A-Z CDs - Day 57

474. The White Stripes - The White Stripes (last listen: 3 months to 1 year) - The 1999 debut from what I think is now the best rock and roll band in the world. This album is stripped-down, blues-inspired garage rock. It's still baffling how that much sound comes out of only two people.
475. The White Stripes - De Stijl (last listen: 0-3 months) - This is probably my favorite White Stripes album, although that title changes frequently. De Stijl is a solid mix of blues rock, garage rock, and stripped-down acoustic ballads. "You're Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl)" is one of my favorite White Stripes songs. "Truth Doesn't Make a Noise" is intense.
476. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells (last listen: 0-3 months) - This was their 2001 breakthrough album, featuring "Fell In Love With a Girl," "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," and "We're Going To Be Friends." It's a phenomenal album, and Jack's diversity in songwriting begins to show. "Offend in Every Way" is a great song. "Hotel Yorba" could very well be on The Beatles' Let It Be. The fact that this album was recorded in ten days is amazing.
477. The White Stripes - Elephant (last listen: 0-3 months) - Of course you all know "Seven Nation Army" and possibly "The Hardest Button to Button," but this album is chockfull of great songs. "There's No Home For You Here" is awesome. Their version of the Burt Bacharach penned "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" is a frenzied crescendo of goodness. "Ball and A Biscuit" is raunchy blues, and could very well be on Led Zeppelin I or II. If nothing else, this album showed that Jack White is as good a guitarist as anyone else.
478. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (last listen: 3 months to 1 year) - With this album, Jack White showed just how diverse his songwriting can be, with ball-busting rock, hook-laden pop songs, ballads, blues, bluegrass, Lady-Madonna-esque soulful rock, and toungue-in-cheek fun songs. This is easily the most eclectic White Stripes album, with songs borrowing from the Beatles, Motown, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Queen, soul, the blues, C&W, bluegrass, and calypso. There is more piano and less guitar in this album than in past albums. Jack's songwriting is as colorful and imaginative as it's ever been. "My Doorbell" is catchy as hell. "Blue Orchid" is a metal-inspired rocker. "Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)" is a nice, soulful ballad with marimbas (which they somehow make work really well here without sounding cheesy). "Denial Twist" is solid. "As Ugly As I Seem" is an uptempo, stripped-down acoustic song that could easily fit onto Led Zeppelin III or IV. "I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)" is a perfect bar ballad. Bottom line: The White Stripes fucking rule.
479. The White Stripes - Walking With a Ghost (single) (last listen: 3 months to 1 year) - In addition to the cover or Tegan and Sara's "Walking With a Ghost," this has live versions of "Screwdriver" (from their debut) and "Same Boy You've Always Known" (from White Blood Cells) and live on-the-air versions of "As Ugly As I Seem" and "Denial Twist." From Get Behind Me Satan.
480. The White Stripes - Icky Thump (last listen: 0-3 months) - This is their newest album, which came out in June. I've only listened to it a few times, on account of this A-Z thing, but it's pretty damn good. The title track is thumping, as the title implies. I'm a really big fan of "Rag and Bone."
481. The Who - Who's Better Who's Best: The Very Best Of (last listen: 1-2 years) - "Baba O'Riley" is just so damn good, it's sick. "The Kids Are Alright" is a song I can always listen to, and "Pictures of Lily" is about masturbation, so that's cool. "I Can't Explain" is also awesome.
482. The Why Store - The Why Store (last listen: 2-5 years) - Anyone who spent time in Indiana in the mid '90s knows these guys. They had a regional hit with "Lack of Water," which is still catchy as hell.
483. Brian Wilson - Smile (last listen: 1-2 years) - Probably the most anticipated delayed album in rock history (yes, even more so than the still-unreleased Chinese Democracy), this was the album that the Beach Boys were in the midst of recording when Brian Wilson had his infamous nervous breakdown.