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. 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"
  2. 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
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. AnonymousMC
    Aug 15, 2003
    10
    best cd of 2003
  6. TristramC
    Sep 16, 2003
    10
    Look I don't know what the ratings mean except that maybe I am to rate the degree of urgency that should be had in acquiring this for your collection. If that IS the case, it isn't even close. This is the finest record of the year because it is even more successful at doing what made White Blood Cells an American Classic. That is to meat rock musics' watermarks of punk and Look I don't know what the ratings mean except that maybe I am to rate the degree of urgency that should be had in acquiring this for your collection. If that IS the case, it isn't even close. This is the finest record of the year because it is even more successful at doing what made White Blood Cells an American Classic. That is to meat rock musics' watermarks of punk and blues together while at the same time making the music sound modern instead of arcane. The common mistake is that Jack and Meg are traditionalists when they are not--any more than Berry or Hendrix were in their primes.… Expand
  7. BenL.
    Jan 15, 2004
    10
    This was an awesome album. Usually you buy a CD and only listen to a few of the songs, and thats what the CD is done for. This album has no fillers and they should all be singles. One of the best albums ever.
  8. PatF.
    Dec 23, 2004
    2
    Uninspired, boring, and a mess: all words to describe Elephant. One of the few albums that I truly feel is immensely overrated. There is a song or two that are decent, but nothing worth writing home about. In fact, it's the only album I own that has not made it to my iPod. Listen to the Fiery Furnaces instead. And they actually are brother and sister.
  9. LeoS
    Jan 29, 2004
    2
    What a piece of crap!
  10. GraceC
    May 22, 2004
    10
    Simple goodness.
  11. JayR.
    Jul 23, 2004
    10
    Best Album of the Millenium. Perfect 10. If you don't own this album, you are ripping yourself off out of one of the best albums ever made. End of Story.
  12. ChrisL
    Jan 11, 2005
    10
    This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I think history will show its brilliance, and the White Stripes will go on to become one of the most imitated bands since Led Zeppelin. Blues, punk and garage rock are sewn together so well you can't see the seams, yet the siblings White have created a style of music distinctly their own. Every song has a purpose on this album, and This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I think history will show its brilliance, and the White Stripes will go on to become one of the most imitated bands since Led Zeppelin. Blues, punk and garage rock are sewn together so well you can't see the seams, yet the siblings White have created a style of music distinctly their own. Every song has a purpose on this album, and nothing is overdone. "Ball and Biscuit", the longest song the Stripes have ever recorded, just leaves you wanting more. And here's the best news: I think they can get still better.… Expand
  13. NickyH
    Oct 27, 2005
    10
    I get a real kick of thinking about how much my metal-head friends must hate the White Stripes. I laugh even harder when I think about the fact that some of them went out and bought Elephant - after several years of Stripes hating - just because it got great reviews. Now, nearly rolling on the floor with laughter, I think about their distaste for the album and how vocal they have to be I get a real kick of thinking about how much my metal-head friends must hate the White Stripes. I laugh even harder when I think about the fact that some of them went out and bought Elephant - after several years of Stripes hating - just because it got great reviews. Now, nearly rolling on the floor with laughter, I think about their distaste for the album and how vocal they have to be about it. And I still laugh to this day when I give my metal-head friends rides. Their reactions when I put this CD in are priceless. Oh, the humor there is to be found in a group of people who find bluesy-rock "ghey". Ah, enough rambling. This album is one of the few albums in the past years that can be called a "masterpiece". There's to damn few albums like this anymore - and that's a shame. Classic.… Expand
  14. JimB
    Mar 27, 2005
    7
    Some critics have been tripping over one another extolling this record with unbridled enthusiasm. Yes,it's a good record,but hardly akin to the "second coming".
  15. Jake
    Apr 14, 2005
    10
    Absolutely sensational
  16. WSFan
    Jan 28, 2006
    10
    Black Math, The Hardest Button To Button and Seven Nation Army are the best songs ever created by anyone on the universe in the history of music. EVER. This album has so many good rock pieces to it that I had to take my socks off. Because it seriously rocked my socks off big time. You can listen to this album about a million times and you will never EVER EVER get bored of it. About 20,000 Black Math, The Hardest Button To Button and Seven Nation Army are the best songs ever created by anyone on the universe in the history of music. EVER. This album has so many good rock pieces to it that I had to take my socks off. Because it seriously rocked my socks off big time. You can listen to this album about a million times and you will never EVER EVER get bored of it. About 20,000 times better than any other pop right now. All other rock is dead. Thus, Long live the White Stripes. (By the way, even though GBMS is totally different from Elephant, it still is really good. Get both right now, if you don't already have them.)… Expand
  17. SaneH.
    Jul 16, 2006
    0
    Are you kidding me? Why not give a good rating to a band with talent? This band makes me sick. The drummer is worthless. Please, please, please listen to something else.
  18. DanH
    Jul 31, 2006
    10
    A perfect album. A "bad" drummer does not make a bad band. Meg's drumming style fits perfectly with the music, with any other drummer it would just sound a little off. All of the songs on this album are great, ALL of them.
  19. Camille
    Aug 18, 2006
    10
    There is so much more to discover on this album than Seven Nation Army. One song after the other is a complete surprise in both style and lyrics. It would be absolutely impossible to attach a single style to this disk. A masterpiece!
  20. AndrewR
    Nov 21, 2003
    8
    More of the same from Jack and Meg, with a little more, like a 7-minute-long blues jam and a few instances of actual bass. One of the more eclectic, invigorating releases of the year to these ears, and a BLAST to listen to-- and if "Seven Nation Army" isn't the most exciting song EVER, I don't think you're listening hard enough.
  21. holycrap
    Dec 23, 2003
    10
    Go buy this CD now. stop reading and go buy it. if you already have it, listen to it. This is the best album of the year along with QOTSA (Songs for the Deaf) and the streets (Original Pirate Material) Awesome, definetly worth buying.
  22. holycrap
    Dec 23, 2003
    10
    Go buy this CD now. stop reading and go buy it. if you already have it, listen to it. This is the best album of the year along with QOTSA (Songs for the Deaf) and the streets (Original Pirate Material) Awesome, definetly worth buying.
  23. Nick
    Nov 25, 2004
    8
    Good, but not as consistent as the amazing De Stijl or even its predecessor White Blood Cells. "Ball and a Biscuit" is a smooth extended jam and "Hypnotize" steams ahead with enormous energy, but tracks like "Little Acorns" and "It's True That We Love One Another" just aren't very good. Most of the other tracks are quite solid, just not quite up to par with previous outputs.
  24. KrystiG
    Dec 26, 2004
    7
    Ths CD's really cool It's different lol. The White Stripes are very creative. I like most of the songs except for 'Well it's true that we love one another' that song sux!
  25. GoodDevilTr
    Jun 13, 2012
    10
    Jack White can do no wrong. THAT'S A FACT. You can understand that from this album. Each and every album of his is absolute PERFECT. And he keeps doing good music.
  26. DaveG.
    Feb 13, 2007
    10
    Judging by the contrasting sea of red and green on the user comments section, it's obvious that this is a "love it or hate it" type of album. I'm without a doubt one of the lovers. What I don't understand is some of the comments urging that there is no possible way to love this album and that everyone is wrong. There is no possible way an album can accumulate such a high Judging by the contrasting sea of red and green on the user comments section, it's obvious that this is a "love it or hate it" type of album. I'm without a doubt one of the lovers. What I don't understand is some of the comments urging that there is no possible way to love this album and that everyone is wrong. There is no possible way an album can accumulate such a high average here and be as inexcusably terrible as some make it out to be. The truth is that while you may not like it, this album is good... real good. No use trying to ignore it.… Expand
  27. Diany
    Mar 1, 2007
    10
    Jack white is just great.........i love is unique style.
  28. Nicole
    Apr 10, 2007
    10
    I absolutely adore this album.
  29. Mitch
    Aug 7, 2007
    10
    Just a flawless album. I'm sorry, but even though the drumming is essentially one-dimensional, Jack White has produced some of the coolest guitar riffs since Zepplin 2. Every track is more compelling than the last. The lyrics are edgy, potent and all around interesting. Even in "In the Cold, Cold Night" and "I Want To Be The Boy", you can feel the energy radiating from this record. Just a flawless album. I'm sorry, but even though the drumming is essentially one-dimensional, Jack White has produced some of the coolest guitar riffs since Zepplin 2. Every track is more compelling than the last. The lyrics are edgy, potent and all around interesting. Even in "In the Cold, Cold Night" and "I Want To Be The Boy", you can feel the energy radiating from this record. Their best album. Period.… Expand
  30. Emuke
    Jan 5, 2008
    10
    This album wasn't a change for a broader fanbase-it was a change for self-discovery and experimentation. The mellow and cold vibes from Elephant hit all the right notes-- and Meg's vocal escapades are captivating and give promise for more trial and error from the duo. Songs like I Want to be the Boy, You've got Her in Your Pocket, In the Cold Cold Night, and I Just This album wasn't a change for a broader fanbase-it was a change for self-discovery and experimentation. The mellow and cold vibes from Elephant hit all the right notes-- and Meg's vocal escapades are captivating and give promise for more trial and error from the duo. Songs like I Want to be the Boy, You've got Her in Your Pocket, In the Cold Cold Night, and I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself are preformed ingeniously; the vocal drive audible give energy and soul to the tracks while the subtle yet strong guitar-and-drum team set a sexy, intimate, overall appealing mood. Five stars, rating of ten, one of the best albums of the year, if not decade.… Expand
  31. LukeT.
    Sep 11, 2006
    8
    The white stripes are very original and 'elephant' is what really made them famous. Each track is different in its own way. From the soft tone of 'you've got her in your pocket' to the screeching ar guitar in 'Black Math' this album suits whatever mood you are in.
  32. Steve
    Jan 5, 2008
    10
    Proof that mixing rock and art isn't all pretension and exclusive. one album that is indeed a landmark in rock.
  33. WillS
    Jan 8, 2008
    10
    Very good album, but did anyone notice that "There's No Home For You Here" sounds almost exactly like "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"?
  34. PatrikD.
    Apr 18, 2008
    0
    Sucks, three chords worn out so called rock N roll !
  35. ZachS.
    Sep 21, 2006
    10
    This album is a fresh, clean break from the hollow, lyrical rubbish that is so abundant in today's music. The rhetorical masterpieces painted in each song with no more than a few chords for support are nothing short of brilliant. Listen through this CD and see if you don't have it playing in your head for the next week.
  36. FrancescoB
    Apr 25, 2007
    0
    Pessimo!
  37. MichaelA
    Nov 13, 2006
    10
    Best album of the 2000s, Raw, Raunchy, Sexy, Innocent, and extremely cool.
  38. Frostbite
    Oct 13, 2010
    10
    Wow. With another album The White Stripes again fail to disappoint. This isn't another one of your plain albums you find suffocating each other on store shelves; this one shows different music that you will no doubt enjoy.
  39. hellohere858
    Sep 22, 2021
    6
    These guys had a pretty amazing and unique sound, but the songwriting isn't great, pretty middle of the road.
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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 »