10. Horehoud by The Dead Weather

By: David Ball

				Horehoud by The Dead Weather

Another year and yet another Jack White side-project. But unlike White's last band, The Raconteurs (the indie supergroup known for their successful update of British Invasion and ‘70s classic rock), his latest star-studded collaborative, The Dead Weather, focus on exploring the gritty underbellies of heavy blues and hard rock. White's partners in crime this time out are Alison Mosshart of The Kills, Raconteurs' Jack Lawrence on bass, Queens of the Stone Age's Dean Fertita on guitar, with The White Stripes' guitarist switching to drums (his first instrument) and acting as Mosshart's lead vocal foil.

By no means is Horehound a cheery feel good affair. Slow-burning standout "I Cut You Like a Buffalo" and tough-as-nails rocker "Treat Me Like Your Mother" bubble-over with anger-fuelled sexual tension between White and Mosshart. And The Kills singer coos seductively as Fertita's guitar spits out menace and distain on the excellent slow-tempo blues grinder, "60 Feet Tall". Albums by supergroups are often better on paper, but crank this sucker up because Horehound actually lives up to the enormous hype and then some; perhaps because White isn't really the star here—it's a true band effort as it should be. Horehound is a compelling slice of primal rock 'n' roll and it's bound to make you feel dirty too. I love the feeling.


Video: "Treat Me Like Your Mother" by The Dead Weather