De Stijl (album)

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox album De Stijl (Template:IPAc-en) is the second studio album by the American rock duo the White Stripes, independently released by the Sympathy for the Record Industry on June 20, 2000. It was conceived after band members Jack White and Meg White divorced, who nonetheless continued working together and presented themselves as siblings. Produced by Jack and recorded on an 8-track analog tape in his living room, the album takes inspiration from the art movement of the same name and features the band's early blues-inspired sound.

De Stijl peaked at 137 on the UK Albums Chart and received generally positive reviews from critics, despite minimal sales upon its release; the album gained renewed attention in 2002 after peaking at 38 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. In 2013, it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and included on NME's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".

Background and recording

The White Stripes band members Jack and Meg White divorced in 2000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> however, Meg insisted that they continue working together.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> De Stijl was recorded by the duo in Jack's living room, exclusively using an 8-track analog tape.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="VILLAGE">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Its cover art sets Jack and Meg against an abstract background of rectangles and lines in red, black and white,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and utilizes common elements from the aesthetics of its namesake.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

De Stijl takes its name from the De Stijl ("the style" in English) art movement, which included the painter Mondrian.<ref name="tate">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="feb">Eliscu, Jenny (February 15, 2001) "THE WHITE STRIPES". Rolling Stone. 862:65</ref> Jack had been an admirer of the style for some time, especially of furniture designer Gerrit Rietveld,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who designed the Rietveld Schröder House which the band had visited. De Stijl was dedicated to both Rietveld and Blind Willie McTell.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 5, 2008, Canadian media reported that former Radio-Canada host Dominique Payette filed a lawsuit against the White Stripes for using a nine-second clip of her interview with a little girl at the beginning of "Jumble, Jumble". She demanded $70,000 in damages and the removal of the album from store shelves. The dispute was settled out of court.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Subscription required</ref>

Music and lyrics

Template:Expand section De Stijl features the band's early blues-inspired sound, which was prominent on their self-titled debut album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tom Breihan of Stereogum said the album showcased delta blues, hard and psychedelic rock influences, and Lizzy Goodman of NPR similarly noted its "camp" blues sound.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Release

De Stijl was released on June 20, 2000, through the Sympathy for the Record Industry label.<ref name="allmusic.com">Template:Citation</ref> A re-issued vinyl LP version of the record was pressed at United Record Pressing in Nashville, Tennessee and mastered all-analog from the original master tapes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was re-issued again for its 20th anniversary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Reception

Template:Music ratings De Stijl earned positive reviews from critics, who noted its simplicity, and fusion of blues and "scuzzy garage rock". It was a sleeper hit, earning a following after the White Stripes began to grow popular outside of Detroit.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> NME included it on their "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Heather Phares of AllMusic said that "As distinctive as it is diverse, De Stijl blends the Stripes' arty leanings with enough rock muscle to back up the band's ambitions."<ref name="allmusic.com" /> William Bowers of Pitchfork wrote that the album "contained thunderous, honky-soulful, lacerating pop at various stages of evolution".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jenny Eliscu of Rolling Stone called it "feisty and clever" and praised the drumming, guitar and vocal performances, stating that "like everything about the White Stripes, it [De Stijl] proves that you don't need bombast to make a blues explosion."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Ann Powers of the New York Times described the album as "what many hip rock fans consider real music."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

De Stijl later appeared at number 38 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart in 2002, and is now considered a cult classic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song "Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me?" appeared on The Simpsons in 2010, used in the episode "Judge Me Tender" from its twenty-first season. The song "Apple Blossom" was featured in the 2015 Quentin Tarantino film The Hateful Eight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref>De Stijl (CD liner notes). The White Stripes. Third Man Records. 2000. TMR032.</ref>

The White Stripes

• Jack White – vocals, guitar, piano (tracks 4, 8 and 9), double bass (track 5), production, engineering, mixing
• Meg White – drums, tambourine (track 9), shaker & floor tom (track 5)

Additional personnel

• John Szymanski – harmonica (track 2)
• Paul Henry Ossy – violin (track 5), electric violin (track 12)
• Jim Diamond – mixing

Artwork

• Artes Graficos Por Cholomite! – layout
• E Wolf – photography

Charts

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Chart (2004–05)	Peak position
UK Albums (Official Charts Company)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	137
US Independent Albums (Billboard)<ref name = allmusicawards>The White Stripes - De Stijl Awards. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 5, 2013.</ref>	38