blackleatherbookshelf | Oct. 11th, 2010

Shake your hips like battleships
4 Out of 5 Stars

No one does dirty guitar rock these days better than Jack White. His second album with his latest band, Dead Weather, picks up right where the last one let off. "Sea Of Cowards" brings back the sludge-like jamming sound introduced on "Horehound," adds creepy effects and makes Jack White's voice almost interchangeable with lead singer Alison Mosshart. The seventies they want to emulate is more Blue Cheer than Led Zep, even if the guitars still borrow relentlessly (and loudly) from the Jimmy Page playbook.

If that kind of heavy blues-rock from White's Nashville garage sounds like heaven to you, then by all means pick this up. Little bits will stick you, like White and Mosshart barking "I'm Mad Hah Hah!" at each other, or the anger at an ex Mosshart drills into "Die By The Drop." There's also little moments of playfulness, like the video game bleeps that open "The Difference Between Us."

The spookiest moment comes at the end, where White delivers "Old Mary."

"Old Mary, full of grease,
Your heart stops within you,
Scary are the fruits of your tomb
and harsh are the terms of your sins."

It's blasphemous, creepy and goofy all at the same time. All but perfect for Halloween parties, and brings "Sea Of Cowards" to a haunting close.