Elephant
by The White Stripes
  • Record Label: V2
  • Release Date: Apr 1, 2003
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 457 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 406 out of 457
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 457
  3. Negative: 32 out of 457

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  1. Dragonfly
    Jul 14, 2003
    4
    I seriously don't hear what should be so special about this c.d. One of my greatest deceptions this year...
  2. NseE
    Jun 30, 2003
    10
    A fab cd with diverse sounds; Dancey (7 nation army), Bluesy (Ball & biscuit), 70s punk rock (Hypnotize), and the tender, lovely, 'In the cold, cold night'. Love it.
  3. MichaelW
    Jun 18, 2003
    10
    I love it! It's probably the best album of the year, if not the past few.
  4. JenA
    Jun 14, 2003
    10
    THE BEST CD. Great beats and the songs are one of a kind.
  5. BenT
    May 15, 2003
    8
    Amazing sound, amazing songs, amazing record. Easily their best...and chances are they will get better.
  6. john
    May 2, 2003
    4
    its not even half as good as their 3 past efforts. although 7 nation army is a great first single.
  7. LukeJ
    May 1, 2003
    10
    Quite possibly the best rock since Nirvana. It just feels so good.
  8. MattP
    Apr 29, 2003
    10
    Great.
  9. JackWhite
    Apr 28, 2003
    10
    Impressive. The proof that you don't need thousands of dollars nor some virtuous guitar and drum player to craft a masterpiece.
  10. MichaelR
    Apr 27, 2003
    10
    Just great. The White Stripes are one of the greatest bands to come along in the past decade, and sound like the good old Rock from several decades ago. In a sea of Nu-Metal and pop-punk, The White Stripes are a refreshing change.
  11. angua___
    Apr 26, 2003
    10
    I bought this 3 days ago, and it's been in my cd player ever since. If you're new to this sort of music, like me, please, please, PLEASE, give it a chance to grow on you. Just a few weeks ago, I was ranting in an online journal about how much the 'new rock' of the White Stripes, Strokes and others sucked. I hated 'Seven Nation Army' the first time I heard it. I bought this 3 days ago, and it's been in my cd player ever since. If you're new to this sort of music, like me, please, please, PLEASE, give it a chance to grow on you. Just a few weeks ago, I was ranting in an online journal about how much the 'new rock' of the White Stripes, Strokes and others sucked. I hated 'Seven Nation Army' the first time I heard it. The damn radio station just kept on playing it, and playing it. Before I knew it i was singing along to the opening riff, exulting in the guitar solo, downloading far more singles than i had intended too, buying 'Elephant' on a whim with my birthday money ... and now I can't get enough. It's not beautiful, or overtly topical, or all the other things I used to value in music. I'd call it insidious, but it's anything but slow and creeping. Put simply, it IS Rock and Roll. Let it take you over.… Expand
  12. MattL
    Apr 25, 2003
    9
    This is a great album. Period. Unfortunetely a lot of people (especially the goofy zero club) are reacting strongly against the hype rather than the music. It should be noted this album was cut before they became a sensation with their previous album. The White Stripes don't create the hype, folks. They just play great music. I find it better than their last one.
  13. ChrisP
    Apr 24, 2003
    8
    they've definitely taken a step in a new direction within the simplicity in which they work, and it works for them
  14. AllanJ
    Apr 18, 2003
    6
    It's an ok album, but the White Stripes seem to have run out of ideas. So many parts sound repeated from their other albums, and at times it's just dull.
  15. MattR.
    Apr 16, 2003
    6
    This is by no means a bad album, but it absolutely pales in comparison with their previous efforts. Whereas, in the past, the Stripes took their influences and created a style of their own, here they seem to be covering other artists' songs (aside from the Bacharach tune), as well as some of their own. Only a slightly different chord structure for the chorus of There's No Home This is by no means a bad album, but it absolutely pales in comparison with their previous efforts. Whereas, in the past, the Stripes took their influences and created a style of their own, here they seem to be covering other artists' songs (aside from the Bacharach tune), as well as some of their own. Only a slightly different chord structure for the chorus of There's No Home For You Here prevents the song from sounding exactly like Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground. Seriously, it 's even the same strumming pattern. And Hypnotize sounds an awful lot like Fell in Love With a Girl. There is a number of high points, but there is also more than a fair share of disappointments. It's definitely worth a listen, but the lack of diversity really hurts this album.… Expand
  16. DougW
    Apr 16, 2003
    0
    Wow dogg, this blows. They got hosed on this one g. This album is good... NOT!
  17. RichardR
    Apr 16, 2003
    0
    I've pooh that has smelled better than this. White Stripes, try Brown Stripes. Instead of "Elephant" it should have been called "The Worst Album Ever Made"
  18. GabeR
    Apr 16, 2003
    0
    One word: I rather watch the newport police chief on public access.
  19. DavidB
    Apr 16, 2003
    3
    This record is awful. John Pareles panned it in the New York Times in a review that's right on. Too bad the editors here refuse to include it (maybe the New York Times isn't important enough for them!). Must be White Stripes fans.
  20. Zoey
    Apr 13, 2003
    10
    I kept hearing such positive things about the album, so I bought it. Seriously, it's an instant classic. It's such a simple album, back to basics in a way. Jack's the shit. That's all there is to it.
  21. yen
    Apr 13, 2003
    10
    one word: BRILLIANT!!!
  22. Janie
    Apr 13, 2003
    9
    hell yeah@!
  23. FilRox
    Apr 11, 2003
    10
    This album is the pinnacle of what songwriting is all about. As a singer/songwriter for the group Reverb Tv, I believe that the listener gets a real idea on 'Elephant' of what goes on in the minds of truly great songwriters and not all of us are so graced with the brilliance of being able to paint this picture for a broad audience. Just brilliant! -Fil Rox (singer/songwriter Reverb Tv)
  24. NicholasB
    Apr 8, 2003
    10
    This record is amazing-it's garage rock but is also a new standard of art rock.
  25. Carldaddy
    Apr 8, 2003
    3
    Come on...The music critics everywhere are trying to make a make up call because of the poor rating on their other albums (i.e rolling stone's 4 out 5 stars ring a bell). Don't buy into the hype about a crappy album. Song number one is a hummer, and the last few songs are pretty good, but there is nothing etremely innovative about this album.
  26. ColbyC
    Apr 8, 2003
    10
    You'll find this CD on numerous top-10 lists at the end of the year....probably even #1 on a lot of them....simply amazing.
  27. Jules
    Apr 3, 2003
    10
    This is not just an all-time classic album but a vibrant essential slice of our times - our swaggering, sexed-up 'exile on main street' but with more (white) brain cells firing and a gothic style that befits the darkening of recent times - Jack White knows we can't go back home, Mick Jagger drugged and shagged himself into believing he could - like everyone else back in the This is not just an all-time classic album but a vibrant essential slice of our times - our swaggering, sexed-up 'exile on main street' but with more (white) brain cells firing and a gothic style that befits the darkening of recent times - Jack White knows we can't go back home, Mick Jagger drugged and shagged himself into believing he could - like everyone else back in the seventies! … Expand
  28. BartSimpson
    Apr 3, 2003
    10
    If Nirvana never existed, this would be the greatest album ever.
  29. RyanM.
    Apr 3, 2003
    9
    A near-perfectl eclectic conglomerate of garage rock and soul.
  30. CoryB
    Apr 2, 2003
    10
    Words cannot describe this album, but we still try. The guitar solos could make any talented guitarist weep, the lyrics could do the same to anyone. One of he best albums i've bought in the last 4 years, and i've bought more most anyone out there.
  31. AlexH
    Apr 2, 2003
    10
    best cd I've heard this year. Better than White Blood Cells
  32. JasonF.
    Apr 1, 2003
    10
    Something different. This album really expanded on their "style" of music. Not at all what I thought it would be. It really ecompases the different types they use; its got some good blues yet still has the punk/garage rock. It seemed so so at first but really grew on me. I give it a 10 just because Seven Nation Army is the greatest song ever!!!
  33. JackG
    Apr 1, 2003
    10
    one of the best albums of the year so far..."seven nation army" is one of their best songs ever
  34. thesillymofo
    Apr 1, 2003
    10
    oh man. i nearly died on the first listen.
  35. catherines
    Apr 1, 2003
    10
    absolutely wonderful.....definitely stands up to s/t, de stijl and wbc
  36. pattin
    Mar 31, 2003
    10
    this is an incredible album and i think its the best one they come up with! brilliant!
  37. JustinH
    Mar 23, 2003
    10
    I love everything about this CD except that opening to "Little Acorns." I love the White Stripes. They are by far the coolest thing in music now!
  38. KatieB
    Mar 18, 2003
    8
    Alot of the songs on the new cd are pretty good, but i was disapointed with some like 'It's true that we love one another'. I think that one was pretty bad, and they shouldn't have put it on the album.
  39. nikolasvillegas
    Mar 12, 2003
    10
    wonderful album. the white brothers (?), once again, making it simple and beautiful.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2003
7
#7 Most Discussed Album of 2003
6
#6 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Blender
    80
    They break their own rules, even adding expansive guitar solos, to keep themselves interested and fans off-balance. [May 2003, p.123]
  2. Pitchfork
    69
    Therein lies the contradiction of The White Stripes. How do you combine the shit-hot with the "twee?" Elephant's shortcomings suggests the enterprise is futile.
    Read full review
  3. Rolling Stone
    100
    It is a glorious thing to hear. It will be one of the best things you hear all year.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »