Jack White
Break It All Down
***and1/2 out of *****
For the most recent Vault release from Third Man Records, the company focuses on their founder via Jack White's Break It All Down. The triple vinyl offering showcases White's recent (well reviewed) No Name Tour, as Jack and company stripped it down and went back to basic, heavy, rock and roll.
The four piece offering (White, Patrick Keeler Drums, Dominic Davis Bass, Bobby Emmett, Keys) delivers a rough, punk influenced take on White's catalog as the tour focused on No Name, but also showcased covers and classics from White's other groups.
White states his fiery intentions on the opening cover of the MC5's "Looking At You" as he informs the London crowd that "Everyone not moving, will be arrested" before unleashing some screeching guitar work. The main issue with this release arrives early as the shifting from different shows produces fluctuations in recording clarity and sound levels. The bass can barely be heard for some songs and the drums seem pushed back at times. Guest Money Mark helps out on keys during the jammed out "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" but Emmett's keys can also be lost in the mix at times.
What remains front and center are White's excellent riffs and vocals. After a Robert Johnson history lesson and "Stones In My Passway", both "It's Rough On Rats (If You're Asking)" and "Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine" groove in hard rocking fashion. "Bombing Out" feels a bit muffled while "Broken Boy Solider" is gloriously clear with thumping and riffing power. "I Cut Like A Buffalo" showcases Emmett's keys while White laughs and yelps before "TV Eye" produces the best cover on the vinyl as the chugging version of The Stooges classic rips.
Side D may be the best of the bunch with "Catfish Blues/Two Trains Running" from Ho Chi Minh City mixes White's love of the blues and super screeching sonics wonderfully before a jarring transition to his funkiest number "Lazaretto". The headbanging cover of G-Love and Special Sauce's "Garbage Man" does the job while "Underground" from Tulsa is a gem with bass and drums grooves complimenting one of Jack's best new tunes.
Other highlights are the grimy rock of "The White Raven", the groups punk cover of Ray Harris' "Lonely Wolf" and the twisting version of "Ball and Biscuit" from Atlanta which stretches out in mellow fashion with prime keys and drums before White's solo, a unique version. Unfortunately the overall sound dips for "Archbishop Harold Holmes" but the joy returns for the heartbeat pounding of "Steady, As She Goes" and set closer "Seven Nation Army".
White has released previous solo shows in the Vault, and they are some of the most sought after offerings. However, the sound issues and a few jarring transitions from the compilation aspect of this triple album result in a bit of a missed opportunity to capture the ferocity of White's recent tour. Break It All Down has fantastic moments and is a cool collection for hardcore fans (RtBE included) but far from a must hear for the casual listener.
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