IN REVIEW: The Dead Weather - "Dodge and Burn"

For as prolific as Jack White is renowned for being, his rate of output as of late has slowed a bit. Following a period of intense productivity that saw the release of a new record every year between 2006 and 2010 (split between The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather), White's two solo albums were the only high profile releases bearing his name from 2010 until the release of Dodge and Burn.

Those solo albums established White as a formidable solo artist, to be sure, but the playful and exploratory nature of his bands' records was tempered somewhat. Hallelujah, then, for Dodge and Burn; this, the third Dead Weather record (and first in five years, it should be noted), finds the group embracing all the weird urges that they've pursued to a certain extent previously, albeit without venturing too far off course. It's a well-rounded set of tunes, and the most consistent record they've created yet.

It should come as no surprise that The Kills' Alison Mosshart ends up being the most powerful force on Dodge and Burn, as she's been The Dead Weather's not-so-secret weapon since their inception. It's her presence that consistently entrances and allows Jack to take a (literal) back seat, where he bangs the drums almost exclusively. When he does take the mic, it's in a supporting role; whether dropping old west shootout rhymes as an old school hip-hop inspired counterpart to Mosshart's four-on-the-floor punk n' roll on Three Dollar Hat, or trading lines with her on the hard rocking howler Rough Detective, White's performances are intended merely as a compliment to Mosshart's. Make no mistake, though, she owns this record, as one listen to the volcanic Open Up or the stunning, orchestral album closer Impossible Winner will prove handily.

Not to be underestimated on this record is the other half of the band, namely Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs). Lawrence's bass lines give the record more groove than it knows what to do with, while Fertita provides the vast majority of guitars and keyboards, in turn contributing the lion's share of the record's colour and personality.

The end result is a virtually filler-free experience, certainly the best Dead Weather record to date. It's also the most loose, fun and raucous record Jack White's been involved with since perhaps The Raconteur's Consolers of the Lonely back in 2008. After a pair of solo albums that were varied almost to a fault, to hear Jack White engaged in the craft and (seemingly, at least) having a blast with the results is a stark reminder of why he's as revered as he is.

September 25, 2015 • Third Man
Highlights I Feel Love (Every Million Miles) • Three Dollar Hat • Open Up