White Stripe fans did not know to expect if the White Stripes were still together after lead man Jack White created the band the Raconteurs in 2005. The Raconteurs released their debut album “Broken Boy Soldiers” May 16, 2006. People did not know if this was the end of the White Stripes or just something else for Jack White to indulge himself in.

Not to disappoint the White Stripes fans, Jack and only other band member Meg White entered the studio once again to make their 6th studio album. The album was produced at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tenn. It was speculated whether or not this album would be a country album or not being Jack now resides in Nashville. Not to disappoint any of their fans the White Stripes stick to their minimalist rock & roll duo.

The first single off of “Icky Thump,” ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told),’ fits what many White Stripes songs sound like. Catchy guitar rifts followed by singing accompanied by simple guitar chords and drum beats. Simplicity does not mean bad things. To garage rock enthusiasts, simplicity makes a song more raw and full of power. “You Don’t Know.” has catchiness with raw power.

One of the Stripes darker songs conquests grasps deep into using mariachi brass instruments battle against the guitar and drums as if it were a fight to death. Different types of rhythms are used in this song than the Stripes have ever done before.

At first hearing of the song “Prickly Thorn, but Sweetly Worn” I immediately thought of ska-rock bands like Dropkick Murphy’s and Flogging Molly. Bagpipes open the song with a rhythm and sound of a jig that was about to be played. Definitely a 60’s psychedelic rock influence goes into this song. Towards the end of the song the bagpipes come in fuller and accompany the song. Late Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones would be proud.

Another heavier song off the album would have to be “Little Cream Soda.” The band “Built to Spill” had a song off their album “You In Reverse” called “Mess With Time” where the song starts off very similarly to the Stripes “Little Cream Soda.” Death-metal type of rifts very loud and hard. Spoken word verses just add to the power of the song allows the rifts to hit your soul even harder.

The CD ends with a great a song. All to often I am disappointed with a CD towards the end of the CD. It seems by the end of many CD’s I have listened to recently the songs just kind of fall apart and they are put on the CD for filler space. “Effect & Cause” is not that and is by far in my top 3 songs off the album. A very catchy blues rift completed with an acoustic guitar.