Elephant is a pretty much perfect rock album. Jack really shows his musical range, how far he's willing to go how far he's willing to push that res-o-glass Airliner of his. This album is worth buying for "Ball And Biscuit" by itself, that song is seven minutes of pure blues/rock fury and it will never get old, its insane how much loud and how dynamic the guitar work is here. Jack really put his thing down this time. I love "Little Acorns" its like 80's vocals meets modern heavy metal, but comes off really smooth. I gotta say I think this is my favorite Stripes album. "Hypnotise" is a perfect dance rock song and definitely one of my top favorite songs ever. You people have to stop complaining about Megs drumming, Jacks singing etc., gotta remember The Stripes are stripped down raw rock and blues roll. The music is simple, good time having fun. They're not trying to be shiny and poppy like most other bands. This is garage rock that is evolving into really good original music. Meg is actually an excellent drummer she fits into Jacks style and really completes the sound. It would'nt be the same with another drummer, unless it's the one from the Racounteurs. Jack's voice, its not the best, but thats the best part cuz neither was Kurt Cobains and his voice was the best for rock and roll. Jack has that kind of cool laid back, into high pitched wail, to full out scream thing. And his guitar work will defintely overcompensate for what vocal skills he lacks. AND THIS GUY PLAYS PIANO WELL TOO! Just watch "Under Blackpool Lights". You really cant rate an album because sometimes your ears just are not ready for what you're hearing. If you're a serious live for music person like me you'll understand what I mean. I hated this album when I heard it. Even ball and biscuit, (probably my favorite song ever..) I thought it was boring. Then one day I decided to download this album again and I was blown away. People dont like what they dont know usually, that's why there is racism in the world, and that's why music today is so stagnant, it all sound the same and lame. You have to try different things and that's exactly what The Stripes are doing. This album and their others go from 0-60 in minutes, one song may be really heavy, metal sounding, the next is "Hotel Yorba". They're psychotic schizophrenic crazy musicians that are single handedly saving Rock and roll for everybody. GIVE THE STRIPES A CHANCE. ALL HATERS GO HOME AND LISTEN TO COLDPLAY OR RADIOHEAD OR THAT OTHER BORING CRAP OUT HERE. THE STRIPES PUT EXCITEMENT BACK INTO MUSIC.

I give this album four stars just for Meg's impressive drumming alone. She really knows how to jam out on drums! Move over "Keith Moon", you've got some competition! Unfortunately, Jack White has no talent and makes this album crap, but Meg saves it. Bravo, Meg!

This is the story of Jackie and Meg, who made some type of deal with the prince of something or other to become famous. The result? Throngs of mind-controlled & brain washed youth--who collectively could not distinguish Mozart from the sound of cats having sex, are programmed to love this "music." These robots, along with the Tavistock Institute's favorite brain-washing mechanism--MTV, make Jackie and Meg famous. Their nails-on-a-chalkboard sound is typically wrapped in a very interesting CD cover. Such is the case for "Get Behind Me Satan," which is nothing more than a tribute to their master. This is nothing more than The Partridge Family on 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine.

When I first listened to Elephant, I had no clue who the White Stripes were, or what to expect. Needless to say, I had an open mind. My first thoughts were about the first song, one that I usually skip now because I like the others too much. "Seven Nation Army" is the kind of song that brings people in, catches their attention. It held mine for quite a while, and I still don't mind listening to it, but compared to the others on the album, I find it around par for the course.

"Black Math" is another song that sort of draws in people. Quite simply, it had two layers: the first was the catchy song that drew in more fans, and the seconds was decoding the lyrics. Were they actually literal, or was there something else to it?

The next few songs (the 'softer' ones) I didn't quite like at first, although a few listens through (especially when everything was calm) changed my mind: I loved those songs! While I'm part of the younger generation (so go ahead and criticize me for that) I thought several of the lyrics were pretty creative (if not, dare I say, or-ig-in-al), especially on "You've Got Her In Your Pocket".

I can honestly say I skipped "Ball and Biscuit" the first several times I heard it. 'Seven minutes?!?' My mind kept saying, 'That won't hold your attention!' I matured a bit (it took maybe two years to start fully appreciating music as a whole), and "Ball and Biscuit" became my favorite song. Why so I cannot explain, but there is just something about the simplicity of Meg's drumming mixed with Jack's varying guitar assault, how they turn the action up three times, changing it up just a bit every time. Would you believe they were inspired by a hanging microphone?

The other songs were a bit faster paced, and so I caught on to those more quickly, although "Hypnotize" was an instant favorite, and still is. "The Air Near My Fingers" kind of builds up to "Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine"; I liked the latter much better at first, then "The Air Near My Fingers" grew on me.

As with The White Stripes other albums, it ends on a humorous note with "It's True That We Love One Another", probably the weakest song on the album, although I don't mind it every once in a while. Just because it's the weakest on the album doesn't make it a weak song, if the album is good. In this case, I definitely think so.

By the way, I would like to point out the live performances by The White Stripes, especially the seven minute hurricane of the Son House cover "Death Letter". They take the album version, already changed up a bit from the original, and add on some great on-stage chemistry, along with a few killer guitar solos that might change the mind of those disagreeing with Jack White's position on the Rolling Stone's list.

That's it! I hope I could help at least one person with their choice. It's pretty cheap now, so I'd highly recommend it to anyone, especially if you like their other albums.

Not great, but good. There's a few songs on there I'd listen to more than once.