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. NaveS
    Dec 6, 2003
    0
    This album sucks crap....what a flop!
  2. 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.
  3. GabeR
    Apr 16, 2003
    0
    One word: I rather watch the newport police chief on public access.
  4. 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"
  5. 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.
  6. LeoS
    Jan 29, 2004
    2
    What a piece of crap!
  7. 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.
  8. FrancescoB
    Apr 25, 2007
    0
    Pessimo!
  9. 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
  10. Diany
    Mar 1, 2007
    10
    Jack white is just great.........i love is unique style.
  11. Nicole
    Apr 10, 2007
    10
    I absolutely adore this album.
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. pattin
    Mar 31, 2003
    10
    this is an incredible album and i think its the best one they come up with! brilliant!
  15. 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)
  16. 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
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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"?
  20. AnonymousMC
    Aug 15, 2003
    10
    best cd of 2003
  21. 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".
  22. 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!
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. 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.
  28. 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!
  29. MichaelA
    Nov 13, 2006
    10
    Best album of the 2000s, Raw, Raunchy, Sexy, Innocent, and extremely cool.
  30. 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.
  31. 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.
  32. TheWhiteStripes
    Sep 17, 2011
    10
    Extremely underrated band from the 00's! Why could anyone hate this band? The music is a mix of blues, rock, and alt. rock. There are still people today, who have not yet heard of this band. The White Stripes are missed greatly! Rock on!
  33. Ricko
    Oct 17, 2017
    9
    Close enough to the perfect rock album. It's easy to see why this was their most commercially successful record. Anyone who was into alternative rock in the early 00's will be familiar with most of the songs off of this. "Seven Nation Army" was always going to stand the test of time and the air of this tune is now regularly heard in football stadiums across the world, proving to be asClose enough to the perfect rock album. It's easy to see why this was their most commercially successful record. Anyone who was into alternative rock in the early 00's will be familiar with most of the songs off of this. "Seven Nation Army" was always going to stand the test of time and the air of this tune is now regularly heard in football stadiums across the world, proving to be as catchy as ever. At 14 tracks long, the quality of the material is surprisingly high throughout. The songs on "Elephant" are not groundbreaking but they use what's gone before and bring them to a new plane. This album contains 7 or 8 tracks that could make it onto any indie rock record. The riffs sound timeless and as I mentioned already, this is more than partly down to the fact that Jack White has borrowed from and been inspired by past blues rock masters. "Where have I heard that before?" is the question you'll find yourself asking as you listen to "Elephant". Although not the bands strong point, lyrically this is probably their best as well. One of the album's of the 00's. Highly recommended.… Expand
  34. Andremax
    Aug 9, 2018
    10
    Forgetting about amateur rhythmic session - about drums to be exact - Jack White is a composer so incredible that can carry the album's compositions on his back, gifting us compositions with a lot of best blues moments, garage rock, a bit of Beatles' baroque pop and guesting woman's voices to adding a lot of graceful. Despite sophisticated and graceful, Elephant still sounding as anForgetting about amateur rhythmic session - about drums to be exact - Jack White is a composer so incredible that can carry the album's compositions on his back, gifting us compositions with a lot of best blues moments, garage rock, a bit of Beatles' baroque pop and guesting woman's voices to adding a lot of graceful. Despite sophisticated and graceful, Elephant still sounding as an alternative/indie album.… Expand
  35. alecvl08
    Oct 14, 2014
    6
    It's ok. It's not great because it has no theme or underlying message, the instrumentals are a little sloppy and get boring occasionally, and I don't care for Jack White's lyrics. Seriously, Ball and Biscuit is a pretty good song, but did it have to be seven minutes long? Maybe I've missed the boat on the White Stripes, but I just can't get into them.
  36. Siza
    Aug 29, 2023
    10
    I know I'm a bit late for this one. But that's what timeless records do for you, right?
  37. 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.
  38. Tmz
    Jan 3, 2020
    10
    A obra prima de The Wihte Stripes
    Elephant é coeso, ousado, experimental e ainda assim traz tudo o que já tinha dado certo antes em um álbum realmente delicioso e acessível.
    O melhor álbum deles sem duvidas
  39. Junkiest
    May 17, 2021
    10
    All I can say is that I want a seven nation army blasting this album at my funeral.
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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 »