Jack White – Lazaretto

With chaotic melodies, slightly bizarre lyrics and a combination of instruments that no other musician would ever dream of merging, Jack White is an artist who knows how to cause a commotion in the music industry.

Though some individuals may miss the point of White’s music and not be able to comprehend what he creates, you cannot argue with the fact that he is both bold in his musical decisions, and also an artist who thrives upon experimentation and creating radical, unique sounds – qualities that must be appreciated. That said, his new album Lazaretto is unsurprisingly another marvellously sculpted platform used to create an array of musical variety.

White is typically known for being the master of amalgamating genres, so his new album is naturally another expression of this process. Is it rock? Is it punk? Is it blues? It’s Jack White, and that’s all that needs to be said. Temporary Ground and Alone In My Home are tracks that even contain country-esque vibes, demonstrating the artist’s love for spawning a truly diverse album. 

Stand out tracks from Lazaretto include the rock-inspired masterpiece Three Women, an instrumental phenomenon entitled High Ball Stepper, and the album’s title track Lazaretto, which will blow your mind with its crazy and fanatical beats. Likewise, it’s a track that will have you twisting and turning in an attempt to work out which direction it’s heading, but no matter how many times you hear it you’ll always be novel to its path.

It would be fair to denounce, however, the rest of the album; although vastly creative, it’s certainly not as strong as the majority of White’s previous work. In certain places one could also state that the artist is trying far too hard to be innovative and quirky: a convention that doesn’t bode well for a musician who prides himself upon being a naturally eccentric individual.   

So, what’s the verdict then? With the utmost respect, White is an artist that you either adore or despise. Therefore, Lazaretto will either captivate and inspire you, or leave you in a state of unreserved bewilderment – it really is as simple as that.

Keira Trethowan

Lazaretto was released on 9^th June 2014. For further information or to order the album visit Jack White’s website here.

Watch the video for Lazaretto here: