Jack White be damned. Every time I'm ready to write him off as a self-obsessed, dour musical ideologue, he proves that he's one of the last great risk-takers — and purists — left on the fading radio dial. The Dead Weather is White's most grand musical experiment. Freed from the candy-stripe minimalism of the White Stripes, the Dead Weather is an overdubbed Gothic funhouse version of your favorite Bachman Turner Overdrive album — you know, that one you're embarrassed to admit you bought. "Sea of Cowards" has a funk bottom to make Prince proud and a fuzz-guitar attack worthy of the best T. Rex albums. Jack White makes music for the days when you kept the bedroom door closed and hid under your headphones behind a double gatefold. Thank God, someone remembers. Even if he's a bit insufferable.

WATCH the music video for The Dead Weather's single "Die by the Drop."


Check out more of this week's new music!