The Dead Weather

One of the hottest new bands of the summer (or this year for that matter) is Jack White's new band The Dead Weather. Not only is Jack White in this band, but there are three other members from excellent groups. I guess this is technically called a 'super group', but it beats Taylor Hanson's new super group.

The Dead Weather is comprised of Jack White on drums, Alison Mosshart on vocals from the Kills, Dean Fertita from Queens of the Stone Age on guitar, and Jack Lawrence of the Raconteurs on bass. They have such a different sound that is quite refreshing. It has a southern rock feel, but not the southern rock sound comparable to Lynyrd Skynyrd. It's not like anything I've ever heard, and I like that.

The group formed randomly while jamming together, and then their group sort of sprouted naturally. Within two weeks, the band had laid down eleven tracks which soon became their album Horehound. The album is quite excellent; each song is completely unique and different from the next. Some are slower, some are faster, some have an incredible keyboard sound to them, others are lead heavily by drums--you never know what you're going to get off of this album.

The Dead Weather has a slight feel of Jack White's other groups, The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, but you can tell the different influences on the band. The guitarist also plays this intense keyboard, very much noted in their song "Bone House." On Conan O'Brien's show, they played "Bone House" where the guitarist really jammed out on the keyboard. They really have great chemistry together. I was impressed at how well they played together on that show.

I was blown away by their performance. Jack White is incredible on drums, which shows how incredible of a musician he is. He's been in three different successful bands, when some only get one, if that, and he's played different instruments in all these bands. He is a vocalist, a guitarist, and a drummer. To me, it's extremely impressive. I wouldn't hesitate to say that he is one of the best musicians of this generation. He will be as big as Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. Just watch.

What impresses me as well is how different all of his bands are. If you look at the dynamics between his bands, they all seem to have different motivations and purposes. They are all so very different, and their sounds are all different as well. This is talent. Whatever Jack White touches turns to gold. Whatever White does, I'll be sure to listen to it.



I also enjoy that White doesn't always take the spotlight. In his last two bands, he hasn't been the lead singer. He specializes in making music, not necessarily leading the band. In The Dead Weather, they have Alison as lead singer which adds an awesome sound. White does back-up vocals, like he does in the Raconteurs, and it sounds incredible with Alison's voice.

Their two singles are pretty good. The opening drum work on them really hooks the listener. Their two singles are "Hang You from the Heavens" and "Treat Me Like Your Mother."

"Bone House," as I already mentioned, is really good and unique. It may sound a little crazy at first, but it grows on you.

"Rocking Horse" sounds like it's right out of a Quentin Tarrantino film, specifically on the soundtrack of Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill.

Some songs are slower like "60 Feet Tall," "So Far from Your Weapon," and "No Hassle Night."

"I Cut Like a Buffalo" has such a unique and catchy tune to it, very similar to "Bone House." "3 Birds" is just a funky song.

"New Pony" also has a catchy tune to it, but the vocals are absolutely incredbile. This song gets stuck in my head.

My favorite song on the album must be the last song, "Will There Be Enough Water?" which is completely instrumental. They jam, and they play with some crazy sounds. I almost wish it did have vocals, but the song is so brilliant it doesn't matter. If anything, check out this song. I think this song shows their talent.

The Dead Weather have been touring, and I wonder how they sound live. I'd love to see them. It just sucks that they don't have that many songs. It would be cool if they drew from their other bands as well. Now THAT would be a cool show.

They are a group that got together purely to make music, not for fame or for money. I think that's what hooks me to them. They got together but their jamming turned into something real and raw. They love music, and that is apparent on Horehound.

End point: Jack White is intensely talented, and he has a new group that is worth watching. The Dead Weather. Check them out.

So what do you think of The Dead Weather?