Sunday Music Guest Post #4

In celebration of reaching the halfway point of my (50) Sundays of Music countdown, I wanted to do something to celebrate. I figured what better way than to turn the tables around and hear about other people's favorite music. So I asked some of my blogger friends (and a special guest) to give me a week full of guest posts talking about one of their favorite artists, albums or songs and to give the reason why. Today's guest post comes from...

Allison! Though she is my most recent loyal follower, we have made up for time for almost being guaranteed comments on each other's posts (except for the post crossing ones -- I am a slacker on those). In my time following her Quarter-Life Crisis, I have loved her photo series and enjoyed seeing random Canadian facts pop up like grease off of bacon. But what ultimately gets me coming to her blog every week is her iTunes playlist Tuesdays. She is always good at coming up with unique themes (and even let me do a guest post for her last week). See what she came up as her guest post this week below:

A few weeks ago Mr. O asked me if I wanted to write a guest post for him and obviously I said yes. He mentioned that he wanted some of his readers to write about one of their favourite albums – not necessarily our #1, but an album we consider an absolute favourite. I made a short list and because I’m on a bit of a White Stripes kick right now I’ve chosen White Blood Cells by The White Stripes.

The first song I heard by the band was “Fell in Love with a Girl.” It was playing in my manager’s car as we were driving to a meeting for my first job in high school. I believe we also listened to The Strokes’ “Last Nite.” In 2001, when these albums came out, it seemed to be the beginning of the era of the “The’s.” A lot of bands came out with “The” at the beginning of their names – a minimalist approach to Rock & Roll. I really dug it.

I have all the songs from White Blood Cells – but guess what? I never bought the CD. Yeah, I’m a terrible person. It came out during the golden age of music downloading. The Napster craze – before the lawsuits started (fueled by bands such as Metallica). I did buy Elephant when that came out though.

Anyways, I think it would be best to explain why I love this album song by song. A journey through the track list of this masterpiece:

(Editor's Note: I actually listened to this cd while reading what she had to say. It was a great way to experience it.)

1. *Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground* – What can I say? This is a
kick ass track one. “If you can hear a piano fall, you can hear me coming
down the hall” is my favourite line.

2. *Hotel Yorba* – Jack White worships Bob Dylan, and when I hear
this I can hear a bit of Bob in it. It’s more country than the rest of the
album and it’s a bold choice for second track.

3. *I’m Finding it Harder to Be a Gentleman* - This song makes me
think of a guy who was once in my life, and he was one of those guys who was
overly chivalrous in public. He held the door open for EVERYONE. But in
private he was a douche. The line that gets me is: “Well I never said I
wouldn't throw my jacket in the mud for you / but my father gave it to me so
maybe I should carry you / then you said, ‘You almost dropped me’ so then I
did and I got mud on my shoes.”

4. *Fell in Love With a Girl* – Everyone knows this song and video.
No need to explain.

5. *Expecting* – I love how simplistic, yet epic this song sounds. No
lines I like in particular – just love the whole sound of this one.

6. *Little Room* – Is it weird that I love this? I like how it sounds
so improvised and raw – when really, Jack White is so calculated about
everything he does, I’m sure it was well planned out.

7. *The Union Forever* – Pretty cool song. I read it was about
Citizen Kane.

8. *The Same Boy You’ve Always Known* – This song seems bittersweet
to me. It seems to be about how people don’t change as much as we’d like to
believe. I like the line, “And if there’s anything good about me, I’m the
only one who knows.”

9. *We’re Going to Be Friends* – Jack White is actually a huge
softie…proof: This song.

10. *Offend in Every Way* – I like how slow and bluesy this one is at
times.

11. *I Think I Smell a Rat* – Not my favourite track – but it’s hard
not to like it a bit.

12. *Aluminum* – No real lyrics aside from “Ahhhhh.” An excuse for Jack
to rock out? I think so.

13. *I Can’t Wait* – Great song for times when you feel bitter and
alone. Basically a big “F You” to someone who left and will likely come
crawling back.

14. *Now Mary* – The White Stripes are amazing in that they can include
so much in one song and it’s just two people. This song is the perfect folk,
country, rock mix.

15. *I Can Learn* - “I don’t know any lullabies, don’t know how to
make you mine, but I can learn.” Amazing.

16. *This Protector* – When I was in university I used to listen to
this one over and over and it made me wish I could sing a duet like this
someday. It’s raw and beautiful. I imagine two people at a piano just
singing like no one’s listening. I love it when Meg sings (on *Elephant* she
sings solo on a track). Love the line: “300 people living out in West
Virginia have no idea of all these thoughts that lie within ya.”

Well that’s my take on White Blood Cells. I think it’s time for me to peace out – I hope this didn’t disappoint.

Cheers,

Allison