Jack White has been in countless bands over the years, but this is his first solo effort. My personal favorite Jack White band was The White Stripes and on his new album he gets back to those bluesy garage rock roots and then some.

Jack’s other bands haven’t strayed too far from his rock roots but do incorporate other musical elements, with The Raconteurs getting a little folksy sometimes to The Dead Weather’s psychedelic tendencies. This album is all of that. There’s even a twangy piano ballad on the title track “Blunderbluss,” then things get even twangier on “Love Interruption.” Songs like these set the tortured vibe for some of the album. White switches it up on “I’m Shakin” and shows why he made the coveted list for Rolling Stone Magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He rocks out even more on “Missing Pieces” and “Sixteen Saltines.” Towards the end of the album there’s the colorful “I Guess I Should Go to Sleep,” which is the perfect lullaby after what would be a long night out.

In all of Jack’s different musical creations, this is some of his best work in recent times. Although he was initially resistant, you get the sense that in going solo Jack finally got the artistic freedom he’s been craving all these years.

Grade: B+

Recommended Songs: “Missing Pieces” and “I Guess I Should Go to Sleep”