Great review Shane.
I'll confess, I've been a bit tuned out recently. I've avoided all of the available tracks from BHR so I could listen to it in full. What I've heard so far isn't "doing it" for me - I'm not sure I like the sound, I don't rate the lyrics highly (can't see me ever liking "Dog?"), and my main concern is that I found Dodge & Burn pretty mediocre, so am I just going "off" Jack White? I hope not, and I hope that the album grows on me (as well as "Dog?", I can't see the cover ever growing on me!), so I'm not going to rush into being too negative (too late!).
I didn't buy tickets for London as it would involve travelling and I have a young family, and I was hoping there would be a Scottish date announced, but now I'm not so sure...
This is a long-winded way of telling you I was in a bit of an apathetic phase re: Jack White and related, but your review made me immediately go and look for tickets to London, and consider whether to just get down there and see the man live. Even if I retain my reservations of the new sound, I can well see how tracks like Corporation (which I like already) and Connected by Love will be lifted up by live performance. No higher praise for your review than it moved me from indifference to excitement at the thought of a live show (whether I go or not is a different matter!).
Incidentally, I support the principle behind Yondr (?). I find the occasional phone being an annoyance at a gig, but never found it a massive problem. My main concern as a father is, if someone is looking after my kids and they phone in an emergency, do I really want to be in a position that there is a delay on me being able to speak to that person while I look for a staff member to open the pouch? The chances are slim, I guess, but I wouldn't forgive myself if the worst happened. Of course I fly on planes, etc, and can't be contacted then, but that's unavoidable - the pouch is an artificial restriction. I accept the view that I could just make the choice not to go to a gig, which is perfectly valid.
One final point (sorry), I've voiced some concerns - maybe even some negativity - about BHR, but I don't expect anyone to give two hoots about my opinion, I just set the scene for my unexpected, Shane-induced excitement.
) it has to get tiring and boring, but he seems to bring the same intensity every night. That is tough to find and that is what I love about Jack. The new bands are also great to check out on every tour, to see the renditions they do of all his older stuff.
