The White Stripes - "Get Behind Me Satan"

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http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00097A5H2.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I haven't heard it or anything, but I reckoned it needed a thread.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 01:41 (twenty years ago)

what daring and original cover art (if in fact that is the cover art)

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 01:51 (twenty years ago)

yeah... what's he got there?!

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 01:57 (twenty years ago)

a loaf of bread?

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 01:58 (twenty years ago)

it's a nice picture no matter what!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:00 (twenty years ago)

you want daring and original cover art i got an out hud album here i can sell ya

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:00 (twenty years ago)

new thread for "daring and original" cover art?

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:03 (twenty years ago)

I quite like them.

The song titles of the new album are very cool, I think. I hope they sound good, too.

― PB, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:03 (twenty years ago)

It's a great cover, I agree.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:06 (twenty years ago)

what daring and original cover art (if in fact that is the cover art)

those objects in their hands (is that a plastic apple? and what's he carrying?) remind me of matthew barney.

it's a very nice cover; whatever they're doing with their spare hands reminds me of:

http://no-direction-home.at/saved.jpg

also: nice bouffant!!

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:07 (twenty years ago)

That cover is really great.

― buck van morrison (Buck Van Smack), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:24 (twenty years ago)

From xfm:

The couple are facing away from each other with a white microphone hanging behind their heads, but their hands are close to joining behind them. For reasons that one can only imagine are massively symbolic, Meg is holding a pure white apple (the first single to be taken from the album Blue Orchid features this detail as its cover) while Jack seems to be cradling a large albino marrow.

― buck van morrison (Buck Van Smack), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:28 (twenty years ago)

Shit, I forgot to add this to the post...

...Or maybe its a butternut squash. It's hard to tell.

― buck van morrison (Buck Van Smack), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:29 (twenty years ago)

That's not a bouffant, duder.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:36 (twenty years ago)

and that aint no squash.

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:38 (twenty years ago)

Is the whole album a bunch of good wacky crude soul-funk trax like "Blue Orchid?" Because if so, then - yay.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 02:44 (twenty years ago)

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

― John Gillis (Aaron W), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 03:07 (twenty years ago)

I think Jack's holding a scroll.

― Joe McCombs didn't feel like logging in, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 03:57 (twenty years ago)

Jack White in Parade era Prince sorta look shocker.

― donut debonair (donut), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 04:51 (twenty years ago)

Jack White in Purtian preacher shockah.

― giboyeux (skowly), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

what the spare hand thing reminded me of:
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/img/user/80/17/5918017/4.jpg

But yeah, if this is their 'coke-album' (White Blood Cells meets White Lines), I'm looking forward to hearing it.

― willem (willem), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 05:18 (twenty years ago)

What's with the massive pic/link/ad on Stylus?

― ledge (ledge), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 07:56 (twenty years ago)

this is widely thought to be their worst/most commercial/experimental failure to diversify their sound/cant believe they went out like this album isnt it? at least thats the reports ive read so far.... admittedly only on channel 4 teletext but hey.

― theblahbariancossomeonehasregisteredwiththisnameivebeenusingformonths, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 09:55 (twenty years ago)

i reckon it could be their best album so far. certainly, 'red rain' and 'take take take' and 'the nurse' are stikingly great songs. 'blue orchid' is a red herring, though - while the album hangs together perfectly, there isn't a song that sounds like another song on the album throughout (is that clear?).

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 10:11 (twenty years ago)

For reasons that one can only imagine are massively symbolic

xfm are such idiots.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 10:13 (twenty years ago)

I've heard it. Get ready for some weak, weak melodies.

― Simon H. (Simon H.), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 10:24 (twenty years ago)

the cover to the promo vinyl is better - meg as frontwoman of a raucous chicano rockabilly band

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 10:24 (twenty years ago)

Coldplay album out same day - get ready for even weaker melodies.

― Deluxe (Damian), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 11:34 (twenty years ago)

so promos are out there now? so is it pants or what? honestly?

― blahbariantheoriginal, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 11:37 (twenty years ago)

honestly?

'take take take', 'red rain' and 'the nurse' are among my favourite white stripes songs. there's not a bad song on there. its not pants whatsoever.

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 11:49 (twenty years ago)

http://www.theknish.com/images/12pic1.jpg

― AaronK (AaronK), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 11:51 (twenty years ago)

is it them going commercial? cos while i do like the single, that riff and the production sounds a bit too FM rock radio-ready to me. its a good way of combining their sound with more accessibility though without compromising too distressingly though.

― ppp, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 12:10 (twenty years ago)

I can't decide whether Meg looks really, really hot or really, really ugly with her new hairdo.

― John Hunter, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

They're both behind each other = they both think the other is Satan! Yikes.

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

is it them going commercial?

Yeah, White Stripes have been an underground concern with no mainstream coverage for far too long!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 15:47 (twenty years ago)

AT LAST THE PUBLICITY THEY NEED

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

At least, I was hoping the music was hinting at them becoming the Jonzun Crew or something, given that this is the only logical next fashion step for them.

― donut debonair (donut), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 15:58 (twenty years ago)

what i mean, is while THEY have been in the charts and popular, they havent significantly altered their sound, really, have they?

― ppp, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

jack is holding one of the those jumbo wiffle ball bats

― dan (dan), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

He did it like this, he did it like that...

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

(OK, now I wanna hear the White Stripes cover "Paul Revere" so I know something's wrong with me)

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

That really is a great cover.

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 16:48 (twenty years ago)

This is going to be the biggest goth record in years.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

I like reading the title of the song in an Irish brogue.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

jack reminds me a bit of johnny depp in that picture

― 6335, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

i don't know about their recycling of country-gospel motifs as kitsch, it seems i dunno a bit too easy. unless jack white has had some real religious conversion or something (i doubt it).

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

Jack needs to shave off his mustache. NOW.

― lemin (lemin), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 18:45 (twenty years ago)

i don't know, the hand thing looks like an obvious reference to the sistine chapel, god and adam nearly touching . . . isn't that what dylan and et are also referencing?

― sanchito, Tuesday, 17 May 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

unless jack white has had some real religious conversion or something (i doubt it).

hasn't jack always been quietly religious?

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)

Unlike me, who is quietly contemptuous. (Of everything, because I am full of hate.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 125 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

anyone else notice that my doorbell gets an unofficial 'part 2' a couple of songs down the line? bit of a waste of a track there....

― titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Saturday, 11 June 2005 16:13 (twenty years ago)

On first listen I think I have to say they've broken their "improving with every record" run. Still a good album all the same. My wife and I are split on My Doorbell, she thinks it's annoyingly repetitive and over long, I love it.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Saturday, 11 June 2005 16:20 (twenty years ago)

There may be songs from other albums that I enjoy more than the ones on Satan, but overall this might be my favorite album front to back....

We'll see how things change down the line.

― PB, Saturday, 11 June 2005 17:26 (twenty years ago)

I don't understand how they manage to do Zeppelin in such a pleasing way that it doesn't make me want to yell "RIPOFFS!" They're very artful and careful about it, unlike LCD Soundsystem's blatant Zep ripoff "Never As Tired..."

I know this will probably bother anti-Buckleyites here, but of all the bands/artists around today, I think White Stripes do Jeff Buckley proud. I mean if he were still alive today I can so see him doing this kind of thing, and there were spots on Elephant that reminded me of him as well.

"I'm Lonely" is a bit overwrought for me, and Meg doesn't exactly have the best singing ability on "Passive Manipulation", but it's a simple and short tune that adds to the variety here. "Blue Orchid" is a little more catchy than I'd like to admit. Not that great of a song, really, but damn if it doesn't get stuck in my head. Overall these are minor quibbles. This is a very satisfying album, and I'm glad I went down to the shop and bought it the old fashioned way.

Fabulous sleeve/booklet artwork too!!!

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Sunday, 12 June 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

Except that Jeff Buckley had no sense of humor.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 12 June 2005 19:08 (twenty years ago)

Ha ha. I assume you're being sarcastic!

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Sunday, 12 June 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

White Stripes do Jeff Buckley proud

What an odd comparison....I don't see anything in Jeff's work that would have pointed to anything Jack White does..

― PB, Sunday, 12 June 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

Robert Plant impersonations

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 12 June 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

blues explosion

― j blount (papa la bas), Sunday, 12 June 2005 21:17 (twenty years ago)

this shit is good, yo

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Monday, 13 June 2005 01:41 (twenty years ago)

I am decidedly not impressed. I don't see what all the fuss is about.

― Orbit (Orbit), Monday, 13 June 2005 01:47 (twenty years ago)

Orbit!

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Monday, 13 June 2005 01:54 (twenty years ago)

awesome record.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 13 June 2005 01:56 (twenty years ago)

it really is. blimey. their best yet.

― Masked Gazza, Monday, 13 June 2005 04:00 (twenty years ago)

"Except that Jeff Buckley had no sense of humor."

The White Stripes do? I mean, I don't know; I'm asking. I hadn't noticed it in what I've heard.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 13 June 2005 04:38 (twenty years ago)

they have a ditty or two on each album that's sort of whimsical and humorous. Plus their whole image is a running gag, to some degree.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Monday, 13 June 2005 04:48 (twenty years ago)

It's not a funny gag, though. I mean, it's about as funny as a Target commercial.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 13 June 2005 05:09 (twenty years ago)

that is also true

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Monday, 13 June 2005 05:33 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

http://jv.gilead.org.il/FAQ/pics/Meliesmoon.jpg
DUDE FROM WHITE STRIPES HIT IN EYE WITH SPACESHIP?!?!?!

― 3, Friday, 15 July 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

Earlier in this thread I had mentioned Jeff Buckley. That seemed to confound some folks. Although Miccio was learned enough to note that Buckley did indeed do Robert Plant impersonations even just for comedic effect as between-song banter, as is documented on "Live At Sin E".

It has been said many times that Buckley actually was singing Led Zeppelin as he swam to his death in the Mississippi River. I see no reason to doubt such reports. No one to my knowledge has disputed them.

If one wishes to hear Buckley at his MOST Led Zep, I recommend a few songs on the posthumous "Songs To No One: 1991-1992" release, which with all due respect he might not have accomplished without ex-Beefheart musician Gary Lucas' fine guitar playing. Still, one must hear "Harem Man" & "Cruel" from this CD and THEN scoff at White Stripes/Led Zep/Jeff Buckley comparisons. That is all.

And by the way, "Get Behind Me Satan" is easily one of the best albums of the year. Maybe "Elephant" really was this good and I just don't recall correctly, but I doubt it.

― Hydrochloric Shaved Weirds (Bimble...), Saturday, 23 July 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

or, you know, just check out his cover of "Night Flight" (which is awesome)

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Saturday, 23 July 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

Yes, you are correct. I'm quite sorry. I find it painful to listen to things like that. I avoid it because I miss him so. Thanks.

― Hydrochloric Shaved Weirds (Bimble...), Saturday, 23 July 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

Seeing them play this live at Glastonbury (on TV) really put me off bothering to hear this.

"My Doorbell" is really drab for them. I hear it and wish Meg would leave that cymbal alone, not hit it *constantly* throughout! Her drumming doesn't usually irritate me in the slightest.

― fandango (fandango), Saturday, 23 July 2005 21:40 (twenty years ago)

I really want to see the vinyl promo album cover stevie mentions waaaayyy upthread^^^.....

Loving it so much too though, miles more than most of Elephant (though never really fell for most of it like with the first 3 records). Glad I'm not the only one who thought of De Stijl when I first heard this too, even if I can't exactly work out *why* i did. some of this album feels like I'm hearing them for the first time all over again (eg 'The Nurse')...
'Lets Shake Hands' slayed every other track (new & old) in that Glasto [tv] set though, imho..

― Jon Benet Taxidermy (piratestyle), Saturday, 23 July 2005 21:45 (twenty years ago)

Even though I've probably heard this album about 12 times so far over several weeks, and certainly enjoyed it quite a bit, it's only tonight I've decided I am completely obsessed with it. No it isn't perfect, never said it was. But hey...you could do worse. I actually endured the sound of Lynard Skynard in a bar tonight with a friend. TWICE I endured Skynard. I can do anything.

― Hydrochloric Shaved Weirds (Bimble...), Saturday, 30 July 2005 06:32 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

Hey, this is pretty good so far.

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Saturday, 1 October 2005 12:30 (twenty years ago)

I have only hear White Orchid and I like it enough but I can't stand the "whoooo" sound Jack makes about halfway into the song.

― Headlights,white lines, black tar rivers (feminazi), Saturday, 1 October 2005 23:58 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Finally got this (a present for my wife for Xmas)...anyway..it's GOOD! I really like all the songs where he plays more piano....overall, aside from maybe Instinct Blues and the Meg singing song, it's pretty great!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 2 January 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

the meg singing song is only 25 seconds long, fortunately!

― gear (gear), Monday, 2 January 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

six months pass...

One year later, what's the sentiment toward this one?

― magnagardner (New Media Intern), Monday, 10 July 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

i still like it.

― M@tt He1geson, Rendolent Ding-Dong (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 10 July 2006 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

Weren't they supposed to do a vinyl release of this after they had toured the songs? I can't find any evidence that this ever happened. Bummer.

I still like the album, but I think I kinda wore it out after awhile, wasn't as interesting after a certain number of plays.

― Lenny Koggins (Bimble...), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 04:27 (nineteen years ago)

I hope they can spare a week or two to record another album. It's a very impressive string they have going:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf700/f726/f72656t69vp.jpg
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf300/f323/f32382vh5g6.jpg
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf100/f108/f10841l4g2p.jpg
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf700/f731/f73154xcch3.jpg
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drg800/g845/g84517d74cm.jpg

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 06:30 (nineteen years ago)

i still love this record. 'forever for her is over for me' is the best thing jack's ever done.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 07:32 (nineteen years ago)

> Weren't they supposed to do a vinyl release of this after they had toured the songs?

something was listed, i think, in this week's Sister Ray mailout. 'alt versions' i think it said and was def vinyl.

ha, here:
http://www.sisterray.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=121922&osCsid=5c76b01836a49316c9fdd93bbe0182d8

stunningly short on details 8)

― koogy wonderland (koogs), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 08:32 (nineteen years ago)

having that!

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 08:56 (nineteen years ago)

thinking its seriously one of the great albums of all time.

I actually just listened to it this past Saturday! in fact, when I saw this thread in new answers I assumed I must have drunkenly revived it...

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Wednesday, 12 July 2006 04:23 (nineteen years ago)

Still their best.

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Wednesday, 12 July 2006 21:43 (nineteen years ago)

yes.

― Alicia Fucking Silverstone (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 12 July 2006 21:45 (nineteen years ago)

def. one of their best, my favorite since De Stijl. White Blood Cells is the weak one.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 12 July 2006 21:49 (nineteen years ago)

bah.
decidedly the worst.
easily.
makes me want to listen to Stephen Malkmus solo stuff.
yeah, it's that bad...

― edde (edde), Thursday, 13 July 2006 14:00 (nineteen years ago)

> Weren't they supposed to do a vinyl release of this after they had toured the songs?
something was listed, i think, in this week's Sister Ray mailout. 'alt versions' i think it said and was def vinyl.
ha, here:
http://www.sisterray.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=121922&osCsid=5c76b01836a49316c9fdd93bbe0182d8
stunningly short on details 8)
-- koogy wonderland (il...) (webmail), Tuesday 9:32 AM. (later) (link)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
having that!
-- mark grout (mark.grou...) (webmail), Tuesday 9:56 AM. (later) (link)

It just arrived (blimey, quick or what!)

It looks like a bootleg. It could be an official issue to get round the 'promise' of an alternative version as stated previously. I don't know.

It's a compilation of radio session and/or live versions of all the tracks, same running order, different versions you see?

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 13 July 2006 14:13 (nineteen years ago)

Here is what it looks like:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/White-Stripes-get-behind-me-satan_W0QQitemZ220006254834QQihZ012QQcategoryZ2262QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 13 July 2006 14:15 (nineteen years ago)

Whenevr I listen to this (or "Elephant") it sounds like an absolute classic. But I find I have to force myself to put it on. I have no idea what that means.

― totph (Totph), Thursday, 13 July 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

probably my least favorite WS album, but it has a handful of great tracks.

― Zwan (miccio), Thursday, 13 July 2006 15:08 (nineteen years ago)

Ouch, Mark. That record has a crap cover. So is it any good? How is the sound quality?

― Lenny Koggins (Bimble...), Thursday, 13 July 2006 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

Heh. The main photo used on the cover of that vinyl LP is available on RollingStone.com (here). It's from the White Stripes' September 22, 2005 show in Boston (coincidentally, I was looking at those pics myself earlier today). So, yeah, I'm pretty certain it is a bootleg. Sorry, man.

How does it sound, though? Any good? Does it have any details about each track? I wonder if whoever created that LP took the songs from live recordings circulating of shows from the White Stripes' 2005-2006 tour for GBMS off of sites like Dimeadozen.org or something. Hmm... Probably.

I wish Jack and Meg would've actually released the live vinyl version of Get Behind Me Satan they had promised. It doesn't look like that's ever gonna happen. :(

― Mama Roux (Mama Roux), Friday, 14 July 2006 02:08 (nineteen years ago)

When I saw them in Chicago last year on the tour, the first half of the set was just Get Behind Me Satan in its entirety from start to finish .... then a brief intermission, then old songs ..

I never even bothered to inquire, but .. were the other stops on the tour like that?

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 14 July 2006 03:44 (nineteen years ago)

You know what gets me is from what I've heard of Jack & Meg's attitude toward downloading, they'd probably be hopping mad if they knew about that LP. But hey, they said they were going to do this and didn't, so what do they expect?

― Lenny Koggins (Bimble...), Friday, 14 July 2006 18:42 (nineteen years ago)

fourteen years pass...

This has aged better than I thought, but it's also just an odd, not quite there album in a lot of ways. Doorbell and denial twist are more tolerable now but they really are infuriating to listen to and still sound quite contrived in their 'catchiness'. They manage to be both irritatingly chipper while also strangely leaden. Or is it that the piano is a bit out of tune? Idk.

― candyman, Sunday, 17 January 2021 08:43 (four years ago)

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