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Jack’s Great White Wail

Wednesday, May 28th, 2003

Kate Sullivan has a fun piece on the White Stripes in, of all places, Nerve. Excerpt:

The point is, the White Stripes are playing a game way beyond the grasp of anyone since Nirvana. I guess Iggy Pop kind of invented it â?? at least in our era and within the rock genre â?? but it’s an ancient process that reinvents itself whenever someone talented enough comes along. I’m talking about an artist’s fearlessness in facing the infinite supernova within â?? that “invincible summer” Camus found inside himself â?? and bringing it out into the night. (Summer ain’t all butterflies and popsicles, you know; it can be a real crucible.) Jimi Hendrix, Ray Davies, Marc Bolan, Janis Joplin and John Lennon did this; Perry Farrell, Paul Westerberg, Frank Black, Prince, Sinead O’Connor and Jeff Buckley did too. You know it when you hear it, and there’s no faking it. It drives most artists batty and ruins their lives for a while or forever, because they just can’t stay balanced while their life force shoots out in all directions. (And yeah, they were probably pretty screwed up in the first place.)

Jack White does this. Over and over. He gives me what I have begged for in other bands for years: real danger…

…I would have choked on my Diet Coke if you’d told me they’d be opening for the Stones, playing four nights in a row on Conan, dominating MTV2, making the cover of Spin, or getting played nonstop on KROQ next to Godsmack. Somehow, in my fucked-up little worldview, the White Stripes existed on a separate aesthetic plane from those kinds of bands. They lived in a world without Korn. To fuse those dimensions would be impossible.

…….

…….

…….

Sorry.

Just pondering how wonderful a world without Korn would be.

Feature coming to TheAgitator.com: The top ten most soulful white guys in rock. Not the top ten most successful white guys who occasionally sing black music. I’m going for ten white guys who can wail, who can hurt, and who can make you feel like you’re hurting too. Yeah, Jack White will make the list.

I will now open the floor to other nominations.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 28th, 2003 at 8:51 am by Radley Balko and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

57 Responses to “Jack’s Great White Wail”

  1. #1 |  Anonymous |  May 28th, 2003 at 8:59 am

    Brighteyes.

  2. #2 |  Michael M |  May 28th, 2003 at 9:16 am

    It certainly doesn’t qualify as “soul”, but the only thing Stevie Ray Vaughn lacked was pigment.

    Also got to give a nomination to Stephen Stills, for “Black Queen”, “Go Back Home”, and other obscurities.

    Finally, Eric Clapton.

    Guess I’m dating myself, eh?

  3. #3 |  Kim |  May 28th, 2003 at 9:28 am

    Damn, I immediately thought of Stevie Ray Vaughn, but Michael M beat me to it.

  4. #4 |  Mike Krempasky |  May 28th, 2003 at 9:59 am

    Bastards! It’s gotta be SRV, but again, beaten to the punch.

    :)

  5. #5 |  Dave |  May 28th, 2003 at 10:04 am

    Jeff Healey. He’s a whiz on that GIT-tar too.

  6. #6 |  Will |  May 28th, 2003 at 10:24 am

    Daryl Hall has to make the list – stuff like “Sarah Smile” or “Rich Girl”

  7. #7 |  Bunnie Foo Foo |  May 28th, 2003 at 10:52 am

    Am I the only one who thinks it’s really funny that the Nerve author referred to Jack White as “dangerous.” I mean, come on! Dangerous?

    For soulful white boys, I’m going to go with Rick Astley. Just kidding.

    How about Justin Timberlake? I’m not joking. That Justified album sounded straight up Stevie Wonder/Michael Jackson but different.

    On that note, is MJ white enough now to count as a soulful white guy?

  8. #8 |  Kim |  May 28th, 2003 at 11:19 am

    You know, I was thinking about this a little too much this morning. I feel the need to add Willie Nelson to the nominations.

  9. #9 |  Tom Bickle |  May 28th, 2003 at 11:26 am

    Freddie Mercury of Queen.

    Don’t look at me like that – your Honor, I submit exhibits A thru D, if it please the court:

    “It’s a Beautful Day”
    http://tombickle.com/files/Queen%20-%20Its%20a%20Beautiful%20Day.mp3

    “Save Me”
    http://tombickle.com/files/Queen%20-%20Save%20Me.MP3

    “Somebody To Love”
    http://tombickle.com/files/Queen%20-%20Somebody%20To%20Love.MP3

    “Too Much Love Will Kill You”
    http://tombickle.com/files/Queen%20-%20Too%20Much%20Love%20Will%20Kill%20You.mp3

    I don’t know if you’d call Freddie “white.” He’s from Zanzibar, so you make the call.

  10. #10 |  Will |  May 28th, 2003 at 11:34 am

    Elton John

    -Someone Save My Life Tonight
    -Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
    -Levon

  11. #11 |  sean crowley |  May 28th, 2003 at 11:47 am

    Will, I love Elton John, but you’re killing me! Wailing? Hurting?
    How about Warren Zevon?
    -Desperados under the eaves
    -Accidentally like a martyr
    -I’ll sleep when I’m dead
    -Poor poor pitiful me

    Stop laughing!

  12. #12 |  sean crowley |  May 28th, 2003 at 11:48 am

    Dammit, I screwed that up. How about Tom Waites?

  13. #13 |  roger |  May 28th, 2003 at 12:00 pm

    I second the nomination of Jeff Healey.

    Also, another blues/blues-rock guy is Tommy Castro. Not very well known, but VERY soulful, both with guitar and voice.

  14. #14 |  Brandon |  May 28th, 2003 at 12:03 pm

    From other comments, I know you are going to include Jeff Buckley. You’d better.

    I’d also nominate Thom Yorke.

  15. #15 |  Brandon |  May 28th, 2003 at 12:05 pm

    (I know Radiohead is a different kind of band that what’s been mentioned, but if you’re looking for “ten white guys who can wail, who can hurt, and who can make you feel like you’re hurting too,” he’s gotta make the list.)

  16. #16 |  Wayne Coin |  May 28th, 2003 at 12:26 pm

    Thank You, Jack White, for the Fiber Optic Jesus that you gave me.

  17. #17 |  Anonymous |  May 28th, 2003 at 12:56 pm

    Jack Johnson’s On & On is the most soulful thing I’ve heard in a while.

  18. #18 |  Andrew Ian Castel-Dodge |  May 28th, 2003 at 1:12 pm

    Robert Plant, either Van Zant and Axl Rose.

  19. #19 |  Joel Stewart |  May 28th, 2003 at 1:16 pm

    Van Morrison, probably deserves a spot in top ten. Prolific artist, wide range of abilities, try “Never get out of these blues alive” duet with John Lee Hooker – live – kicks butt.

    JS

  20. #20 |  Ted Barlow |  May 28th, 2003 at 1:28 pm

    The Afghan Whigs “1965″ album is a straight-up tribute to 60s soul, and it almost entirely works.

  21. #21 |  SM |  May 28th, 2003 at 1:34 pm

    Jim Morrison

  22. #22 |  Kim |  May 28th, 2003 at 1:35 pm

    I can’t believe that I’m still thinking about this but, I give a second nod to Tom Waites. His stuff is tres cool.

  23. #23 |  Anonymous |  May 28th, 2003 at 2:21 pm

    i can’t believe no one’s mentioned elvis, gotta be number 1

  24. #24 |  Damon W. Root |  May 28th, 2003 at 3:02 pm

    Hank Williams
    Johnny Cash
    Nick Cave
    Mike Ness (Social Distortion)

  25. #25 |  Bart |  May 28th, 2003 at 3:22 pm

    Anders Osborne is the best soulful songwriter around right now and he’s Swedish. Can’t get much whiter than that.

    John Mooney is another.

    (My music taste is straight out of New Orleans and leans more toward blues than rock, but I think both of these artists qualify.)

  26. #26 |  Bill |  May 28th, 2003 at 3:28 pm

    Cash

  27. #27 |  screwtape |  May 28th, 2003 at 4:03 pm

    John Hiatt gets my vote!!!

  28. #28 |  Damon W. Root |  May 28th, 2003 at 4:30 pm

    Damn, I’ll burn for this oversight:
    Jerry Lee Lewis

  29. #29 |  jojo |  May 28th, 2003 at 4:31 pm

    Chris Robinson-Black Crowes

  30. #30 |  jojo |  May 28th, 2003 at 4:31 pm

    Chris Robinson-Black Crowes

  31. #31 |  denise |  May 28th, 2003 at 4:46 pm

    Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys–the blackest sounding white man EVER. Besides they’re even better than the White Stripes…

  32. #32 |  Crispy |  May 28th, 2003 at 5:23 pm

    First, Korn used to be good. Yes they suck now, but they are not to blame for all the shit music that is out now.
    Second, I nominate Chris Martin of Coldplay. Is he one of the best ever? Shit I don’t know, but for the last few years he’s been doing everything that a “great soulful white guy of rock” should be doing.
    I feel pretty damn comfortable with my nomination considering “Rush of Blood” was his top album of 02′.

  33. #33 |  Crispy |  May 28th, 2003 at 5:25 pm

    I meant to say that it was Radley’s top pick of 02′.
    his meaning Radley’s.

  34. #34 |  Anonymous |  May 28th, 2003 at 6:20 pm

    Billy Joel?

  35. #35 |  Ed |  May 28th, 2003 at 11:30 pm

    I gotta go with Jon Spencer of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, or Greg Foremann of The Delta 72. Also, The Bass player of the dismemberment plan, eric axelson, seems unable to control his soul when on stage.

  36. #36 |  Joe Sims |  May 28th, 2003 at 11:41 pm

    I second Nick Cave. And while I’m at it, I’ll throw in Ian Astbury of The Cult… Sure, he’s bombastic, but that’s to his benefit if he’s going out on the road with the Doors…

  37. #37 |  Bill |  May 29th, 2003 at 12:13 am

    Joe Strummer, Jason Pierce of Spiritualized (PURE SOUL!!!!!!), Keith Richards

  38. #38 |  Yimmy |  May 29th, 2003 at 1:35 am

    Adam Duritz, maybe. And who could forget Bob Dylan? Well, Bob Dylan before he decided to plug in his guitar….

  39. #39 |  Yimmy |  May 29th, 2003 at 1:38 am

    Damn. I forgot Jaco Pastorius. Check out Three Views of a Secret or Continuum or A Remark You Made (Back when he was with Weather Report). He makes the bass sing with more emotion than any voice could ever create. Really.

  40. #40 |  The Expat |  May 29th, 2003 at 5:25 am

    Hello.. Does anyone remember a little group from New York called…

    The Rascals.

    These are the guys for whom the term ‘Blue Eyed Soul’ was coined.

  41. #41 |  Enobarbus |  May 29th, 2003 at 9:15 am

    I thought “blue-eyed soul” was coined for the Righteous Brothers. Anyway, I think Rod Stewart’s singing with the Jeff Beck Group (before Rod decided to be a crooner) is the thing. A lot of folks who’ve already been mentioned here made their bones ripping off Rod.

  42. #42 |  James Landrith |  May 29th, 2003 at 10:38 am

    Paul Young covering Oh Girl was a work of art.

  43. #43 |  James Landrith |  May 29th, 2003 at 10:42 am

    Mick Hucknall of Simply Red (think: Holding Back The Years)

    http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/bands/1990/simply.html

  44. #44 |  Anonymous |  May 29th, 2003 at 2:22 pm

    Great! I was wondering when someone else would mention Billy Joel!

  45. #45 |  Billy Beck |  May 29th, 2003 at 2:46 pm

    Donald Fagen — “Pearl of the Quarter”. End of story.

    Derek Trucks — I heard that kid play when he was thirteen years old. Trust me: he was born with it.

    Lowell George — Always “Willin’”, bless his heart.

    “The Dave” (I’m Not Lonesome) Walker — Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown & elsewhere: the only guy who ever fired me, but I love him still.

    Joe Jackson — Look Sharp.

    Timothy B. Schmit — If “I Can’t Tell You Why” didn’t bring tears to your eyes at least once in your life, then you’re still in your original shrink-wrap.

    David Bowie already — What the hell is wrong with you people?

    John Fogerty — It’s not his fault that no one has Stop[ped] The Rain.

    Burton Cummings — It’s all, all of it, there between “Bus Rider” and “Undone”.

    Edgar Winter — They really do only come out at night.

  46. #46 |  SixFootPole |  May 31st, 2003 at 7:53 am

    Todd Rundgren

  47. #47 |  Jacob |  May 31st, 2003 at 7:05 pm

    -David Bowie (especially the earlier stuff)
    -John Lennon (even though, you might be quick to point out his socialistic tendencies, but he had SOUL)
    -Lou Reed
    -Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
    -Damon Albarn (Blur)
    -Doug Marstch (Built to Spill, but I’m going to point to his guitar-playing as soul)

  48. #48 |  Gregg |  June 1st, 2003 at 9:17 pm

    I totally agree with Denise’s choice;Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys…just raw and awesome vocals!Definitely my new favorite group!

  49. #49 |  Tom |  June 2nd, 2003 at 12:02 pm

    I second Crispy’s sentiment: Korn used to be very good. It’s not the kind of music you can just pop on and have an easy-listening, laid-back fun time to. But it has its own time and place. Korn’s lead singer has a remarkable level of sincerity, and his songs, while sounding violent, really do express a level of care you don’t get from the self-important dandies of pop-rock. What is remarkable about Korn is the close union with hip hop influences in their music, as well as a very modern attitude toward disharmonic melody (one could point to John Cage and ‘intellectual dance music’ legends like Aphex Twin and Mira Calix). That being said, Korn doesn’t quite fit into the ‘lone artistic pop-personality whose creative soul ejaculates/overflows all over the place.’

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