Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Jack White, Third Man Records/Columbia Records 2018.
It’s been nearly four years since Jack White’s last solo release and Boarding House Reach sees him once again exploring new territory.
Jack has a prodigious talent and a restless musical spirit that sees him constantly searching for new forms of expression.
On Boarding House Reach, his third solo effort, he once again dips his bucket into the well of American music to blend gospel, soul, blues, country, jazz and hard rock (with a smattering of hip hop) to produce a radical, different, and expansive pop album.
A number of tracks have gained high rotations on main stream radio including: Connected by Love, Over and Over and Over, Ice Station Zebra, Respect Commander and my favourite, Why Walk a Dog.
Considering the edginess and rawness of some of these tracks it’s a real testament to his skill and inventiveness as well as his pop nous.
Even while creating experimental pop sounds he has a finely tuned sense of what is commercial.
The album has already accrued substantial international critical acclaim.
American Songwriter enthused: This is a radical, experimental and mind-expanding of a pop album (sic) as you’re likely to hear anytime soon.
And Clash Magazine stated: Boarding House Reach is easily one of the most layered and compelling releases of 2018, which furthers White’s legacy as one of the few remaining mavericks in music.
I’m an unabashed fan.
I applaud Jack White’s irresistible drive to create a new sound and his willingness to reinvent himself.
Many artists have tried to tread the same path, mostly with limited success, and many lesser musicians have been too daunted to open themselves up to that level of public scrutiny and possibility of failure.
In some ways White is the closest we currently have to the unpredictable genius of Frank Zappa, and like Zappa, Jack White is not afraid to redraw his frontiers and forge ahead into new territory.
Those game enough to follow him will be richly rewarded.
