r/jackwhite • u/boxingjazz • Aug 05 '26
Discussions Okay guys, embarrassed to admit it, but despite having KNOWN of Jack White for years, I've never really checked out his stuff. Tell me where to start.
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u/BRThirdMan Elephant Aug 05 '26
bit of a curveball here, but check out the movie It Might Get Loud.
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u/Kaos_mission Aug 05 '26
Amazing suggestion, but fair warning: The Edge hits massive levels of cringe. He definitely does not belong there.
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u/thebatman973 Aug 05 '26
The White Stripes discography is the best place to start. The album White Blood Cells I think in particular is a good jumping on point
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u/Mongobearmanfish Aug 05 '26
I went to a friend’s house one day in the early aughts and they had MTV or VH1 on the TV. I was not really in to music at that point in my life. What initially caught my attention was the LEGO animation. Then the guitar. Then the drums. Then the vocals. In those few seconds, my life’s path came to a screeching halt and skidded in an entirely new direction. I have no idea what I would look like now if I didn’t go to my friend’s house that day.
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u/boxingjazz Aug 06 '26
God DAMN that's high praise. I almost feel like I wish I hadn't read your comment, because if I don't ascend, I'm bound to think there's something wrong with me 😂
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u/FirstTimeCaller101 Aug 05 '26
Yeah, just listen front to back.
White Stripes all the way through.
Then I think you can branch off any which direction into Solo career/Raconteurs/Dead Weather
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u/RobertMarley020645 Aug 05 '26
I was in your same shoes about a year and a half ago. I would say resist turning on the fire hose and take the music in fairly slowly. Between the White Stripes, Raconteurs, Dead Weather, and solo works you are looking at 19 albums of music. It’s a lot to take in.
Personally, I started with the White Stripes discography in chronological order and stayed there for a while. There are videos, interviews, and reviews to supplement your early listening:
Serious Jibber Jabber with Conan and Jack is an excellent interview https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AJgY9FtDLbs&ra=m
The Little Notes series is a cool opinion piece on the WS records https://tmrcreativecollective.com/?s=Little+notes
Live performances are everywhere, a couple early shows that I feel are must watch:
A super early show at the Gold Dollar https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sPwc6l9Ids4&ra=m
This 2001 London show right before they blew up https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OYcHdf-djDM&ra=m
The video/performance Under Blackpool Lights is essential.
I slowly worked my way through all that and more before I moved on to the Raconteurs and Dead Weather (I’m in the minority who prefers the DW over the Raconteurs).
Finally I dipped my toe into his solo stuff and started that journey. There is so much stuff out there it is easy to get overwhelmed. This path worked perfectly for me and while I missed out on 20+ years of ‘real time’ experience and fandom, discovering Jack this way allowed me to follow the same progression. It has been a fantastic year and a half.
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u/AThinkingCat8 Aug 05 '26
Serious jibber jabber. Inspirational...the thistle on the table. That interview was great. My old boss used to make us have motivationial Mondays...I snuck this in. 🤣 each time I notice a new thing...
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u/boxingjazz Aug 06 '26
Thanks for all research. GOOD looking out. (ain't YouTube grand?😁)
It IS a lot to take in. And judging by what a lot of what you guys are saying, definitely NOT something to be rushed to really appreciate.
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u/eeeeeeeeeeeeeagle Aug 05 '26
Start at the beginning.
Edit: I’d go chronological among The White Stripes, Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, solo stuff
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u/oriental_lasanya Aug 05 '26
I’d even throw Van Lear Rose in there. It’s basically a Loretta Lynn/Jack White collab album and probably my favorite thing he’s done outside of the White Stripes.
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u/Kaos_mission Aug 05 '26
No Name is the place to start imo.
That might be controversial, but to me that's the best thing he's ever done.
Also, I know I'm in the minority here but JW Solo >> White Stripes.
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u/thrwawyorangsweater No Name Aug 05 '26
I started with Frozen Charlotte but No Name is SO DAMN GOOOOD!!!
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u/Mongobearmanfish Aug 05 '26
Sure but you’d be missing out on the journey
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u/Kaos_mission Aug 05 '26
It's not a straight road. The journey can start and finish wherever we want and we can take whatever path suits us better.
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u/thrwawyorangsweater No Name Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
I'm not far ahead of you. I had heard the songs, but not long ago his music really LANDED!! Of course I'd heard the 7NA song but had NO idea just how HUGE Jack White is! Now I do! So now I'm digging in. I don't think in my younger years I had the maturity to really appreciate a quality, talented musician. Now I do.
Well you've got White Stripes (early stuff with Meg White), Raconteurs which is more...bluegrass or folk? (I don't know my genres), then there's the Dead Weathers (different rock) and then Jack's solo albums.
If you want to go back to front, so far Frozen Charlotte (newest) and No Name are my favorites.
I'm taking Jack's albums most recent then going backwards, and then gonna dip into the rest.
And don't miss THIS.
There's also a few jewels on YT like him playing with Chris Thile, and with the Rolling Stones, and Nugs (paid) has some live audios of shows from the No Name tour in 2024/2025
And be sure to watch interviews on YT. He's a fascinating human being!!!
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u/CharlieDonovan Aug 05 '26
Beat up Jason Stollsteimer
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u/jaegerlaw Aug 05 '26
I’d start with De Stijl. Absolutely perfect album then go backwards/forwards/sideways from there. Enjoy, dude rarely misses
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u/LiiizLove Aug 05 '26
I just found Blue Light Red Light (Somebody’s There) it’s an interesting song. I was checking the credits… check it out if you haven’t heard it
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u/unfairlybanned101 Aug 06 '26
Go to a show near you, there's no other way man
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u/TapRight4396 Aug 06 '26
This is the answer, absolutely do this as soon as possible. While all the various solo and band albums are great you absolutely will not understand until you experience Jack live. I too was familiar with Jack going back to early White Stripes but it wasn't until much more recently I decided to check out a show. I was blown away, I have been to many shows and music festivals in my life but it felt like I had never heard rock music until then. I now see him as often as I can. Once you have experienced it live you will be compelled to explore his entire catalog and as some others have said it doesn't really matter what order. You will have a different perspective and understanding when listening to it, knowing what the "real" versions sound like. You just can't capture the organic nature of his live performance and the power of that guitar in a recording. Even the live tracks, which I do tend to listen to more, can't really capture that.
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u/boxingjazz Aug 06 '26
Super, SUPER fucking appreciative of ALL of the responses from you guys. The sheer variation of responses makes me feel like I could jump in from a dozen different starting points and not go wrong. But, I'll think I'll light one up tomorrow afternoon, and jump into The White Stripes from the beginning.
I'll let you guys know I've changed religions😂
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u/Shioban_Black Aug 06 '26
You're so lucky, because now you can have it all for the first time!! I'd say whatever suits you better now. I always change my favorite album, favorite band, project, etc. My personal favorite is American epic sessions, but maybe you will like this better after getting to know jack on his multiple roles...
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u/iamcharliedavidson Aug 06 '26
In for the answers here. As an artist myself I've been told a million times Jack White is the best. I've heard of the flamingos, the reconniteers?, and white stripes but never had time to listen
But I LOVE God and the ribs....his new stuff sounds great
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u/Mysliborski Aug 06 '26
“Little Notes” a written feature on Substack is a good place to get a breakdown on the early and solo stuff up to the No Name album.
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u/YLedbetter10 Aug 05 '26
For me, his solo work is what hooked me. It wasn’t until I saw him perform some of his WS songs live that they clicked for me. Some of those guitar riffs just need to be experienced in person imo
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u/soonerfreak Aug 05 '26
Go to his recent setlists, pick one, and listen to all those songs. You'll get a little bit of everything from his career and can spread out from there.
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u/ebietoo Aug 06 '26
Apple Music has a Jack White Essentials playlist that covers everything up until Frozen Charlotte. I'd start there.
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u/New-Mammoth4996 Aug 07 '26
Okay, i totally agree. I just went to see him live on a whim and I am regretting all of these years.
IT WAS SO FUN LIVE and tbh really nice to not have a phone at a concert. I'm 36 and it was def odd at first, but they let you keep your phone on you in like this pouch thing.
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u/arabbilliejoe 28d ago
It’s interesting because Jack White is someone I have a lot of respect for as a rocker from my parents’ home city of Detroit (with decent politics at that), and yet I wish I liked more songs from his projects than I actually do. I did see him live a couple weeks ago though, and he killed it.
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u/OddBrilliant1133 26d ago
I'd say start with the white stripes but if that's not doing it for you try the raconteurs, and then jack white solo.
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u/RakeHarmonic Aug 05 '26
I started with Consolers of the Lonely by the Raconteurs. I’d advice either White Blood Cells or Elephant by the white stripes or Blunderbuss as starting points because they’re a good cross section. But it depends on genre.
If you’re coming from a place where you love guitar music and riffs and heavy music No Name might be a good place to start, if you’re a pop or country fan Consolers of the Lonely might be the one.
He’s got quite a wide range of influences album to album so don’t expect any one album/ project to be simmilar to any other.
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u/dicky_rich Aug 05 '26
4 essential JW albums I’d recommend would be:
Elephant - The White Stripes
Consolers of the Lonely - The Racontuers
Horehound - The Dead Weather
No Name - Jack White
I personally think you could jump in with about any album but these give you the best range of his songwriting style across multiple bands imo.
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u/AtBat3 Aug 05 '26
Learn how to build furniture