De Stijl
De Stijl has more colours than the White Stripes' simple setup might suggest. Jack and Meg White move between garage rock, blues, acoustic songs and piano without losing the album's identity. The production keeps everything close. There is little between the playing and the result, so a small change in touch or vocal delivery stands out. That makes this second album feel particularly alive.
"You're Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl)" opens with a compact pop melody. "Hello Operator" answers it with a firm stomp and harmonica. Those two songs quickly show how much the duo can do within a limited sound. One centres on a tune that sticks; the other depends on rhythm and a satisfying scrape of guitar. Neither needs much time to work.
The piano on "Apple Blossom" brings out another side. The song is almost theatrical, but remains small enough to fit its surroundings. Their version of Son House's "Death Letter" puts the blues much further forward. "I'm Bound to Pack It Up" then finds a quieter space with acoustic guitar. These changes make sense because Jack keeps a clear melody or recognisable movement at the centre. "Sister, Do You Know My Name?" can hold tension with much less force.
The loose playing has drawbacks. The drums do not always sit neatly against the guitar, and Jack's nasal singing can stand out when the arrangement becomes thinner. Later, "Let's Build a Home" and "Jumble, Jumble" lose some of the opening songs' sharpness. De Stijl is therefore far from a perfectly smooth record. Its character comes from being direct, though, and the best passages combine careful writing with simple delivery. The duo gives its older blues and rock influences a persuasive shape of its own.
