4/5
Heaven Sent.
Alive with heaven, Jack White may be entering his best year yet. And this is a man who has the big-three in modern mainstream rock and roll bands with The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather and of course the 'Seven Nation Army' (check it out at Glastonbury this summer, with the call and response cheer to the iconic riff like a Quincy Jones 'Italian Job' soundtrack, football terrace chant) of The White Stripes with Meg in red. Now the Third Man pressing records in blue like Yokohama (expect a neighbouring plant in Tokyo soon) is about to headline Japan's famous Fuji Rocks festival next week with Halsey and Vampire Weekend. Right after releasing his second album of the year this weekend. 'Entering Heaven Alive', the sweeter and slower alternative to the hard rock that came with April's 'Fear Of The Dawn' for the industry outcast's 'Speakerboxx/The Love Below' moment. And if that wasn't enough, this blues man with a home in Nashville like Johnny Cash just proposed to his girlfriend, singer Olivia Jean like she was June Carter, onstage in his native Detroit. Promptly marrying her there and then when she said yes. Is there a priest in the house? Because it doesn't get holier than this for the roller. High times all around. Love abound.
Fear no more, the dawn of a new day is here and heaven is waiting to be entered. This Jack of all trades-heavy and slow of song-giving us his second album of the year on the same day Bobby Digital, the RZA and leader of the Wu-Tang Clan gives us his second album of the year also. Not to mention new albums from Ben Harper ('Bloodline Maintenance' for his Dad) and She and Him paying tribute to Beach Boy Brian Wilson. And we though next week was Beyoncé big with White's 'Lemonade' guitar playing and sophomore sets from Maggie Rogers ('Surrender') and King Princess ('Hold On Baby'), who both gave us the dual best albums of 2019 with their dynamic debuts. Don't hurt yourself. Because we're alive now. And that's 'A Tip From You To Me' as Jack's back singing, "Walking through the park, my fingers clenching tight/Then I noticed that I'm all alone tonight/But it's hard to know for sure/If I even need to think now anymore." Songs for our strained times as we put out hands together and hold them tight. But it's the acoustic 'All Along The Way' that's really worth your pay. "Who knows/If I could find you in the dark/When I’m old/You said, “I’ll be back before/My coffee gets cold in your hand”/So I’ll do the best I can to/Follow you into the dark every day/And we’ll say the things that/Lovers often do." Lyrics lament as waiting lovers play the side of their hot coffee cup like a saxophone. The piano of 'Help Me Along' does exactly that to you in an organ accompaniment. "And I'm going to love you/And I'm willing to share/And I'm dying to take you/Everywhere." Simply beautiful. That's your marriage proposal right there. 'Love Is Selfish' he says over guitar that reminds you of the time he could tell 'We're Gonna Be Friends' like "books and pens". Right before he turns around and sticks us with 'I've Got You Surrounded (With My Love)' for the half.
Buzzing like the Wicker Man, no song beats the next one. Not the 'Queen Of The Bees'. Because folks, this one takes you back like the album artwork in black and white. Working on the strings as White plays, "I feel lonely when I'm left all alone/I feel homely when you leave me at home/And the witchcraft that you're putting on me/Is a patch on a raft that is far out to sea/Pass me the bread and the brown sugar cubes/And I'll butter your toast while you take off your shoes/The coffee is warm, but it's not too good/Or maybe it's misunderstood like me." This b-side to 'Dawn's' 'Hi-De-Ho' with Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, a week before the Beyhive is full of activity next new music Friday. Ready to burn, baby burn like 'A Tree On Fire From Within'. Made from the ivory of perfect piano. "And violet roses give such a scеnt/2022 And it doesn't matter how long it's been/Even a dead rose is a good rose/You only have to see one to know/Like a tree on fire from within." Roses are now violet, Jack White loves blue and 'If I Die Tomorrow' lives with Beatles harmony too. Crossing roads like Abbey. 'Please God, Don't Tell Anyone', but there's 'A Madman From Manhattan' to deal with before this album comes to a classic close. "There's a madman from Manhattan/There with a man's hat and a floor mat made of satin/But this cat was not like this or that/But that which was aptly named for a man whose plan is a dime in a can downstairs for a dollar/If he can win the time with a dame/He ain't ashamed to holler". And neither is this raconteur with storytelling at its finest like 'Carolina Drama' for your 'Consolers Of The Lonely'. But as 'Dawn' and 'Heaven' fade to their conclusion for all your fear and hope, there's a gentle version of 'Taking Me Back' to do exactly that and remind you of the true essence of a song stripped-down to its bare and beautiful essentials. With these dual discs Jack White enters the sphere of Dylan's songbook. And this man can press his own records too. Heaven help anyone who tries to enter his zone. There'll be hell to pay. They might not get out alive. The new dawn is here. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Queen Of The Bees', 'A Madman From Manhattan', 'Taking Me Back (Gently)'.
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