The White Stripes Greatest Hits

by The White Stripes

Overview

Like the other archival releases that appeared after the White Stripes called it quits in 2011, The White Stripes Greatest Hits is filled with the same detail, wit, and willingness to subvert expectations that made the band so dynamic when they were active. As with all things involving Jack and Meg White, the collection's hand-curated feel is much more personal than the average best-of or streaming play list. The idiosyncratic track list shuffles the pages of the Stripes' songbook, bringing new life to their music in the process. While there are plenty of expected choices here ("Fell in Love with a Girl," "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "The Hardest Button to Button") that still sound great, the set goes deeper with songs that are just as strong if not quite as well known. "Astro" and "Screwdriver," both from 1999's The White Stripes, reaffirm just how bold and clearly conceived the band's music was from the start, while the brash hooks of De Stijl's "Hello Operator" foreshadow the massive success they earned with White Blood Cells just a year later. Elsewhere, the marimba-driven "The Nurse" sounds just as eerie as it did on Get Behind Me Satan, serving as a potent reminder that the group's artiness was as vital to their music as their dedication to rock. The compilation's nonchronological approach allows for some clever song pairings, such as the floral theme of "Blue Orchid" and "Apple Blossom" and the animal-related duo of "I Think I Smell a Rat" and "I Fought Piranhas." Jack and Meg's flair for covers is well represented by "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself," "Conquest," "Death Letter," and "Jolene," the latter of which became nearly as iconic as Dolly Parton's original. The decision to put their most inescapable song, "Seven Nation Army," at the end is an unusual move and also a fitting one, adding an extra sense of finality to the proceedings. It's clear a lot of love went into crafting The White Stripes Greatest Hits, and its quirks should make it all the more endearing to fans and newcomers alike. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	12/04/2020
Label:	Third Man Records
UPC:	0194398223926

Tracks

1. Let¿¿¿s Shake Hands
2. The Big Three Killed My Baby
3. Fell in Love With a Girl
4. Hello Operator
5. I¿¿¿m Slowly Turning Into You
6. The Hardest Button to Button
7. The Nurse
8. Screwdriver
9. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
10. Death Letter
11. We¿¿¿re Going to Be Friends
12. The Denial Twist
13. I Just Don¿¿¿t Know What to Do With Myself
14. Astro
15. Conquest
16. Jolene
17. Hotel Yorba
18. Apple Blossom
19. Blue Orchid
20. Ball and Biscuit
21. I Fought Piranhas
22. I Think I Smell A Rat
23. Icky Thump
24. My Doorbell
25. You¿¿¿re Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl)
26. Seven Nation Army

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The White Stripes   Primary Artist
Jack White   Synthesizer,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Marimba
Meg White   Drums,Vocals

Technical Credits

Dolly Parton   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Son House   Composer
Hal David   Composer
Jordan Williams   Design
Pieter M. Van Hattem   Photography
Corky Robbins   Composer
Jack White   Composer,Producer