Detroit Proud Playlist: Week of 10/13 - Special 'The White Stripes' Edition
Let's talk about garage rock. Specifically Detroit garage rock, because you know, Detroit refined and perfected that genre. We own it, you could say. Today, there stand many garage rockers who owe their start to the founding father of garage rock – The White Stripes. The White Stripes have defined a generation of rockers and cultivated a following. Many groups that have come since list The White Stripes as their primary influence.
The White Stripes got their start in 1997. Made up of (then husband and wife) duo Jack and Meg White, they were a little, well-known group within the Detroit music scene, but didn't break through to the national music scene until 2002, after releasing several singles and three albums. It was the mega-hit "Seven Nation Army" (and its now-iconic guitar line) that drove the two to international fame.
Their music features a blend of garage rock and blues influences, and a raw simplicity of composition, arrangement, and performance. They recorded their music with a low-fidelity approach, which, to The White Stripes, meant degrading the quality of the recorded audio for a more gritty sound. That approach is still mimicked by local bands around town today.
Even though Jack and Meg White divorced in 2000, the two still went on to produce and release four more studio albums, up until the year 2011 where they put The White Stripes on a hiatus. Each of them wanted to pursue other (and solo) projects. During their time, not only did The White Stripes achieve international stardom, but they were also nominated for a total of 54 awards, including American Music Awards, BRIT Awards, Grammy Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards – and have won 17 out of those nominations. They also reached the top of the Billboard Top 200 charts many times, with each album.
It only made sense to dedicate this week's Detroit Proud playlist to these hometown rockers. We've picked 10 of our favorite tracks, from five of the best albums to share with you.
Check them out!
Also, a little White Stripes trivia for you, did you know that each of their albums are done in only red, white, and black? No? Well, now you do…
To find out more about The White Stripes, visit their website here!
From the 1999 album, The White Stripes…
1. "Stop Breaking Down"
2. "St. James Infirmary Blues"
From the 2001 album, White Blood Cells…
3. "Fell In Love With A Girl"
4. "We're Going To Be Friends"
From the 2003 album, Elephant (Which also won the Grammy award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2004)…
5. "Seven Nation Album"
6. "Hypnotize"
From the 2005 album, Get Behind Me Satan…
7. "Blue Orchid"
8. "Little Ghost"
From the 2007 album, Icky Thump (Which also debuted at number two on the Billboard Top 200 AND took home the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 2008)…
9. "Icky Thump"
10. "Rag And Bone"
There you have it – comment your favorite song by The White Stripes below!