Get Behind Me Satan
by The White Stripes
  • Record Label: V2 / XL
  • Release Date: Jun 7, 2005
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 283 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 242 out of 283
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 283
  3. Negative: 19 out of 283

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  1. Steve
    Jun 7, 2005
    2
    The White Stripes are one of the most overrated bands ever, this was a dissapointment.
  2. johng
    Jun 7, 2005
    7
    this is beyond words..... but not in a good way. The Nurse is so creepy, its stupid. good songs: Blue Orchid, My Doorbell, The Denial Twist, Instinct Blues, ...Take, Take, Take,... Red Rain. bad songs: the nurse, Forver For Her( Over For Me), White Moon, Passive Manipulation, As Ugly As I Seem. the rest are somewhere in between, more or less badley.
  3. Carrie
    Jun 7, 2005
    9
    This album proves the pointlessness of pinning labels on the things you love and tucking them away into their shoebox. Listen to it with an open mind. You won't be disappointed.
  4. Gnarles
    Jun 8, 2005
    9
    Lookit: all you haters need to go listen to Jet, the Vines, or some other such easily digestible "garage" rock garbage destined to be forgotten in a year. Any REAL White Stripes fan will enjoy Get Behind Me Satan, because it's the songs that matter, not whether or not every song is a guitar-o-rama. How long could they keep re-making De Stijl before they got pathetic? Grow up, people. Lookit: all you haters need to go listen to Jet, the Vines, or some other such easily digestible "garage" rock garbage destined to be forgotten in a year. Any REAL White Stripes fan will enjoy Get Behind Me Satan, because it's the songs that matter, not whether or not every song is a guitar-o-rama. How long could they keep re-making De Stijl before they got pathetic? Grow up, people. The Stripes had the stones to take a real risk here and they should be applauded, not subjected to your elitist scrutiny. The sheer speed at which GBMS was completed was not only brave but succeeds in establishing a loose, rootsy sound that's as comfortable as an old shirt; the fact that some call it "sloppy" only reinforces how soulless and pro-tooled music is today, and that includes many of their "peers". A few tracks could have been fleshed out a tad more, and the murky production is trying at times, but in the end, GBMS feels ALIVE, and that's what rock music is supposed to be. History will vindicate this album. Try not to make us wait too long for the rest of you to catch up.… Expand
  5. BrettL
    Jun 8, 2005
    10
    the people who say this album isn't genius are the people who think that linkin park and sum 41 are genius, and their opinions don't really matter because they don't have souls. the idea that a great album can't be recorded quickly is stupid. According to you guys then, when Chinese Democracy comes out, it will be the greatest album of all time. I don't think so.
  6. RogerY
    Jun 8, 2005
    10
    The White Stripes take this album in a new direction and their careers to yet another level. Jack and Meg White have become the Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of the next generation. They are not only making music, but also creating art.
  7. Sauw
    Jun 8, 2005
    10
    There is no denying that this is a much different album than any of the White Stripes' previous releases...and for a good reason. Its difference lies in its introduction of non-conventional rock band instruments (including the marimba and more piano) and acknowledgement of more international influences that have rarely been seen in any of The White Stripes' previous efforts. There is no denying that this is a much different album than any of the White Stripes' previous releases...and for a good reason. Its difference lies in its introduction of non-conventional rock band instruments (including the marimba and more piano) and acknowledgement of more international influences that have rarely been seen in any of The White Stripes' previous efforts. These changes have not taken away from The White Stripes strength as a band, but rather enhanced it. This album is a step in the right direction to the White Stripes being able to show off their versatility to audiences, as well as proving to the world that they are still one of the most consistently successful bands of the 21st century.… Expand
  8. juliog
    Jun 8, 2005
    9
    hmmm.... i have this sneaking suspicion that the people who are most thrown for a loop by this album are the ones that had only heard 'elephant.' i hear a lot of "i like blue orchid but..." i don't know, everyone's free to like what they want, but it seems akin to saying "i like 'i wanna hold your hand' but what's this sgt. pepper's crap?" people hmmm.... i have this sneaking suspicion that the people who are most thrown for a loop by this album are the ones that had only heard 'elephant.' i hear a lot of "i like blue orchid but..." i don't know, everyone's free to like what they want, but it seems akin to saying "i like 'i wanna hold your hand' but what's this sgt. pepper's crap?" people also keep mentioning hipness and coolness. "it's cool to like this band" and another saying the white stripes have become so overexposed that they are uncool, but he likes them anyway. human beings are messed up man. the cool wars must end now. a big part of this album's appeal for me is that it appears the white stripes don't care what we think is cool, they just want to explore the music they love--like they've been doing from the start.… Expand
  9. AaronR
    Jun 8, 2005
    10
    The Stripes continue to crush on every other rock band with great songs that range from hard nosed rock to blue grass. Jack is the man and Meg is as wonderful as ever!!!
  10. jojon
    Jun 8, 2005
    10
    maybe not what anyone expects, but who wants a predictable artist?
  11. RyanK
    Jun 9, 2005
    9
    Don't believe it when you hear this album sounds incomplete or rushed. This album has great songs and a great sound, making it even better than the monstrous last White Stripes album Elephant.
  12. JayJ
    Jun 9, 2005
    10
    They told me it was Genius, and that was all I needed.
  13. ChrisJ
    Jun 9, 2005
    2
    This is an overhyped album by a band that can "seem" to do no wrong. Listen closely and you will hear experimentation gone wrong. This album is weak, inconsistent, boring, weird, and annoying. Meg can not sing, Jack needs to get some sun and learn a thing or two about music.
  14. jasonkk
    Jun 9, 2005
    10
    This album is so goood, i masturbate to the nurse
  15. SpongeBob
    Jul 10, 2005
    4
    Bizarre. And not in a good way. The White Stripes made their name due to their experimental, simple catchy rock tunes which used only a guitar and drum. So having bought the new album, i was pleased with the first song as this generally followed their pattern. Then came 'The Nurse' and at this point i'm beginning to wonder if the song has a chorus or anything (it Bizarre. And not in a good way. The White Stripes made their name due to their experimental, simple catchy rock tunes which used only a guitar and drum. So having bought the new album, i was pleased with the first song as this generally followed their pattern. Then came 'The Nurse' and at this point i'm beginning to wonder if the song has a chorus or anything (it doesn't). By the time we come to 'Little Ghost' i think that some 90+ folk-singer from Texas must have secrety swapped his album for mine in the shop while i wasn't looking. Nope. It's the (very famous) White Stripes. Quite frankly, if this album was under a different name people wouldn't even look at it twice. Amazing how some can earn millions while strumming a tambourine tunelessly...… Expand
  16. Jodie-LouiseW
    Jul 13, 2005
    9
    Wicked! Very different i wasn't sure at the beginning but it is sooo addictive! The nurse and my doorbell are the best!
  17. Melissano
    Jul 16, 2005
    9
    Definitely a deviation from past CDs, but still as catchy as ever :)
  18. LauraM
    Jul 16, 2005
    10
    This album is great. it takes a few times to get into it completely, but when i got into it, i still havent stopped listening to it, and i got it the day or two or three after it came out from my boyfriend, and i just fell in love with it. my 29 year old brother really got into it the moment i made him listen to Little Ghost. (reccomended for people who are interested in that bluegrass style)
  19. Kris
    Jul 2, 2005
    10
    Simply put, this is the White Stripes finest work.
  20. bbb
    Jul 30, 2005
    6
    great musically.......but that voice....
  21. PaulH
    Jul 3, 2005
    8
    Not nearly Their best but still some great stuff here, I've been hooked on it for a while even though some of the tracks do seem unfinished.
  22. JuliusHemisphere
    Aug 11, 2005
    10
    I wasn't convinced on GBMS until I saw them live last week. Truly powerful material.
  23. NseE
    Aug 13, 2005
    10
    The White Stripes music has always been raw, stripped down and a sparse energetic affair. `Get behind me satan' is even more sparse; guitars are largely missing from the mix, compensated for by keyboards, marimba and lots of tambourine and it does make for a major difference. As arty and experimental as ever, they dabble into rock (the stomping, racing `Blue Orchid' sung in a The White Stripes music has always been raw, stripped down and a sparse energetic affair. `Get behind me satan' is even more sparse; guitars are largely missing from the mix, compensated for by keyboards, marimba and lots of tambourine and it does make for a major difference. As arty and experimental as ever, they dabble into rock (the stomping, racing `Blue Orchid' sung in a falsetto), blues (`Instant blues'), country (The upbeat tambourine stomp `Little Ghost'), `As ugly as I seem' is an acoustic ballad, and there's even what sounds almost hymnal, `I'm lonely (But I aint that lonely yet)'. `My doorbell' and `The denial twist' are excellent upbeat piano driven rockers, and Meg takes a turn on vocals on the very brief `Passive manipulation', but prize for most outstanding song has got to be `The nurse' featuring marimbas and sudden unexpected bursts of loud guitar and change in tempo. Brilliant! As usual, like nothing else out there today, the songs take a while to grow on you but another excellent release from Jack and Meg White.… Expand
  24. sM
    Aug 7, 2005
    8
    Not quite the masterpiece that was "Elephant" but a interesting and wonderfully weird alternative to their usual sound.
  25. salomey
    Sep 2, 2005
    9
    great great great collection of tunes instantly make a way to your memory banks to never leave there great choice of sounds thoroughly enjoy it
  26. MarkS
    Sep 8, 2005
    10
    Contender for CD of the year. It took me awhile to fathom why "Blue Orchid" belongs with the rest of the disc, nevertheless, their sound continues to grow, and Meg does her job just fine. She's the perfect ex-wife!
  27. AlexS
    Jan 1, 2006
    2
    terrible, just terrible. this cd has few, if any redeeming qualities
  28. Mars88
    Dec 14, 2006
    10
    Amazing, stunning. original. the best album of 2005. and it still baffles me that people can hate the white stripes.
  29. MattD
    Feb 26, 2006
    8
    some great new stuff on here, suprised me in a few different ways, mostly good, and while its not all gold and not the white stripe's best, in my opinion its still a solid cd
  30. DanielC
    Feb 7, 2006
    10
    II just started liking this band, THIS CD IS AWESOME, you should get it if your a fan of White Stripes!!!!!
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Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Best Album of 2005
16
#16 Most Discussed Album of 2005
49
#49 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. The New York Times
    100
    It's an album so strong and so unexpected that it may change the way people hear all its predecessors. And that's just a start. Listen long enough, and this album might change the way you hear lots of other bands, too.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    A very strange album, which shreds the old White Stripes rulebook (no bass, just guitar and drums) and pushes into territories way beyond the blues and rock of their previous four records.
    Read full review
  3. Paste Magazine
    50
    A sidestep that’s as easy to admire as it is hard to love.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »