White Blood Cells
White Blood Cells shows how much two musicians can do with strong songs and a clear sound. Jack White makes his guitar scrape and his voice crack, while Meg White gives everything direction with simple, firm beats. The gaps between those parts belong to the music. There is enough force here to make a larger band seem unnecessary, but the basic shape of each song remains clear.
The opening minutes establish the range. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" moves between dirty guitar chords and gentler passages. Jack sounds more vulnerable than that opening riff might suggest. "Hotel Yorba" then pulls the record towards country, with acoustic guitar and a cheerful, bouncing rhythm. "Fell In Love With a Girl" needs very little time to make its point. Its short rush of melody and speed is an excellent argument for keeping a song brief.
That variety makes the album more than a collection of loud singles. "We're Going to Be Friends" steps away from the amplifiers and finds its appeal in a small story about school and friendship. Such a gentle change works because the other songs are equally direct. Even when a guitar makes the biggest impression, there is still a proper song beneath it. The piano on "This Protector" gives the ending another colour without making it feel detached from everything before it.
The approach has limits. Anyone looking for constant new sounds or complicated developments will mostly find variations within a deliberately small range. The blues also plays a less obvious role than on the earlier records. In return, the duo has a sharper feel for pop. White Blood Cells is forceful, tender and easy to return to. Its simplicity makes small details count, and the best songs need very little decoration.
