Jack White – No Name

No Name is Jack White’s sixth studio album as a solo artist. It was first distributed in secret on 19^th July by slipping the record in with unsuspecting customers’ purchases from White’s Third Man Records stores. Now the world has been granted access to the 21^st century’s king of the blues’ angst-filled rock ‘n’ roll album, which sees White fall back into his signature loud and pure guitar-filled swing.

Opening up with the aptly titled Old Scratch Blues, White has clearly mastered the art of creating a riff a thousand times over, and this tune is unmistakably Jack White. The once White Stripes frontman has managed to mould his unique brand of rock ‘n’ roll while still working within the realms of tradition, which is no mean feat, especially these days. We see a lot of the big rockstars and bands turn to more widely palatable music for the masses, and that’s perfectly understandable, but it’s a relief that White hasn’t tried to do that as yet. It’s incredibly refreshing for a musician to stick with their original formula but still manage to make new and exciting songs.

The third track That’s How I’m Feeling instantly stands out as a catchy tune but also because of its simple and relatable subject matter. As White sings, “And when the demons arrive / I need to walk towards the light / And when I’m feeling this way / I don’t have to be ashamed / Because that’s how I’m feeling right now,” it’s a welcome antidote to the constant focus of fixing oneself that seems to have infected modern culture.

There is a subtle running theme of God and religion, but it’s complicated and self-deprecating rather than preachy. In Archbishop Harold Holmes, White tells the story of corrupt religion in America, capitalising on vulnerable people, “To get moving in the right direction for a change / I’m gonna put you in the fast lane! / You need to see me right away so I can fix this! / You need to see me right away!,” while in What’s the Rumpus, White seems to profess his love for God: “It doesn’t matter who you know / I made a promise that my love for him was honest / It’s not out of context / Our love is not a contest.”

There are elements of punk within the record, especially on the frantic Bombing Out, which wouldn’t sound out of place on one of the early White Stripes records. The most impressive thing about White’s music is how he uses the guitar as a dominating instrument, as his production is still mostly stripped back to drums and guitar. But that’s all we need with White’s music, and that’s all his fans want.

The album finishes with the tumultuous love song Missionary and the fitting come-down tune Terminal Archenemy Ending. Rock ‘n’ roll fans can breathe a sigh of relief at Jack White’s latest release – here is a musician with the utmost respect for the genre, and we’re lucky to have him. Jack White is an undisputed genius at coming up with effortless catchy guitar riffs, and No Name is a perfect example of this, while delivering intriguing lyrics and provocative subject matter. 

Hannah Broughton
Image: David James Swanson

No Name is released on 2^nd August 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Jack White’s website here.

Watch the video for the single That’s How I’m Feeling here: