Elephant
Elephant makes the White Stripes' sound bigger without losing the tension between guitar and drums. There is more room for layered singing, piano and long solos, but Jack and Meg White remain the centre of everything. The songs often sound angry and hurt. Their melodies are also clear enough to leave an immediate impression. That combination gives the record more weight than a straightforward collection of heavy riffs.
"Seven Nation Army" needs little beyond its repeating opening figure and Meg's spare drumming to hold attention. "There's No Home For You Here" builds something much fuller. Voices pile up and the guitar cuts through them. It is a convincing expansion of the formula, although the resemblance to "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" can feel a little too close.
The biggest highlight is "Ball and Biscuit". Jack gives his blues guitar plenty of time, with solos that keep raising the tension. The length works because the instruments leave space for each other. "In The Cold, Cold Night" offers a useful contrast, with Meg taking the lead vocal. Her calm delivery gives the album a welcome break. The gentle acoustic side of "You've Got Her In Your Pocket" also helps the record avoid staying in one gear.
Not every addition brings the same reward. Elephant runs longer than its predecessor, and the tracks after "Ball and Biscuit" feel less urgent. Some familiar guitar moves return rather often, too. The playful closing song with Holly Golightly does give it a relaxed finish. The appeal comes from the balance between direct songs and passages where Jack has room to stretch. Elephant has the force and patience for both, and usually knows when to use them.
