Andrew’s Judgmental Album Reviews: Jack White – Fear of the Dawn (2022)

Total honesty, I haven’t kept up much with Jack White since the height of the White Stripes. There was a short period of time where I kind of cared about The Raconteurs, but however you slice it, it’s been 14 or 15 years since I had the desire to engage with his music. More power to him though that he’s been busy, especially this year. Fear of the Dawn was released in April, and I think Entering Heaven Alive just came out this past week. So due to that 2022 double shot, I figured I’d give him a try again.

My musical preference is more in the rock vein than other things, so that’s why I chose this album since a cursory look through descriptions leads me to understand this is more rock oriented. Does it recapture any of that early aughts White Stripes/Raconteurs magic? Will is just be weird and kinda okay? Lets find out!

• Artist: Jack White
• Album: Fear of the Dawn (2022)
• Label: Third Man Records
• Total Track Time: 39:54

Taking Me Back took me a second to realize it was the song in the commercial trailer for Call of Duty: Vanguard. So most of us have heard it, and it’s not terrible. Synth heavy, reverb with crunchy distortion gives all of the instruments except the drums a very 90s “Be Kind Rewind” vibe. Its decent if not a slight sonic mess with all of the distortion and effects. Fear of the Dawn continues with that heavy distortion effect on the guitar, so I guess we’re sticking with that. Has that been his signature sound? Reminds me of Icky Thump a bit, but the distortion really feels a ton more in your face. Short and sweet, so I appreciate this song a bit, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The White Raven starts off interesting like almost something The Hooters or Midnight Oil would put together, and then we get to that distortion sound. Oddly enough, it adds a darkness and atmospheric impending doom to the song, so this may be the best song so far. It mixes simple cleaner riffs with the stomp of the distortion. Very cool vibe.

Hi-De-Ho feat Q-Tip, okay this is not a feature I would’ve expected for Jack White, but sometimes the unexpected ones are awesome. It opens with some white noise, sparse drums and what ominous singing like before a gun shot in a Quentin Tarantino movie. Little bit of that Spanish guitar to set tone, Q-Tip cuts in nice with old school bars of word play and references. Gets a little spacy and distorted but its just a cool song. It doesn’t say much or really go anywhere, but it was entertaining. Eosophobia opens with a little cymbal fill and a lot of clear bass. This is a song I’m digging early, has a bit of that old White Stripes feel or just general early aughts alternative. Eosophobia is also, a fear of the dawn or daylight, something like that. So its on theme for the album, I just really appreciate the sound of the song. Into the Twilight feat The Manhattan Transfer okay I have no clue what this is. Its a lot of samples that I feel Prince would’ve enjoyed, but it really feels like a filler song with a solid and distinctive bass riff. So its a cool song but definitely feels like nothing beyond ear candy, so an empty calories song…that I just can’t be mad at.

Dusk is literally a 30 second interlude instrumental, there is nothing to discuss. What’s the Trick, okay where to begin with this. The distortion isn’t as bad in this song, the riffs are quick and frenetic, but the lyrics are delivered like spoken word. So while the wah pedal, distortion, talk box, moments have started to weigh on me as just excessive noise…I appreciate the arrangement of this song and the fact it’s spoken word. It does also allow for the basslines to really cut through the mix with how effect laden the guitar parts are. Then Was Then, This is Now is a quirky little story driven song. ” There are plenty of ways to explain your situation, When you’re searching for love, you have no time to be patient // I looked all over town, all around, I didn’t see you anymore, You were safe and sound, underground, Where I couldn’t see you at all, I found myself, right at home on the shelf, While you were busy looking for yourself there” – so this does a good job at bringing some nostalgic vibes to his older work, while still over using the distortion and effects, he adds in like a megaphone vocal effect at some point here as well.

Eosophobia – Reprise has more of a jazz vibe to it, but I wouldn’t say it’s nearly as good as the initial song. But a little smoky jazz club bridge to bring us to the flourish of the album of fearing the light is cool. Morning, Noon and Night is another more story driven song, it has a little more of that 70s spacey sound on the keyboard and general vibe, but it’s got a groove you can’t deny. “Don’t have time for martyrs, I don’t have time for ghosts, No time for manipulations, what I want the most, Is more time for me and time for you, Is there any way I can sway you to stay for a minute or two? Yeah, That’s what I wanna do” – simple story, he wants a little more time for you, now you is left up to interpretation. It could be a person, it could be childhood, it could be time in general. Shedding My Velvet a simple jazz standard drum beat, clear bassline, acoustic (I think) guitar riffs driving the song like a pulse. The Prince influenced electric guitar moments come in toward the end of the song and a little Foreigner piano/keyboard. It feels like the final gun fight scene of a Spaghetti Western.

Earlier in the review I said a lot of the songs were just ear candy or empty calories, and I stand by that. Which may sound like an insult, but honestly, it was enjoyable listen. For a 40 minute album, it went by quickly with a few new things to key on in every song. Yes, if the distortion guitar is a signature, I really don’t enjoy how often its used since it makes it sound like sonic soup after a while. But there was a lot to like and most of my negatives are purely nit picks.

While I would appreciate more songs with lyrical substance, I won’t understate the interesting approach to some songs, different styles and arrangements that got utilized and a few instrument choices that aren’t heard often. It’s not 100% my cup of tea, but damn there’s a lot to like and I will probably be spinning at least most of this a few more times this year. I enjoyed this way more than I anticipated.

Final Judgment: 8.7/10