Sheet Music

Morphing the Blues: The White Stripes and the Strange Relevance of Detroit

Chrome Dreams, 178 pp., $15.95 (paper)

We love the White Stripes. That air of nonchalance, the simple drumbeats, the old-timey blues riffs. But Martin Roach idolizes Jack White to such an extent that our ardor for the Stripes is quickly waning. A grammatical nightmare, Morphing the Blues isn't the insightful exploration into the "mysteries" of the Detroit duo it purports to be. Instead, it's a restatement of everything we already know, as well as a very detailed history of their hometown. Not that Detroit isn't a vital chapter in music history, but this is ridiculous. "It is hard to believe that any band from Detroit can exist without some hint ... of [Motown] (just as no band could ever come out of Liverpool without mentioning or being aware of the Beatles)." So much for refuting Jack White's blatantly denouncing any regard for Motown. Morphing goes on to hammer home half-baked connections between the White Stripes, the Stooges, MC5, and Motown, while detailing the duo's thoughts about fame and selling out. Unfortunately, Roach never spoke with either party. As for the story itself, you've been reading it for years: Eccentric upholsterer Jack meets waitress Meg. They start a rock band, eventually sweeping away preconceptions of what a two-piece can do. Meg breaks her wrist, Jack his finger. They heal and conquer the world. Now they're really famous, and Jack White is God. And don't tell anyone, but – shhhh – Jack and Meg aren't really siblings.