A Former Greenhorn of the Greenhornes

I've underestimated your effect on me or maybe I was too blind to see... The Greenhornes - Underestimator

The Raconteurs released the great album Broken Boy Solider in 2006.  What initially seemed to me to be a Jack White vehicle, later I realized I underestimated the importance of the other 3 members.  First, I really got into Brendan Benson's great power pop type music.  Then later I discovered Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler's band The Greenhornes.  Their sound is reminiscent of 1960's garage rock and in particular The Animals.  I guess it is no coincident that they recorded with Eric Burdon in 2012.

I have been collecting their music, but some of their discs are hard to find or really expensive.  I guess to sum it up I will quote the great Michael Scott - "Next time you will estimate me".

Discography:

• Gun For You (1990)
• The Greenhornes (2001)
• Dual Mono (2002)
• East Grand Blues (ep) (2005)
• Sewed Souls (compilation) (2005)
• Four Stars (2010)
• Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes (ep) (2012)

Jack White Returns

I was sitting there in a comfortable chair and that was all that I needed... The White Stripes - Take, Take, Take

The release information on Jack White's new album has been announced on his website:

"Jack White presents his new album Lazaretto, to be released June 9th/10th on Third Man Records. Lazaretto inhabits an exciting place in White’s expansive discography as the follow-up to 2012′s gold-certified international #1 Blunderbuss, and will be preceded by first single and title track “Lazaretto,” to be released later this month. While we await the debut of that first official single, listeners can experience a first taste of new music from the album and watch the video for new instrumental track “High Ball Stepper.”"



2014 is shaping up to be a really good year for music!!

This Song Makes Me a Little Noyvous

Samson was mighty good man, strongest in his day; Then along came Delilah and clipped his wig and it looks like you took me the same old way... Jack White - I'm Shakin'

Jack White preformed I'm Shakin' on the Conan Show recently.  The song is from one of this years best albums, the excellent Blunderbuss.   The song was originally written by Rudy Toombs and recorded by Little Willie John in the early 60's.

The White Stripes: 1997-2011

But I can't help but wonder if after I'm gone will I still have these three hundred mile per hour, finger breaking, no answers makin', battered dirty hands, bee stung and busted up, empty cup torrential outpour blues... (The White Stipes - 300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues)

I was saddened to hear the news Wednesday of the breakup of The White Stripes. It's obvious that we haven't heard the last of Jack White, but the White Stripes were one of the most original rock bands to come along in some time. The duo from Detroit popped up at a time when it seemed that rap and hip hop had taken over and that rock was on it's last leg. Here are a few of my favorites over the years:


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Relatives of Jack White

I change my mind every time that the wind blows; Don't know what happens, don't know where the time goes; I feel a whole lot better when you come around... (Brendan Benson - A Whole Lot Better)

A couple of recent Jack White related releases have caught my ear; Brendan Benson's An Old Familiar Friend and The Dead Weather's Horehound (another Jack White side project).

Brendan Benson is the co-lead singer/guitarist and Jack White's partner in crime in The Raconteurs. Benson's new cd My Old Familiar Friend is his fourth solo cd and while it may echo The Raconteurs it definitely stands on it's own. Benson's songs are laced with 1970's style hooks that only after a few nibbles you feel yourself being reeled in. The cd leads off with, A Whole Lot Better, 3 minutes of pure perfect pop; Gonowhere displays a kind of Paul McCartney & Wings feel; Garbage Day harkens back to Motown glory; Eyes on the Horizon displays the kind of paranoia that only Ray Davies of The Kinks could write; Misery is another instant winner. My Old Familiar Friend is just that, it somehow instantly feels like you know these songs in a nice fresh way.


The Dead Weather is a whole other thing; a kind of alternative rock supergroup comprised of Jack White (on drums), Alison Mosshart from The Kills (on vocals), Dean Fertita from Queens of the Stone Age (on guitar) and Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs (on bass). This is sort of anti-pop, heavy blues, like a modern Led Zeppelin. The cd requires numerous listens to absorb whats happening, but it is worth the effort. The highlights for me are Treat Me Like Your Mother, Will There Be Enough Water, Rocking Horse.