First Impressions: The White Stripes - Northern Lights

[filtermagazine.com] First Impressions: The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights

-This is the first live album of The White Stripes’ career. Under The Great White North takes highlights of the duo’s 2007 Canadian tour, which featured stops in every Canadian province, and combines it into a live CD/DVD or vinyl/DVD.

-Under The Great White North kicks off with the raw intensity of "Let's Shake Hands" and "Black Math." Both tracks feature Jack White's trademark howl and manic guitar playing.

-"Union Forver" and "Jolene" are drawn-out blues ballads that change the album's tempo. White's intense vocals add a sense of urgency without being distracting.

- "I Don't Know What To Do With Myself" and "Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn" feature the audience singing along with White and at moments they take control of the song.

-Meg White’s tenacious drumming gives the group leeway to improvise during each song.

-A White Stripes live compilation wouldn't be complete without the song you hear at most college sporting events: "Seven Nation Army." This version stays true to the original, but has extra some extra guitar distortion and, of course, crowd participation.

-The accompanying DVD gives a peek of what it is like to be in The White Stripes. The tone of the footage is very warm, it’s as if you are the third member of the band. You can have a cigarette with Meg while watching Jack play the piano, all without leaving your seat.

-The DVD contains candid, revealing moments where the band discusses enthralling topics such as the routing of the tour to their stage setup. No, seriously, it's entertaining.

Key Tracks:

"Black Math," Union Forver," "Jolene", "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself"

Predictions:

The White Stripes' first live compilation album remains true to the band's studio recordings, while at the same time, creatively weaving in solos and vocal improvs to creatively add new elements to each song. Under The Great White North is an action packed album, featuring a balanced track list, which captures what a White Stripes concert and will delight their fans.