DJ's Required Listening: Jack White

The greatest musician of the past decade. Period. Jack White. Of White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and most recently The Dead Weather. Eccentric, eclectic, minimalist, versatile, bluesy, raunchy, ballsy. Whatever you want to call him, just be sure to call him damn good.

Very few musicians in this era of music we're currently in are audibly instantly recognizable. Hendrix was. Clapton was. Townshend was. Van Halen was. Vaughan was. Jack White is. He's made such an impression in such a short period of time that Rolling Stone ranks White #17 in its Greatest Guitarists Of All-Time. He's already to the point in his career where he has the opportunity to do artistically whatever he wants. Think about it, every artist wants to be at that level, but probably 99% never get there. To have that level of acceptance from the public accompanied by an intense inner-confidence means you're in rarefied air, folks. It doesn't happen often, so we're witnessing the evolution of an icon right now. These days it's pretty hard to set your own boundaries, make your own rules, or forge your own path. Jack White has, and should be applauded for it.

1. "Fell In Love With A Girl" - White Blood Cells, 2002. I distinctly remember where I was & what I was doing the first time I heard this song by a new group Rolling Stone had recently reviewed. Saw this video while getting dressed to go to my wife's class reunion - I had to stop and gawk at the TV. I was shocked & amazed at what I heard. So simple, yet so powerful. Awesome. BTW...MTV used to show videos back then.

2. "7 Nation Army" - Elephant, 2003. "How in the hell does he do it?" That's what I wanted to know. All this great noise - bass riffs, fuzz, distortion, & a solo from the same damn guitar? You gotta be kiddin' me...

3. "Hypnotize" - Elephant, 2003. I'm pretty confident in saying that Elephant is perhaps the greatest album of this decade. This song just works my mind up into a frenzy every time I hear it. A good, old-fashioned ass-kicker coming in at 1:48 long. Can't beat it. Also loved "Hardest Button To Button" from Elephant.

4. "Little Bird" and "Hello Operator" - De Stijl, 2000. By the time I had absorbed Elephant, I had to go back a see what I had missed. De Stijl is an incredible blues album. This is where the legend is born, 2 years before "Fell In Love With A Girl" was released. These two songs accompany me wherever I go in my trusty ipod...

5. "Portland, Oregon" - Van Lear Rose, 2004. A highly acclaimed collaboration with Ms. Loretta Lynn, this album was produced by Jack White & won the both of them a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals.

6. "My Doorbell" - Get Behind Me Satan, 2005. I first heard this album, and I'm like "What the...?" Jack turned in his electric guitar for a piano, man! Took a while to get used to, but this song shines as the best on the album (Grammy Winner!). Will get your rump a'shakin', without a doubt...

7. "Steady As She Goes" - Broken Boy Soldiers, 2006. The song co-written by White & Brendan Benson the led to the formation of the ultimate side-project band, The Raconteurs. Unique sound, especially rhythmically without Meg White's hypnotic drum beats. Also loved "Hands" from this album.

8. "Icky Thump" - Icky Thump, 2007. Back to basics for The Stripes. Is there ANY other guitar but a Gretsch...? Damn those things sound great......so dirrrrty.

9. "Salute Your Solution" - Consolers Of The Lonely, 2008. Second go 'round with The Raconteurs...pretty good tune right here. "Carolina Drama" is the ballad from this album that really shows a deeper edge to White's songwriting and has caught my ear though...

10. "Are Friends Electric?" - Horehound, 2009. Catchy tune from the latest project for Jack White, The Dead Weather. White is the drummer in this outfit, believe it or not. The album is due out in June, I believe. Here's another, Hang You From The Heavens, which is their debut single, actually. Not bad...