I’m a little non-plused by the overexposure and more than a bit aware that he seems to be ‘retreading’ a fair amount. And seriously…who goes and messes up a chance to do a James Bond movie theme?! What is he, Duran Duran? I think it comes down to this–the guy has a ton of talent, a relentless drive to create, and obviously some strange appeal beyond just his tunes…but it’s time for him to cut back on the multi-pronged approach and produce something fresh again. Save the flavor-of-the-week collaborations for when he’s 50 and still trying to be relevant. And Lady, you are right–he’s starting to get freaky (bad) like MJ.
July 14th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Chris Craig said:
Goddamnit leDoux. I was hoping Dead Weather was gonna be a return to form for White. I know we had similar feelings on The Raconteurs and White Stripes’ last couple of albums, so I have no reason to believe your opinion is too far from the truth. Sad face. Does he still have good album left in him, or is he destined for a Cornell style trainwreck?
July 14th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Kevin Ledoux said:
I think there is some little flesh colored devil right there under the surface just waiting to come back and rock it. He’s just got to lose the too-cool-for-school friends and go into hiding for a year or so. Maybe Mexico and get some sun.
July 15th, 2009 at 5:43 am
JOad29 said:
Good review ledoux and after reading that I won’t download. I don’t think no one can out out as many tunes as he does without a downturn in quality no less inspiration. In that picture, he looks like he should be in Kabuki theater with his skin so white.
July 15th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Kevin leDoux said:
I believe this is the movie you’re thinking of…
ROBOGEISHA!!
July 15th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
todd-rico said:
I get it, but not sure I agree. Is Jack W. now part of the establisment…sure. Is he selling mag covers, tickets and commercials..sure. Does that make the music weak? I don’ think so. If it is hard for someone to enjoy music that now has (overrated) commercial success linked to it, than fine. Music is, and always will be subjective. So individual expectations and perspectives will influence the perception of it. Critique is easy. How’s your debut album going? Forget the baggage. I don’t hear Raconteours or QOTSA (though I do hear embellished Whitestripes/Jack W all over it-vocals and guitar). Is Mosshart wasted in an emulation of JW-style vocals…probably. But her energy on stage will be worth it, live. Listen to the album. Is it going to define the next era of music…fuck no. Is it a damn good rock album…I say yeah. Why do we listen to music? If it is to critique the on-going battle of establishment vs. everyone else? OK. That’s not me though. I want to hear some new stuff that gets me to turn the volume up and tune out the rest of my day for a bit. I’m going to check the show at Terminal 5 in NYC this Friday, so I’ll report back.
cheers
-m
July 16th, 2009 at 7:43 am
LB said:
I dunno. I don’t think it sounds that bad. The rap-rock aspect of “Treat Me Like Your Mother” is a bit much (the video’s pretty hilarious, though).
Jack White’s never really been known for his innovation anyway, and this band keeps his blues-rock tendencies mostly in tact. But he’s certainly never played the drums much before and he doesn’t even sing on their first single. Jack Lawrence is a great bassist, too.
I agree with Rico that while this isn’t groundbreaking, the live show will likely be awesome. But I’d rather this be “the establishment” than another Coldplay record.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:32 am
JOad29 said:
Would we be talking about these guys if Jack White wasn’t in the band? Most likely not. Then again there something to be said about knowing what your going to get when you buy/liberate an album Jack white is on. Still doesn’t change he’s putting out the same music fronting or backing a band.
Oh great another Jack White project insert blues rock here.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:47 am
LB said:
I’d be talking about them. The Kills fucking rock.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Grendel said:
She will always be Discount’s Alison Mosshart to me…forget the Kills!
July 17th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Kevin leDoux said:
Ah, Discount.. back when Alison hadn’t tapped into that anger and certainly hadn’t unleashed that sexual energy. That goofy looking lead chick can barely be compared to the XX half of the Kills. I agree with LB though. I’ve been spinning that last Kills album daily.
Let me reiterate too, that I don’t think this album is without it’s highlights. It’s just not the iiiinnnncccrreeeddible album that the media keeps making it out to be (Yes, I’m looking at YOU KEXP!) To me it’s like watching “Happy Days”. It’s familiar, it’s comfortable but at the end of the day you know the guy in the leather jacket really ain’t as cool as he’s made out to be. (RIP Winkler!)
July 17th, 2009 at 9:21 am
JOad29 said:
Oh Shit- Jump the shark
July 17th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
todd-rico said:
OK. Just getting back from the show (zzzzzz). Funny thing . The live show didn’t make me like the album more. The opposite of what I expected. I still think the album is good, but the show was just OK. A little too much “we’re rock stars” and not enough rock. Mosshart’s on-stage persona was surprisingly a little cartoonish a couple times. 90% of the time, she was great though. And don’t get me wrong, those musicians are talented as shit.
Strangely enough, Jack was at his best when he was just “the drummer”. The rest of the band really is great, they don’t need him trying to upstage them. It’s obvious he has designed much of it (his alt blues guitar style, his vocal style) but unfortunately you don’t get the sense that that is enough for him. That’s part of what I thought was cool about the whole thing, but he was constantly doing things to draw attention to his new role and make sure you didn’t forget he was there…and responsible (can give specific references when I’m less tired)…
Fun night overall. I want to see The Kills live…
Check out Screaming Females if you get the chance. They opened up and rocked it. I wasn’t that jazzed about the album. But they were great. Any one know anything about them?
July 17th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
todd-rico said:
*clarity footnote
The “zzzz” was because I posted at 1:45 am (est), not because the show was boring…
July 28th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Kevin leDoux said:
This is perfectly in line with the overall point of this post. There is talent here. More than I’ll ever have – even if there were 100 of me (wow how awesome would THAT be?) It just seems like they’re far more interested in making the mighty ducket rather than music. The OMG OMg OMG OGM everyone in the industry gave it was entirely undeserved and it sounds like the live bit reflects that.
Kills live are incredible, at least they were when I saw them at the (old) Croc. Tho I wonder about Mosshart getting a big head as well.. Hope hers stays nice and tiny.
Thanks for the Screaming Females tip rico, I’ll check them out.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Seattle Subsonic » Queens of the Zeppelin Fighters? : Seattle's Music Blog said:
[...] some around here may decry the varied and sundry side projects of Jack White, this writer has a penchant for the work of Josh [...]