Icky Thump
by The White Stripes
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 247 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 221 out of 247
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 247
  3. Negative: 8 out of 247

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  1. DavidR
    Jun 2, 2007
    9
    Brilliant Album, from the funky yet experementive icky thump, to conquest with its spicy mexican influence (first performed by Corky Robbins) its trumpets are also exquisite. However tracks 6 & 7 which feature a bag pipe do not do it for me, it reminds me of irish folk music, not my type. But little cream soda ignite the white stripes flame with is heavy rock stripped down feeling and its Brilliant Album, from the funky yet experementive icky thump, to conquest with its spicy mexican influence (first performed by Corky Robbins) its trumpets are also exquisite. However tracks 6 & 7 which feature a bag pipe do not do it for me, it reminds me of irish folk music, not my type. But little cream soda ignite the white stripes flame with is heavy rock stripped down feeling and its succesor 'rag & bone' another hit, all tracks up to effect and cause are then pure garage rock at its best and white stripes at their best, i would give it a 10, but the big pipes are just not doing it for me, its left me quite shocked. However i believe the best tracks are icky thump, conquest, little cream soda & rag and bone.… Expand
  2. Yep,Icky
    Jun 20, 2007
    3
    A surprisingly weak album. I've listened to it many times, and it just doesn't match up to previous efforts. Perhaps recommended for the hardest-core fans, but beyond that it's not got much to offer.
  3. DavidK.
    Jun 28, 2007
    5
    Honestly, interesting for the ears. Yes, rocking. Yes, weird, but not good weird. Kind of WTF weird. They strike me as a band in love with their sound, not their music. The 70s revival is quaint, but not relevant, and kind of tiring. Stick with something that has soul, like Cold War Kids. At least you know Cold War Kids loves their music and feels something deep that comes out in the Honestly, interesting for the ears. Yes, rocking. Yes, weird, but not good weird. Kind of WTF weird. They strike me as a band in love with their sound, not their music. The 70s revival is quaint, but not relevant, and kind of tiring. Stick with something that has soul, like Cold War Kids. At least you know Cold War Kids loves their music and feels something deep that comes out in the lyrics (try tracks 1,6 on Robbers & Cowards).… Expand
  4. gregc.
    Jul 9, 2007
    0
    probably the worst thing i have ever listened to. Jack white has one of the worst voices in music. Their is absolutley no flow or rhythm in this whole album. A bunch of crap is what this is
  5. JamesMusik
    Jun 22, 2007
    3
    i duno what it is about white stripes, i just cant stand their stuff... i think they are so over rated. i love alot of bands classed as "simular" to white stripes. but for some reason the white stripes fail to do it for me... or anything for that matter.
  6. ChrisZ.
    Jul 8, 2007
    9
    It's not 'De Stijl'. It's not 'White Blood Cells'. But its a damn good album nonetheless, and many of the tracks grow on you with time. The only song which to me is a 'throwaway' - take it or leave it- is 'You Don't Know What Love IS'.
  7. piles
    Jun 3, 2007
    10
    This album is just simply wonderful.
  8. daveg
    Jun 18, 2007
    10
    these guys just keep proving how the best music often comes from not taking oneself too seriously.
  9. TylerG
    Jun 20, 2007
    9
    I really enjoy this CD a lot. The beat is really easy to get stuck into and the songs just sound very original. My favorite tracks would have to be Conquest, Rag and Bone and Bone Broke, although Icky Thump and 300 MPH Blues are also great tracks. The only gripe I have with this CD is that there are often softer, bluesy tracks that will for no rhyme or reason break into a squealing guitar I really enjoy this CD a lot. The beat is really easy to get stuck into and the songs just sound very original. My favorite tracks would have to be Conquest, Rag and Bone and Bone Broke, although Icky Thump and 300 MPH Blues are also great tracks. The only gripe I have with this CD is that there are often softer, bluesy tracks that will for no rhyme or reason break into a squealing guitar solo (300 MPH Blues is a good example of this). Also the bagpipes are a little unnecessary, but still okay by me. In fact the only track on this CD that I consider weak and is one I will be skipping over is St. Andrew, and even it isn't horrible. Overall this is just a really great, hard hitting CD from a great band. Definitely will be one of my favorites for the year, and maybe longer.… Expand
  10. madsl
    Jun 20, 2007
    5
    the fact that this album has garnered such amounts of critical acclaim is a sheer mystery to me. The first two songs are great but none of the remaining material have something resembling melody..and the selfindulgent noodlings of mr. white is fast becoming rather tiresome!
  11. JuliusH.
    Jun 26, 2007
    7
    Fairly uneven. Sounded great live, though.
  12. BobR
    Jul 1, 2007
    10
    this does remind me of the old White Stripes... except more polished (yet awesomely spontaneous) and experimental... luv it
  13. JohnR
    Jul 6, 2007
    4
    I'm obsessed all the way through to "Bone Broke," then I tune out for the bagpipe numbers, tune back in for "Rag and Bone," and then I rewind back to the start. "Effect and Cause" is the first Stripes song I truly hate: boring strummy blues and 100 hopelessly clever lines that all say the same thing. They set the bar too high with the last two albums I guess.
  14. BlakeT
    Aug 6, 2007
    9
    Possibly Their Best Accept it just lacks the variety of get behind me satan
  15. Oligami
    Sep 11, 2007
    6
    It's too much of a slightly above-average thing.
  16. marcg
    Jun 14, 2007
    4
    the worst album of the stripes...
  17. Ryan
    Jun 17, 2007
    5
    Very disappointing. I've always loved the White Stripes unique sense of style and their great sonic approach, but this album is definitely not up to par. Notably, the catchy melodies of 'Satan' and 'Elephant' seem to be missing. Maybe it will grow on me, but for now, Im let down.
  18. Dan
    Jun 17, 2007
    10
    Wow! What an album!!! My faiourite songs are; 'A Martyr for My Love for You,' 'Effect & Cause,' 'Rag Bone,' 'You don't know what love is,' '300 MPH' and 'I'm slowly turning into you.' The other tracks are gret too...!
  19. TomG
    Jun 17, 2007
    10
    Great move after exquisite Get Behind Me Satan. They're in better form than Led Zep after 5 albums. Don't you think that Icky Thump's main riff resemble a bit the one form "Moby Dick"...?
  20. RobertK
    Jun 18, 2007
    10
    Jack White's "White Album." Brilliant ramshackle mess.
  21. JohnnyS
    Jun 19, 2007
    5
    Another overrated release from an overrated band.
  22. MichaelS
    Jun 19, 2007
    9
    Best White Stripes Album since Distijl!! A huge sigh of relief after Get Behind Me Satan! Would have been a 10, but "Prickly Thorn" and "St. Andrews" didin't quite do it for me.
  23. TomT
    Jun 19, 2007
    9
    Along with Fountains of Wayne, they are incapable of making bad albums.
  24. timp
    Jun 19, 2007
    10
    fun and ferocious
  25. DeepOne
    Jun 21, 2007
    10
    The album sounds very different from their previous releases. Still, it s the same old White Stripes to enjoy. Now it's not as much low-fi sound which made it an uneasy listen, but now it's more accessible and still raw at the same time. Great work
  26. AaronD
    Jun 22, 2007
    9
    Really love the White Stripes so whatever, but I had some healthy skepticism with this album. Seems like the gig should be up, the act pushed as far as it goes, but here I am unable to look away once again. This band just builds a relationship with the listener, and every album is like falling in love again with someone you think is your type but not instanly familiar. Dont know how they Really love the White Stripes so whatever, but I had some healthy skepticism with this album. Seems like the gig should be up, the act pushed as far as it goes, but here I am unable to look away once again. This band just builds a relationship with the listener, and every album is like falling in love again with someone you think is your type but not instanly familiar. Dont know how they do it, but it works, it works very well.… Expand
  27. J
    Jun 23, 2007
    10
    Bliss.
  28. suetkafa
    Jun 23, 2007
    0
    worst album ever
  29. RyanK
    Jun 24, 2007
    10
    I think the critics are sorely underrating this album. It's the best rock album released this year, by far.
  30. [Anonymous]
    Jun 25, 2007
    10
    Great Album
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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best Album of 2007
18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2007
47
#47 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 39
  3. Negative: 1 out of 39
  1. Observer Music Monthly
    80
    This is a heavyweight album in every sense of the word.
    Read full review
  2. Drowned In Sound
    70
    This is by far The White Stripes’ most peculiar record.
    Read full review
  3. Uncut
    80
    A compellingly weird experience. [Jul 2007, p.92]
See all critic reviews »