White Stripes : De Stijl
Genre: Punk Rock 'n Blues	Dates: 2000

Before they were stars. Reflecting over nearly a decade, you can hear touches of art and eclecticism creeping into their original two-axe blues-punk vision, as well as some sensitivity to balance the guitar assault. Personally, I liked the guitar assault all by itself, and I would like to go on record as never having had a problem with Meg’s drumming (any complainers just don’t get rock and roll and probably never will...but they’d have to know 80-some years of history to dig their misapprehensions). To be fair, the group’s never released an uninteresting album, but I suppose this is included because it also strikes a balance between their traditionalism (covers of “Death Letter,” attributed to Mississippi blues legend Son House but probably of unknown origin, and Blind Willie McTell’s frank and randy “Your Southern Can is Mine”—history’s what this collection’s about) and their more progressive stuff (first two cuts, “Let’s Build a Home”), which is more retro than most casual listeners might think. Nice color scheme, kids.

Playlist:
1. You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl)
2. Hello Operator
3. Little Bird
4. Apple Blossom
5. I'm Bound To Pack It Up
6. Death Letter
7. Sister, Do You Know My Name?
8. Truth Doesn't Make A Noise
9. Boy's Best Friend, A
10. Let's Build A Home
11. Jumble, Jumble
12. Why Can't You Be Nicer To Me?
13. Your Southern Can Is Mine