I’ve been hot and cold on Jack White since the early stages of his career. And not just from album to album. In some cases it’s song to song. Many times I have hurried through ‘Get Behind Me Satan’ in order to get to the “good songs”.
The first time I heard ‘Lazeretto’ I thought my head was going to explode from the overload of awesomeness. But then, when I listened to the album as a whole, I never again found that same bliss I felt with the lead single. However, ‘Blunderbuss’ is still leaps and bounds greater than White’s latest solo album, ‘Boarding House Reach’.
I never found “that song”, the kind that could pull me in the way that prior projects of Jack were able to do, i.e. ‘Conselors Of The Lonely’ or ‘Steady As She Goes’ by the Raconteurs. But here’s the thing: Jack does have something worthwhile to say. Lyrically. But it almost feels like he’s become bored with composition. Maybe he really is the genius that many of us think he is, and like most geniuses that tend to become bored with the “easy” stuff, he has reached his wall.
*Disclaimer: I am more than willing to admit when his next project drops like an atom bomb full of flavor and light that he has created something magical. But then again, I may just tell you that he hit that wall and somehow found the means to bust through it with a Hammer of the Gods.
But for now, let me just say this, if hasn’t hit the wall, he certainly is parked right in front of the friggin’ thing.
‘Connected By Love’ felt a little lazy and predictable when it first started. However, the chorus is strong with this one. Jack expands the sound left to right with a nice organ and backing vocals. After Connected, we have ‘Why Walk A Dog’. Okay I’m going to say it. IF this wasn’t a Jack White song I would still hate it and tbh I probably wouldn’t have even finished track.
Jack channels his inner Stevie Wonder on ‘Corporation’ with a groove that is hard to resist. Skipping forward a couple of tracks we get to ‘Ice Station Zebra’. A song that keeps the cool grooves moving along. The next song ‘Over and Over and Over’ ALMOST turned into the song I referenced earlier that would pull me in. Those quick doubles on the kick drum were nice. It sounds like it could’ve almost been a Raconteurs song. But this song just never got there.
‘Get In The Mind Shaft’ is the best of the back end of the album. There isn’t too much I’m looking forward to going back to deep in the album.
Like any Jack White record, ‘Boarding House Reach’ is a record that you must listen to when it comes out. And it may grow on me this summer after a few dozen spins but right now I’m not super feely for it.
The good: Production is great. Sounds like it’s an analog recording, warm and rich. Jack is a talented musician and songwriter. His drumming skills are not debatable.
The not so good: Felt almost as if he is getting bored and needs a new challenge. The interludes or short songs are not necessary and IMO take away from the album.
I give it 5.5 out of 10.
-JC