There's some White Stripes stuff that I genuinely like, but I haven't bothered to check out White's side projects or solo stuff. He really does seem to be pretty humourless and dour - which seems at odds with all his theatrics, costumes, gimmicks, and publicity stunts. I kind of liked the White Stripes' having a concept and a self-conscious myth-making made-up backstory. I know that stuff isn't in fashion - but when the White Stripes first popped up, I thought it was cool to see someone pull together so fully-formed - like the Ramones or Devo or KISS or the NY Dolls. But those bands were funny - and a little creepy and nuts - and it worked for them (at least for awhile). I think Jack White tried to create his own private world like those bands, but it ended up too precious and pretentious and closed-off to be all that interesting. Also, not enough good rocking tunes.
― brio, Sunday, 4 August 2013 18:56 (ten years ago) link