White Stripes: Elephant

Elephant was the fourth studio album by The White Stripes. Released in 2003, through V2, XL, and Third Man records, it has been unfairly viewed as a record that was pressed poorly. This is because the majority of the album was recorded across two weeks and produced without the use of computers, instead utilizing an eight-track tape machine and various gear no more recent than 1963.

The album was The White Stripes' biggest commercial success, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200 Albums Charts. It produced the single "Seven Nation Army" which has continued to experience commercial success and has become a rallying theme across many college football fields on Saturday afternoons.

The album earned several accolades, including a nomination for Album of the Year and winning Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Song for "Seven Nation Army" at the 46th Grammy Awards. In 2012, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it 390th on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and additionally ranked it the fifth-best album of the 2000s decade.

Because of the way the music was recorded, it makes it difficult to produce an audiophile version that justifies the effort and cost. However, Analogue Productions figured out how to pull it off with their 2023 Ultra High Quality Release (UHQR) of Elephant.

While the original "garage band" sound remains, Analogue Productions succeeded at releasing the best pressing to date. The dynamic range is better, detail is better, and the sonics are better. Overall, this pressing beats all previous attempts, including the XL UK release.

TRACK LIST

Side A
1. Seven Nation Army
2. Black Math
3. There’s No Home For You Here
Side B
1. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself
2. In The Cold, Cold Night
3. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother’s Heart
4. You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket
Side C
1. Ball And Biscuit
2. The Hardest Button To Button
3. Little Acorns
Side D
1. Hypnotize
2. The Air Near My Fingers
3. Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine
4. It’s True That We Love One Another

If you are a fan of The White Stripes and have been waiting for a strong vinyl release of Elephant, this is the one. It's a little pricey, but the musical ROI is there! 💰

💰 Invest
 💵 Consider
💸 Pass