Before you quickly dismiss this article, note that I am not necessarily comparing the two bands for their similar sounds. The differences are blatant, and I would be a fool if I actually thought that the Strokes versus the White Stripes would be a better argument than the White Stripes versus the Black Keys or the Strokes versus the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I am also aware that they were part of two completely different scenes. Who isn’t? The early 00’s New York City “rock resurgence” was an essential chapter to the never ending book of indie rock music. However, as important as the NYC scene was, there was a scene. The Strokes had the privilege of living in a bustling city with a lush history of music. The White Stripes on the other hand, suffered from the major disadvantage of living in a failing city, both impoverished and lacking a serious music scene. Detroit lacked fundamental venue stepping stones such as The Spiral, Luna Lodge, or the Mercury Lounge. The repressed Detroit scene hadn’t scene much excitement since the era of MC5 and the Stooges, whereas the NYC scene never seemed to die; there we’re always bands coming and going. As for Detroit, a band like the White Stripes only came around once in a lifetime. The only transparent similarities between the two seemed be their preservation of the dying breed known as rockstars.
The constant “which band is better” argument is a discussion as old as time. Steven Hyden’s book Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me can tell you all about it. It’s a category of endless arguments that can only be solved through personal taste and preference. However, where Steven presents generally popular battles of musicians, I bring a question that might be rather tough to answer. Who is truly better? Who influenced modern rock n’ roll more? What makes one better than the other?
Although the bands might seem parallel, it’s critical that you know (as you probably do) that the directions of genres these two bands pushed are completely divergent. The White Stripes, and Jack White in particular, pushed the envelope of how far blues can go. Blues was a sacred genre as far as modern music was concerned. However, it was overused, overworked, and lacked a new creative edge. Then along came Jack.
Jack White’s thunderous blues licks paired with Meg White’s imperfect drumming was love at first site. The White Stripes possessed what most bands at the time in NYC did as well. Their sound was distinct, and always sounded homegrown. However, Detroit separated itself from NYC as it was a failing automotive city with a preeminent crime rate. Detroit was tough. NYC was not. People choose to move to New York. Have you ever heard of anybody in the late 90’s moving to Detroit? Absolutely not. It was unheard of. Jack White took the grit and deep sadness that is grown in every Detroiter and turned it into music. Blues was a perfect genre for Detroit, as it represented the many misfortunes the city had suffered throughout the thirty years of riots and crime prior to the emergence of the White Stripes. They gave a voice to a city that had lost their’s long ago.
Sure, the Stroke’s albums such as Is This It and Room On Fire are critically acclaimed and deeply influential, but did we really need another band trying to be the Velvet Underground? No. And I’m not denying the brilliance of the Strokes, Julian Casablancas and Albert Hammnond Jr. are clearly modern day visionaries. But the Strokes suffered a classic tale of rock n’ roll. All of their creativity flourished over their first two albums. They worked as hard as they could, and produced remarkable music. And then, just like clockwork, fell into a deep bit of repetitive song writing and boring musicianship. They had lost their spark as soon as First Impressions of Earth was released.
The White Stripes were different. Album after album, the music got better and their style more matured. They had a cult like aura, as did the Strokes, but actually came through when it came time to record. Immediately from the opener “Jimmy the Exploder” from their 1999 self titled, Jack and Meg White prove they are a force to be reckoned with.
Their consistency is almost unheard of, and casually dismissed amongst critics. Sure, they had some hiccups with Elephant and Get Behind Me Satan, but even then, through the sports anthems and radio hits, lie incredibly wholesome songs that have gotten better with age. Every single album belongs in their discography, creating a blue print of the greatest rock n’ roll band of the turn of the century. The duos capability to produce that much (enjoyable) noise has only ever been close to being matched by Japandroid’s first two albums. But, as history repeats itself, lies a much expected disappointment much like the Strokes’ First Impression of Earth.
The true magic of the White Stripes can only be described through listening to their music. They took classic instruments and did what thousands of bands had tried to do with multiple people, producers, and writers. Their sound resembles that of many classic rock records, but expanded on what had already been done with true Detroit style. They proved that you don’t need the money or the connections to release a good record. It was raw, it was authentic, and it created a new wave of DIY recording that is extremely popular in modern indie rock.
Through out all the discussion, all the drunken arguments, and all of the “hometown saviors” bullshit, it is without a doubt that the White Stripes are better than the Strokes. Whether that be their legacy, their influence, or anything in between, nobody, and I really mean nobody, will ever again do what the White Stripes did in their prolific career. Sure, I might be biased towards my hometown rockstars, but who isn’t? Their casual darkness, raspy vocal chords, and sheer talent impacted a city, a decade, and this wonderful thing that we all have in common: music. The White Stripes are truly one of a kind.
