There have been few figures as welcoming in their enigmatic nature as that of Jack White. Since breaking out with the hit album with The White Stripes called "White Blood Cells," he has become a prolific figure mixing garage rock rawness with traditional blues chords. His lyrics are simultaneously nursery rhyme simple and complicated journeys into his psyche. With "Lazaretto," he returns with his second solo album and looks to send a shock back to rock, and not only in his elaborately strange vinyl release package. He has come back to remind you that he is lonely, complicated, and a bad-ass guitar player.
If there is one thing that could be said about his previous album, "Blunderbuss," it was that it sounded mature. The music was calmer and dealt with some heavy issues. Relying more on pianos and intricate orchestrations, it was an elegant record that reflected his ability to distinguish himself from The White Stripes. While he continues to grow, he continues to surprise with an album that seems to blend his previous work with his solo work in a package that is insanely organized yet chaotic. With all of that said, "Lazaretto" is the sound of a genius going mad.
From the opening song "Three Women," he speaks of women in three different regions. Set to his catchy hooks, this infidelity is the start to an album exploring his inability to settle down. As things move forward into "Temporary Ground," the themes become more clear. As the title is a reference to a permanently docked boat, he appears to be doing the same. He longs for excitement, but is forever docked with his music. People come and go and he knows how to write songs around them.
The music is more aggressive and demanding. Even if it lacks the garage band lo-fi technique that brought him to fame, that doesn't mean that distortion is missing. In the song "High Ball Stepper," he unleashes close to four minutes of pure guitar chaos. It is some of his most intricately addicting work since "Ball and Biscuit." There is no nuance to it. He is allowing every flat note to ring true and communicate a passion that felt repressed on "Blunderbuss." He feels alive, and it runs through the rest of the album beautifully. There's no limitation to his excessive solos and their complimentary nature to tracks such as "That Black Bat Licorice."
Even then, he knows when to dial things back. His more muted tracks, including "Alone in My Home" and "Want and Able" are more reflective of his country side, recalling hooks and melodies that are borderline folk. Speaking of tales of isolation and solace, he runs the gamut of subject matter here. Nonetheless, even in simplicity, he feels overly personal with lines such as "Alone in my home/Nobody can touch me." His voice feels stronger and full of emotion, which compliments these tracks nicely.
Even for an artist who at times seems too pretentious, the results pay off nicely. He even manages to back up his insults against The Black Keys by making an album full of life and energy. His music has been honed for decades now and ends up producing some of the most mature, exciting rock music of the year. He demands to be listened to and captures the essence of heartbreak. In a time where it is harder than ever to be a successful musician, he excels. Few artists have the idea to make each track nuanced with strange sounds fading in and out of songs as Jack White does. For that, we should be grateful that he is still challenging music and thanking "70's and 80's movies" in his liner notes. Just like him, that makes no sense, but we admire him more for it.
"Lazaretto" comes flying out with vivid personality. With the 11 songs, it is a remind of why White is one of the best artists out there. While managing to recall the traditional music that has shaped rock, he builds on it. He oftentimes improves familiar techniques. The one benefit to his solo work is that it isn't restrained to a specific tone or style. He swings for the fences and ends up making wondrously curious tunes. There's whimsy side-by-side with distorted guitars and it is more striking and alive than anything else. He may be too cocky as a public persona, but you can't fault a man who proves himself time and time again. He is a virtuoso and a poet, continuing to challenge himself and us with his music.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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