Released: 2012

Genres: Blues Rock, Americana, Garage Rock Revival, Folk Rock

The Musiquarium’s Blunderbuss Review Score: 8.5 out of 10

With The White Stripes disbanded, Jack White was finally free to go solo. While Blunderbuss still contains much of the same DNA as The White Stripes, or as adjacent side projects like The Raconteurs and Dead Weather, a solo career would allow him complete creative control.

Missing Pieces opens-up the album with some electric piano. Sixteen Saltines has that classic White Stripes hard rock sound to it. Freedom at 21 is propelled by its drum beat, which sounds more complicated than anything Jack White would have been able to get out of Meg White. Love Interruption brings out a southern, country-like flavour, as does the title track, which has Jack White doing his best Neil Young impression with some slide guitar. I’m Shakin’ is a cover of an old blues tune.

Blunderbuss isn’t quite as heavy as the bulk of The White Stripes’ work (outside of Get Behind Me Satan), but is still an accomplished blending of Jack White’s work with that band and some newer explorations into the sounds of the south. While it doesn’t surpass any of The White Stripes’ best albums, it’s still a strong starting point for his solo career.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Jack White on Discogs.

Back to the 2012 Album Reviews Guide or the Jack White Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard