Jack White’s Old Scratch Blues: Good Ol’ Fire Guitar Riffs

With all the talk about Charlie XCX and Post Malone putting out a country record, Jack White snuck in a new solo record that may be one of his best. Since the demise of the White Stripes, Jack has done a number of side projects, solo records and guest features on some of music’s biggest records. With his label Third Man Records going strong, it was tough seeing a new solo project coming out…I mean…the man is busy. But, to my surprise No Name has jumped out and given us some excellent lo-fi rock.

Jack is a guitar master and a lo-fi pioneer. He has kept that lo-fi crunchy blues sound throughout his time both during and post White Stripes. Old Scratch Blues does not disappoint in this respect. His guitar work on this track resembles a cross between 70s ZZ Top and early 90s grunge. It is raw and crunchy with some killer riffs. You can imagine his amps degrading into dust as the song continues. This track is also extremely close to his White Stripes work on Icky Thump and Get Behind Me Satan. The drums really snap and Carla Azar’s percussion drives the track, even if the drums lack the raw power and passion of Meg’s style. The vocals are also very Icky Thump with Jack’s twangy blues vocal cutting through the guitar sludge with laser precision.

However, Old Scratch Blues holds some punk surprises up its sleeve. The back end of the track is full of post production effects and a discordant organ, which gives the track an unsettled feel. The vocal and guitar feedback / post effects gives the track a feel like it is eroding right before your eyes. Like the devil, Old Scratch, himself has come to claim the track’s soul. It is a twist on Jack’s usual traditional rock blues structure and that punk feel carries throughout the record.

Jack has always loved the intersection between blues and religion / mysticism. He has numerous tracks about the devil, Satan, blessing and the soul. His music has always had a southern blues traveling revival vibe to it, which I find magnetic. This is some of Jack’s best solo work and has some killer guitar riffs.

Listen to Old Scratch Blues