White Blood Cells
by The White Stripes
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 163 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 151 out of 163
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 163
  3. Negative: 8 out of 163

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  1. PhilR.
    Nov 25, 2001
    10
    It's going on my christmas list!
  2. KatyL.
    Aug 10, 2002
    10
    This album is one of the best ever!
  3. tracic
    Feb 6, 2004
    9
    one of the best i've heard in a long time. finally something original.
  4. MikeH
    Mar 1, 2007
    10
    This is quite possibly my favorite album of theirs. I love the diversity of rock in this album...the country-rock in "Hotel Yorba", the Detroit rock in "Expecting", the punk in "Fell in Love With a Girl". And the lyrics are the best part...just read over "I'm Finding it Harder to Be a Gentleman". Jack is a genius.
  5. antonioq
    Aug 3, 2009
    9
    It's a really good album once you get rid of preconceptions. "Every band needs a bassist" or "more drumming is better drumming", for instance. Music is, after all, what it is, not what it should be, and you can't fault "Hotel Yorba" (for example) for not rocking enough when it's a great -folky- song. Really strong record.
  6. JeremyA.
    Dec 10, 2001
    10
    If you like rock bands who can actually write decent songs, then you MUST hear this album. The White Stripes are everything the Strokes will never be.
  7. KristiS.
    Sep 8, 2001
    9
    Excellent
  8. AdrianD
    Feb 20, 2002
    7
    Their best yet but is that saying much? I find a problem with the sameness of the sound.
  9. zache
    Oct 5, 2004
    10
    freaken great cd, if you listen to them religiously or not. There elephant is good too but has alot of songs that people who dont "love" them probably wouldnt care for. definitly worth buying for fans...of course
  10. DennisT.
    Feb 2, 2004
    7
    i bought White Blood Cells, hoping it will be worth my $23, and after listening to Elephant, which was pretty great, and comparing the two, i expected better out of my $23. -I mean was he dying or what? (Little Room) - Hotel Yorba was good just missing that rock element. - I like the kind of style they played in Aluminum, but jesus christ i dont want to mistake my cd player having i bought White Blood Cells, hoping it will be worth my $23, and after listening to Elephant, which was pretty great, and comparing the two, i expected better out of my $23. -I mean was he dying or what? (Little Room) - Hotel Yorba was good just missing that rock element. - I like the kind of style they played in Aluminum, but jesus christ i dont want to mistake my cd player having problems with this dissapointment. - I think i smell a crappy song The rest of the songs were good or okay... After listening to it a second time, i came to appreciate the songs. I'm in luck because my CD really messes up sometimes, so i think i might get De Stijl for now.… Expand
  11. Whateveryouwanttocallme
    Jun 3, 2004
    8
    This is a great album, by a great band. But, I wouldn't ever say they are the greatest band ever. Meg white needs drum lessons, and they need a bassest. They still are a great band, and they really if nothing else area step in the right direct. By the way, they aren't really garage rock as much as they are a blues revival mixed with the clash and the sonics.
  12. GordonR.
    Nov 9, 2001
    9
    Wipes the floor with The Strokes
  13. LeeBee
    Sep 29, 2001
    9
    They just keep getting better.
  14. BrandonM.
    Jan 16, 2002
    10
    this is the first White Stripes cd I ever bought and I had to go out and find the other two the next day. I had to order the White Stripes album but it was worth it. This is the first album in a long time that has knocked me over like a sledgehammer. Absolutely brilliant. If only more people had the pwer of Jack White's screeching vocals or Meg Whites relentless, hypnotizing drum this is the first White Stripes cd I ever bought and I had to go out and find the other two the next day. I had to order the White Stripes album but it was worth it. This is the first album in a long time that has knocked me over like a sledgehammer. Absolutely brilliant. If only more people had the pwer of Jack White's screeching vocals or Meg Whites relentless, hypnotizing drum beats. Please release another album. 3 is definatley not enough. … Expand
  15. JimmyTheExploder
    Jan 29, 2002
    10
    This was the first white stripes album i bought and the previous two quickly followed. They are genius and 'White Blood Cells' is perfect for people who have never heard them before. Bare in mind though, i wasn't impressed straight away, it took a few plays before my head suddenly realised what i was listening to. Sheer brilliance.
  16. jessiedetroit
    Apr 7, 2002
    10
    finaly!! a good rock band from detroit. "fell in love with a girl" is one of the best tracts on the cd, that and "we're going to be friends". a must buy for anyones collection
  17. scott
    Jul 8, 2002
    10
    best album ever. i listen to it at least once every day...white stripes rocl
  18. LukeM
    Sep 2, 2002
    3
    The music - guitar and drums only - wears thin very quickly. Though they aren't terrible to listen to, the White Stripes aren't particularly tuneful or memorable. Most of the songs just aren't fully realized.
  19. -x_AmBeR_x-.
    Jan 14, 2003
    10
    The White Stripes are Awesome!
  20. Dan
    Feb 13, 2003
    8
    A really good album, but it does lack in some areas.
  21. BenM
    Aug 5, 2003
    8
    its pretty good. better then most albums by other bands ive heard. i love how the white stripes have their own sound. most rock bands just bore me now. but this album isnt as good as their other 3 cds. they all get 10/10, and elephent gets 11
  22. NancyJ
    Mar 27, 2004
    9
    That guy Brian S. must be into Good Charlotte,Nickelback, Staind, Yellowcard etc. if he thinks WBC is crap.
  23. RonG
    Oct 20, 2005
    10
    Awesome. Better than everything they've done (including Elephant and Get Behnid me Satan) - a miracle in itself Very few albums have quite so many great songs on them
  24. AliC
    Aug 13, 2005
    2
    Oh dear. The White Stripes are so difficult to listen to and the drumming is so dreary and awful. It's amazing how much of a career you can make out of pretending you are sleeping with your sister.
  25. thegodofrockandrollhoward
    Jan 16, 2006
    10
    outstanding. one of the best albums i have ever heard, even if meg cant drum.
  26. whitestripes!favband!
    Feb 11, 2006
    10
    pretty darn good, but not as good as "elephant". i love the white stripes and always will. grade: 9.6... i rounded up, kuz they rock! :-)
  27. sr
    Mar 15, 2007
    5
    Check out chris thile's version of dead leaves and the dirty ground on google video.
  28. WodekS.
    Oct 12, 2001
    9
    More heart than a Polish Rocky. A triumph.
  29. MarlonJ.
    Dec 28, 2001
    10
    Make no mistake, Meg White, not lars ulric or jason bonham is the greatest drummer in rock and roll. Oh, yeah, that whiny guitarist singer aint bad either
  30. PaulS.
    Dec 28, 2001
    10
    Fantastic. The more i listen to it the more i love it. If you've seen em live too you'll have seen the brilliance shining from them. Who needs the way over-rated Strokes!
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Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best Album of 2001
18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2001
25
#25 Most Shared Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. CDNow
    70
    Though nothing new -- instrument-wise -- is added to the mix of drums, guitar, and piano, the White Stripes' recipe cooks up heavier overall on White Blood Cells, while still retaining some of the cheeky, barroom brashness that has become their stock in trade.
    Read full review
  2. Mojo
    80
    The Detroit duo spin sordid tales and lovelorn drama with just the right amount of restrained percussion, blooze picking and screaming confessionals. [Sep 2001, p.93]
  3. Pitchfork
    90
    White Blood Cells doesn't veer far from the formula of past White Stripes records; all are tense, sparse and jagged. But it's here that they've finally come into their own, where Jack and Meg White finally seem not only comfortable with the path they've chosen, but practiced, precise and able to convey the deepest sentiment in a single bound.
    Read full review
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