# Am I the only one who thinks the White Stripes are disgustingly awful? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 3, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697 "2003-08-03T07:16:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tertius01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tertius01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tertius01)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/21 "2003-08-03T20:12:49Z")
I don’t hate them, but I kind of resent how the music industry tries to shove bands down our throats (The Donnas anyone?). ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/22 "2003-08-03T20:15:43Z")
I like them well enough (except for that “last button…” song). I save my utter loathing for DMB and System of a Down. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/23 "2003-08-03T20:59:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Geez, from the reasons you people give for hating the White Stripes and the amount of hate displayed, I hope you never hear anything by Pavement! Gah. HATE what I’ve heard from Pavement. > [@](#): > > For the record, though, from the second I first heard of them I was strongly repelled due to their stupid “trendy” image. Its the whole “look at us! we’re soo different and cool” image which is always IMO fake as hell. I think that’s well-put, **CaptBushido**. > [@](#): > > I like them well enough (except for that “last button…” song). Oy. I heard the last half of this song in the car last night with a friend. I didn’t think I’d ever hear someone shout “the hardest button to button” (pronounced like “the ha’est bu’en to bu’en”) two dozen times. We just laughed. This is genius? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/24 "2003-08-04T01:57:23Z")
Love 'em. One of the best bands to come down the pike in a long, long time. They’ve got a great, stripped down sound and some absolutely brilliant lyrics. And their tunes are psychotically catchy. I’ve had White Stripes songs stuck in my head for weeks at a time _without getting sick of them._ There are less than half a dozen other bands that I can say that about. Are they overhyped? I dunno. I don’t listen to radio, or read music critics (does _anyone_ read music critics?), and I certainly don’t pay attention to record industry promotions. If it weren’t for people complaining about them being over-hyped, I wouldn’t know they were being hyped at all. ---
**Author:** ![istareatthesun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@istareatthesun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istareatthesun)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/25 "2003-08-04T02:13:25Z")
I started a post about them earlier, yeah they’re terrible. They’re very terrible. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/26 "2003-08-04T03:30:25Z")
I wouldn’t call them disgusting any more than I would call two dozen metal trash cans rolling down Queen Anne Hill disgusting. But I can live with awful. Unbearably, excruciatingly awful. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/27 "2003-08-04T04:09:34Z")
I think I would enjoy them if it weren’t for Jack’s voice. When I listen to their songs, I can hear the guitar and drums playing a song I know I can enjoy, but then he starts singing and ruins the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/28 "2003-08-04T04:18:07Z")
Exactly what **appletreats** said. The musical talent is there, but that horrible, screeching voice needs to be taken out behind a barn and shot (they don’t have to shoot the singer, just the voice - if that’s possible). And I’m someone who enjoys Geddy Lee’s voice, so you _know_ this guy is bad. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/29 "2003-08-04T04:32:50Z")
They aren’t my favorite group, but Seven Nation Army is a pretty darn good song. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/30 "2003-08-04T04:53:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\*Exactly what **appletreats** said. The musical talent is there, but that horrible, screeching voice needs to be taken out behind a barn and shot (they don’t have to shoot the singer, just the voice - if that’s possible). And I’m someone who enjoys Geddy Lee’s voice, so you _know_ this guy is bad. \*\* Funny, 'cause you just about summed up my feelings about Rush. Nice music, but would somebody please tell that castrato with the microphone to shut up? I think Jack White’s voice is great, though. ---
**Author:** ![MemoryGongs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@MemoryGongs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MemoryGongs)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/31 "2003-08-04T23:25:15Z")
seven nation army kicked…but every other song is rubbish ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/32 "2003-08-05T00:00:29Z")
They also have a great color scheme. ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/33 "2003-08-05T01:14:54Z")
Compared to the tons and tons of garbage that’s being passed as music these days they’re not all that bad. Pitiful ain’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/34 "2003-08-05T01:30:17Z")
I’ve heard some of The White Stripes and it seems that their quality varies greatly from song to song. For example, “Little Room” is mainly just a bunch of noise whereas “Hotel Yorba” is good in a Dylanesque way. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/35 "2003-08-05T01:46:07Z")
I like what I’ve heard, but I wouldn’t call me a fan. They’re good radio fodder, but I’m not planning on buying any of their stuff anytime soon. I can enjoy some bands of the new garage/back to basics genre they are a part of and can see they have good gimmicks to get media attention (the color scheme, only a duo, the whole “brother/sister or ex-lovers/spouses” mess). I’ll take them (or even the Donnas) over those hype monsters The Strokes. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/36 "2003-08-05T01:48:48Z")
I’m an old-ish fart (40) who thinks they are pretty good. My wife is totally addicted to them, and has played _Elephant_ over and over for weeks. They have clever lyrics, some good guitar work, a bluesy song structure, and a lot of originality. I give 'em a thumbs-up. I think **Beck** does what they do on a whole 'nuther plane, though. Far, far, better. ---
**Author:** ![Journeyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Journeyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Journeyman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/37 "2003-08-05T05:15:44Z")
I’ve heard them, and I’m generally unimpressed. I don’t hate them, the music just does nothing for me. ---
**Author:** ![dimsie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/77aa72/32.png) [@dimsie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimsie)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/38 "2003-08-05T06:51:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CaptBushido \* > \*\*For the record, though, from the second I first heard of them I was strongly repelled due to their stupid “trendy” image. Its the whole “look at us! we’re soo different and cool” image which is always IMO fake as hell. \*\* Hrm. I always see a red (and white?) flag at these kinds of statements. As if having a coherent thematic image is somehow less ‘real’ than getting up there with your black jeans and old tshirt. Artifice worked just fine for David Bowie for thirty-plus years, didn’t it? I like them, obviously. I mean, they’re not the Beatles. But who is? ---
**Author:** ![Homer\_J.Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a698b9/32.png) [@Homer\_J.Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J.Simpson)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/39 "2003-08-05T07:45:12Z")
Does anybody else think the White Stripes are a total rip-off of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion? ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697/40 "2003-08-05T14:00:47Z")
quote]_originally posted by CaptBushido_ For the record, though, from the second I first heard of them I was strongly repelled due to their stupid “trendy” image. Its the whole “look at us! we’re soo different and cool” image which is always IMO fake as hell. [/quote] I always find it odd when people say things like this about the White Stripes. I mean, they must have been really pissed when their “image” failed to garner them any media attention for their first two albums. Is it so hard to understand that sometimes people just want to have a bit of fun rather than attempt to cultivate an image? I’m sure it must just have been a bit of a laugh to Jack and Meg to dress only in red and white and say they were brother and sister when they were playing to 5 people in a bar. Now they’re stuck in the uncomfortable position of feeling fake by continuing the obviously untrue “gimmick” but unable to drop it because, after all, why should they? Isn’t changing your style as a response to greater audience recognition just as bad as cultivating style to appeal to a wider audience. I love the White Stripes. Their only problem seems to be that they’re an indie band that found a non-indie audience. Hence, those who would never usually listen to indie bands are covering their ears and howling “what noise!” Then again, of course, there are those who just don’t like them. No accounting for taste. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-the-white-stripes-are-disgustingly-awful/192697.md?page=3)