Elephant: The 2003 Masterpiece That Elevated The White Stripes To Rock Royalty
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The 2000s were an era of exploration for rock music. The genre was experimenting with new styles and going through a massive transformation, from giving the genre a new flavour through Hip-hop in Nu Metal to subverting the anarchy of punk rock into something that is much more playful and sillier through Pop Punk. It’s surprising then that one of the biggest hits of that era is one that goes back to the roots of rock music.
Elephant by The White Stripes was an album they recorded mostly at Toe Rag studios in London except for “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” which was recorded at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios.
What’s really fascinating is that, unlike modern rock which was heavily dependent on slick, digital production at the time, Elephant was an album that was made completely on analog. No computer was used in the writing, recording, mixing and mastering process of the album and None of the recording equipment used in the album was manufactured after 1963.
The duo also used Organs and a piano to make the band sound rich and full. The most important addition to the album was the bass guitar, or so it seemed. The iconic foot-tapping bass of tracks like “Seven Nation Army” and “Hardest Button To Button” was made by a 50’s Kay Archtop guitar which was run through a DigiTech whammy pitched down an octave.
Released in 2003, Elephant was a massive success, not only did the album manage to sell 4 million copies worldwide and go 3x platinum but it also gave the band their biggest hit “Seven Nation Army” which was so popular that it became a Sports anthem at major sporting events.
It’s been almost 20 years since the album was released but its impact can still be felt today, with bands like Greta Van Fleet going for a more vintage sound. Elephant has become the face of classic rock in the modern era.
Also read: 20 Years Of Meterora: A Timeless NU Metal Classic That Transformed Linkin Park Into Rockstars
Browse through The white stripes vinyl records - The Revolver Club
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