Music Review: Jack White, Acoustic Recordings

Jack White in concert. Photo / NZ Herald

With first wife Meg, Jack White leapt into prominence with the White Stripes breakthrough album White Blood Cells, and the single Fell in Love with a Girl in 2001.

White (real name John Anthony Gillis, he took Meg's surname as his own) has never been a one trick pony though.

He started out as a drummer but then developed serious guitar playing skills.

More recently his solo albums and his musicologist approach to traditional and historic blues recordings have been his focus.

He is particularly enamoured with 12 string blues guitarist Blind Willie McTell and the legendary Son House, who was rediscovered in the 1960s to enjoy a second recording career decades after the first.

Jack White lists House's song Grinnin' in your Face as his favourite song of all time.

So, in Acoustic Recordings White employs a pared back approach and has selected tracks from White Stripes days including previously unreleased material, from his soundtrack work for the hit movie Cold Mountain, a Coca-Cola commercial he wrote in 2006, and on the second CD under his Raconteurs guise.

The Raconteurs, in fact, are a revelation as they have a persona and sound reminiscent of the Band, with guitars, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and even a Wurlitzer piano.

Jack White's Acoustic Recordings is an insight into a very talented individual and there's no holding back as he delivers a 26 song journey across his catalogue.

Not to be pigeon-holed, this is simply extraordinarily good music from a restless man who keeps searching and takes his collaborators with him.

Rating: 4/5 stars