It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where Jack White is on his musical trajectory, what with his current commitment to three bands. Suffice it to say, he’s prolific. So when another album that bears the White Stripes name crosses our path, we prepare to be awed.
To be sure, Under the Great White Northern Lights has great material to work with. But this blessing could also be a curse, because there’s an onus on live albums to go above and beyond the original works, giving you a sense of being there … even if you can’t see the beads of sweat on Jack White’s forehead, clap along with hundreds of other fans, or get beer spilled all over you repeatedly.
The virtue of this album doesn’t become apparent until about halfway through. There’s a palpable climax on “Blue Orchid,” but the magic really hits you with a rousing, raw rendition of “300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues,” which sounds much fuller than anything recorded in a studio. Meg and Jack follow this up by doing justice to the classic “We Are Going to be Friends.” And when the crowd comes in on “I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself,” it’s not even cheesy. From there on out, it’s pure awesomeness: “Fell in Love With a Girl” is completely re-imagined in an unexpected, bluesy way.
The album must be taken with a grain of salt, though, because it ultimately is an expansion more than it is uncharted territory. Even so, this more than quenches our jonesing for the White Stripes. The album thrives because, on occasion, closed eyes and a lively imagination can make you feel like you’re actually there, under those great white northern lights along with the rest of the crowd.
4 Stars
