Ten years ago, the world was introduced to what would become one of the twenty first century’s most iconic guitar riffs in “Seven Nation Army”, the opening track of one of The White Stripes’ most successful albums, Elephant.
It pushed the Detroit duo into the spotlight of mainstream music and gave them the critical claim they deserved. Elephant is a grungy, alternative rock album filled with heavy guitar licks and Jack White’s unique vocals, but the origins of The White Stripes began six years before Elephant.
In 1997, the recently married couple of Meg White and John Anthony Gillis (aka. Jack White) played their first gig. Their first two albums – 1999’s The White Stripes and De Stijl the following year – from the emerging band mixed authentic blues with the heavy garage rock the band have since become synonymous with.
Their third album, 2001’s White Blood Cells was praised for bringing a rare simplicity back to rock and roll that had been missing in the years before, with Pitchfork‘s glowing review saying the de-facto Whites “seem not only comfortable with the path they’ve chosen, but practiced.”
Adding that “it’s hard to know at this point in the game where they’ll head from here,” where they headed, was Elephant, which truly brought the two-some into the mainstream music limelight.
The album also marked the duo’s debut with a major record label, XL Recordings in Europe. Prior to this, the White Stripes had been signed to garage rock and punk label, Sympathy For The Record Industry for their first three albums.
It was in 2001, after an apparent bidding war, that XL announced their signing of the White Stripes for a three album contract. Owner Richard Russsel spoke of his delight in announcing the addition to their roster: “We’re looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Jack and Meg. The White Stripes are one of the most exciting musical forces we’ve come across in a while.”
The White Stripes then set straight to work, quickly and efficiently; the album was recorded in just over two weeks in London’s Toe Rag studios.
In a 2003 interview with Rolling Stone, Jack White spoke of the aims of creating a simple record, right down to its album cover of the colours red, white, and black, to Elephant‘s layering of instruments. “I like looking at things from a child’s point of view,” he stated in a kind of manifesto.
“Children who are really young don’t lie. When they get older, they start being untruthful, start dressing how everyone else dresses, start worrying about what everyone else thinks. I like those periods of life before it gets to the point where other people are corrupting your viewpoint,” said White on his concept for Elephant.
Simple it is, but meek it is not. It is an album with a large and powerful sound worthy of live arena stadiums but contrasted with intimate softer tracks. It’s no wonder music fans and critics began to listen to the diversity of the lengthy album.
“Seven Nation Army” opens the album with an infectious bass line and pounding drumbeat that demands attention. White’s garage rock vocals add to the presence, which builds with the heavy wailing guitar licks. Simple in their choice of classic rock and roll instruments, it is this stripped back style and rhythm that successfully captures the child like essence White hoped for.
The duo creates a powerful sound that could extend to the walls of a stadium and it’s a perfect track to be heard live, featuring builds and then dropping down to the repetitive bass line which is layered upon by the vocals, drum and the screeching electric guitar riff.
White’s talent as a guitar player and vocalist are evident across a range of tracks. The upbeat “Black Math” features a rocking and catchy guitar line accompanied by his vocal and the dance worthy drum tempo.
“There’s No Home For You Here” opens with a grand choir of pop vocal harmonies accompanied by a dirty and raw guitar line. White’s contrasting vocals range from a hushed whisper to a powerful roar before fading out on a quiet note.
It’s the dynamic between the quieter songs and grungier rock tracks that attracted the immense praise for the album. “I Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” offers a stripped back song as White’s gentle vocals rise to howls as the heavy guitar pounds in.
On “In The Cold Cold Night” it’s Meg’s smooth vocals that are the feature as she gently sings the opening of the track, accompanied by a simple guitar line and a gentle tapping of a drum symbol.
Later album tracks see the duo return to more familiar territory, the alternative garage rock of the late 90s and early 2000s they helped pioneer.
“Ball and Biscuit” features a seriously funky bass line and steady tempo; a classic blues rock tune. The distorted electric guitar line screeches over the firm bottom-end, anchoring the track.
“The Hardest Button to Button” features a thrashing bass part similar to that heard on “Seven Nation Army” as well as Meg’s attacking drum beats acting as a metronome.
Other tracks offer a more classic rock feel for the duo. “Hypnotise” is the kind of song you want to jump up and down to in a mosh pit. It has an extremely catchy and repetitive guitar riff as White’s vocals whirl on the top. Whereas, “The Air Near My Fingers” utilises a heavier guitar line and White’s deep vocals and the infectious sing-a-long “do do do do’s”. It’s a love song as White endearingly sings “I get nervous when she comes around.”
“Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine” offered one last raggedy blast before the album ends with “It’s True That We Love Each Other”, a sing-along acoustic folk track with the duo joined by British singer Holly Golightly. The track was recorded separately from the other numbers, at the BBC Maida Vale studios.
It’s a refreshing contrast to the songs its surrounded by with quirky lyrics “It’s True That We Love Each Other/ I love Jack White like a little brother” providing an unusual ending to a heavy rock album.
Upon its release in April 2003, the album’s reception was overwhelmingly positive for the duo with critics praising the breadth and raw talent portrayed by the band. Their success signified by how quickly they were splashed across the media, from the radio to magazine covers.
Rolling Stone music critic David Fricke gave the album a perfect score of five stars, praising it on April 1st as “one of the best things you hear all year,” with no sign of foolery.
This praise was recently compounded by Rolling Stone magazine, as they crowned the album #5 in their 100 albums of the decade, and “Seven Nation Army” #6 in the 100 songs of the decade. Jack White was even ranked #17 in their 100 Greatest Guitarist of all time.
Sales-wise, Elephant reached #1 on the UK charts and #6 on the USA Billboard with the album having two singles “Seven Nation Army” and “The Hardest Button to Button”.
It was also their first US top 10 album and brought in two awards for the pair – Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Song (“Seven Nation Army”) at the 2004 Grammy awards.
Today, Elephant is as relevant as ever, still listened to, praised and discovered by new generations of music fans, ten years on from its release. It has even reached double platinum in Britain and platinum certification in the USA.
In the years following their landmark 2003 record, White relocated to Nashville with his new wife, Karen Elson (Jack and Meg divorced in 2000). It was in 2005 that the follow-up Get Behind Me Satan was released, and two years later what would be the band’s final studio album, Icky Thump.
Their 2007 tour of Canada was cut short, and eventually canned, suggesting that White had become preoccupied with his other musical projects, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. While there were numerous teasers about the possibility of a new White Stripes album and tour, a 2009 performance on Late Night With Conan O’Brien (a close friend of the band) would turn out to be the pair’s last live performance, eventually announcing their split some two years later, confirming what many had already feared, that the White Stripes’ stampede had come to an end.
While the band’s success continued to grow album to album, it was with Elephant that they captured the delicate balance of a popular sound accessible to a wider audience, while still perfecting the mix of garage attack, punk energy, and rock invention they’d mixed on previous albums. Despite the unwanted news of the band’s break-up, The White Stripes have become a name to remember in rock. Elephant can definitely take credit for that.
The deathless lick that opens the record remains a staunch reminder of their attitude and appeal, They indeed fought them all, and a seven nation army couldn’t hold them back.
