Jack White’s colorful return

Brian Rhatigan

Jack White, former White Stripes frontman, returns with his highly anticipated “Boarding House Reach.” At first glance, the album looks like another White solo album, with its faint greys and dark blues on the cover. But unlike past albums, “Boarding House Reach” brings something new to the table, not only outside of White’s comfort zone but out of most listener’s as well. The wide range of genres encompassed in one album is astounding. The gospel-rock tune “Connected by Love” is the polar opposite of the rock n’ roll banger “Over and Over and Over”. Regardless of differing tastes of music, “Boarding House Reach” is guaranteed to have a song for everyone.



After the 2011 breakup of The White Stripes, White seems to have finally broken the chain that has connected him to his past, and he’s ok with that. White was recently featured on the cover of the newest Rolling Stone. When asked about a possible re-connection of the White Stripes, White responded with, “I highly doubt… that will ever be a thing.” As this may break the hearts of many fans, White has moved on to bigger, and maybe even better things with his music, and its time for fans to do the same.

Not to say that White has let go of his past completely, his ‘I don’t care’ attitude remains. Songs like “Hypermisophoniac” and “Corporation” both prove how White can step outside of his rock n’ roll comfort zone, while “Over and Over and Over” remind experienced fans of the White Stripes glory days. On “Ice Station Zebra”, we find White rapping throughout the song, keeping the album refreshing. Perhaps the most intriguing song on the album is the melancholy closer “Humoresque”. Taken directly from infamous mobster Al Capone’s music book, White shows us that even a gangster can compose a beautiful piece of music.

Though seasoned fans may be disappointed with no return in sight for the White Stripes, this album may just counterbalance the heartbreaking news. The underlying experimental theme keeps the album fresh and fun, while the ballads keep the LP down to earth and calming. Hopefully White can keep his roots that got him to where he is today but continue to push the bar that was able to make “Boarding House Reach” a true masterpiece.