Shock releases still can have a great style to them. There is an inherent gamble to releasing a project without the fanfare usually built before release. But then not everyone is Jack White, who released No Name seemingly out of the blue. A heroic endeavour. Ignore the headline festival tour he was dropped into at the last minute to cover for Queens of the Stone Age. This is the act of a sudden need to release. Not at all part of the touring plan. Whatever the case, No Name is here and with all the hard rock you could want from The White Stripes alumni. Ignore the intent of release and warm to the exceptional guitar-led pieces found on No Name, ironically given the name because it lacked one. For those who have heard White live, or wish to, No Name will come as no surprise. What this does is convince those on the fence, because it is nothing short of excellent.
Slick guitar work is the prime reason for this. An enjoyable forty-minute selection of sharp instrumentals which could stand on their own. But White is as expert with a guitar as he is when it comes to writing, showing off the rage and anxieties of being alone in bold efforts like That’s How I’m Feeling. A consistent tone guides No Name, with the slick instrumentals the real focus of this one – meaning White is guiding his lyrics to line up with the effective solo work found within. It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking) is a clear example of this. Percussion is the steady foundation; lyrics are present for a cool edge and the roaring guitar work is the main event. This style works very well for No Name and crafts one of the cooler listens of the year, brimming with creative urgency. It is not enough for instrumental heaviness, and so White provides some changes to the very fabric of the listening experience.
Subverted and somewhat sluggish dunks of static come through on Bombing Out. Do not adjust your headphones, this is the choice made. Compression of this type is made to confuse, and while it does not affect the quality of the song it does mean getting on your hands and knees to fiddle around with Bluetooth adaptors. Thank you, Jack White. It feels out of the blue to even do it, and it does not make an appearance elsewhere on the album. Such is the constant need to tinker, and for No Name, it means a fresh layer from track to track. Some tremendous vocal range is the reason to stick around with No Name, a constant and rocking album which benefits from the charming White performances within. Tonight (Was a Long Time Ago) is a real highlight. Steady rock escapes the dated tones of the genre.
Great grooves and a riff which feels both nostalgic for an earlier, plainer but still exciting sound and a contemporary edge of following a sound without worrying about the rougher edges. Garage rock feels appropriate for the likes of Underground, and there is a deserving swagger from White and the backing band, most of which is filled with out-there instrumental choices or exceptional lyrical observations. Plucky charms from a man who knows the performance of this album is far more important than its release. Let it be another drop in the ocean. Those lucky enough to stumble on it, easier now with the excessive hand-holding of streaming platforms, will feel the thrills White provides these songs on stage. Why try and stand out in the age of streaming when those who want to hear more of No Name and albums like it will head to shows for further proof of its brilliance? Expect outstanding work and still be amazed by the refined qualities of No Name, even when its premise is simple.
