Jack White "No Name" LP (2024)
Jack White has once again boldly bucked music industry convention. On July 19, 2024, White secretly guerilla-released a new limited-edition, vinyl-only studio solo album through his Third Man Records imprint. The album, simply titled No Name, was distributed only at the Third Man Records stores in Detroit, Nashville, and London as a free item given out with any purchase at the stores. Some copies were randomly sent to Third Man Records Vault members. (I was not one of those members who received it). The number of copies printed and distributed was not disclosed. The album was not initially available from streaming services, but White’s official Reddit page provided a link (now deleted) to a Google Drive featuring various formats of the album for download and distribution. Besides having no name, the album also has no cover art, as it's packaged in a plain white sleeve, with a plain white center label which has "NO NAME" stamped on Side A. It's pressed in natural-colored vinyl, which is off-white compared to the center label. The 14 tracks are all untitled, although Audacy offered a list of unofficial song titles. Those titles are reprinted below.
So...is this unconventionally released rarity any good? Yes, it certainly is. This album has plenty of raw energy, with just small touches of studio polish. There are echoes of the modern-rock experimentation that White freely indulged in on Boarding House Reach from 2018 and Fear of the Dawn from 2022, but the sound here is more spontaneous, with far less use of overdubs. Track 2 is a Tom Morello-like burst of hip-hop Rage, while track 5 is full of less-angry rapping. In some cases, however, the sound is more reminiscent of the garage-rock ethos of the White Stripes, especially when slide guitar is used on tracks 4 and 9. Some tracks also recall White's other bands: tracks 1, 8, and 14 possess a sort of vintage hard-rock vibe that would be well-suited for the Raconteurs, while tracks 11 and 12 (following the short instrumental interlude that is track 10) are reminders of the Dead Weather's dark Gothic rock. Track 3 may be the biggest surprise, as White demonstrates an unusual amount of vocal range over an alternative-rock foundation.
I seriously doubt that this album will remain commercially unavailable, because it's just too good to remain in the vault (no Third Man pun intended). After White's bold statement about modern music distribution has run its course, I think this album will be sold or streamed through more common channels, falling into its rightful place as Jack White's sixth solo album. But until that happens, do yourself a favor and enjoy No Name through any means accessible.
Jack White "No Name" (Third Man TMR-1000) 2024
Unofficial Track Listing (no actual song titles are listed on the record or sleeve):
SIDE A
1. For Free
2. God on Demand (Blessed)
3. Dial Tone
4. Rough for Rats (Asking)
5. Voodoo
6. Moving Along (If You Don’t Kill Me)
7. What You Know
Side B
8. Tonight Was a Long Time Ago
9. Underground
10. Assassination
11. Fish Himself Out
12. They’re Coming Alive
13. Missionary
14. You’ve Seen It All
8/9/24 Update: As expected, No Name was given a proper wide release on August 2, 2024. Here is the updated cover art and official track listing:
Jack White "No Name" (Third Man TMR-1000) 2024
Official Track Listing:
1. Old Scratch Blues
2. Bless Yourself
3. That's How I'm Feeling
4. It's Rough on Rats (If You're Asking)
5. Archbishop Harold Holmes
6. Bombing Out
7. What's the Rumpus?
8. Tonight (Was a Long Time Ago)
9. Underground
10. Number One With a Bullet
11. Morning at Midnight
12. Missionary
13. Terminal Archenemy Endling
So...is this unconventionally released rarity any good? Yes, it certainly is. This album has plenty of raw energy, with just small touches of studio polish. There are echoes of the modern-rock experimentation that White freely indulged in on Boarding House Reach from 2018 and Fear of the Dawn from 2022, but the sound here is more spontaneous, with far less use of overdubs. Track 2 is a Tom Morello-like burst of hip-hop Rage, while track 5 is full of less-angry rapping. In some cases, however, the sound is more reminiscent of the garage-rock ethos of the White Stripes, especially when slide guitar is used on tracks 4 and 9. Some tracks also recall White's other bands: tracks 1, 8, and 14 possess a sort of vintage hard-rock vibe that would be well-suited for the Raconteurs, while tracks 11 and 12 (following the short instrumental interlude that is track 10) are reminders of the Dead Weather's dark Gothic rock. Track 3 may be the biggest surprise, as White demonstrates an unusual amount of vocal range over an alternative-rock foundation.
I seriously doubt that this album will remain commercially unavailable, because it's just too good to remain in the vault (no Third Man pun intended). After White's bold statement about modern music distribution has run its course, I think this album will be sold or streamed through more common channels, falling into its rightful place as Jack White's sixth solo album. But until that happens, do yourself a favor and enjoy No Name through any means accessible.
Jack White "No Name" (Third Man TMR-1000) 2024
Unofficial Track Listing (no actual song titles are listed on the record or sleeve):
SIDE A
1. For Free
2. God on Demand (Blessed)
3. Dial Tone
4. Rough for Rats (Asking)
5. Voodoo
6. Moving Along (If You Don’t Kill Me)
7. What You Know
Side B
8. Tonight Was a Long Time Ago
9. Underground
10. Assassination
11. Fish Himself Out
12. They’re Coming Alive
13. Missionary
14. You’ve Seen It All
8/9/24 Update: As expected, No Name was given a proper wide release on August 2, 2024. Here is the updated cover art and official track listing:
Jack White "No Name" (Third Man TMR-1000) 2024
Official Track Listing:
1. Old Scratch Blues
2. Bless Yourself
3. That's How I'm Feeling
4. It's Rough on Rats (If You're Asking)
5. Archbishop Harold Holmes
6. Bombing Out
7. What's the Rumpus?
8. Tonight (Was a Long Time Ago)
9. Underground
10. Number One With a Bullet
11. Morning at Midnight
12. Missionary
13. Terminal Archenemy Endling
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