Jack White seemingly used to be a gimmick. He and his partner, Meg White, would deliver raw rock & roll tracks sans bass. Some critics didn't understand the concept, but the sound was good enough to launch a long and successful career, one he is still doing with elite bombast.
White's latest album, Frozen Charlotte, proves that the only person who might give Father Time a run for his money is White. Now 51 years old, he still finds a way to mine the ever-rich soil of his Detroit AOR roots, make them his own, and deliver it all with the energy of someone less than half his age.
The new record doesn't sell fans short, either. 13 songs might only be 43 minutes of your time, but many of the tunes will stick with you long after the initial listen. White overpromises what he does, but at this point, fans know what they will get: Stooges-style rock with a big dose of MC5 and early punk.
Jack White's Frozen Charlotte is a gem, and these three songs are the brightest diamonds
White, who, along with Meg, will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later in 2026, dropped four tracks from the album before its Friday release. All were excellent, but the tunes implied what the entire album would consist of. Thankfully, that is exactly what we received from a man creating songs from the church of rock, one in which he has long been a willing and compelling minister.
While the entire album is a must-listen, the following three tracks are arguably the best.
"Nobody Knows"
The debate here isn't whether the song is great, because it is. Instead, some might argue whether the tune is more of an homage to Led Zeppelin or AC/DC, but filtered through the brilliance of the 21st -century master that White is.
If truly elite rock has a swagger, then this track is the epitome of that. The guitar work is what strutting would sound like -- the hazy vocals only slightly buried in the mix for effect. The second-best touch might be drummer Patrick Keeler's propulsion, but the best part is White's guitar solo.
"She's in a Frenzy"
While White definitely keeps his Detroit roots close, he isn't going to dismiss bands such as T. Rex. Glam has always had a place in the guitarist's oeuvre, and this track might be the most Marc Bolan-inspired tune on Frozen Charlotte.
The drum kick makes one want to shake their botty, and the rhythm of White's guitar only augments the need. Fans even get a classic White solo later in the short track, and one's whole existence in life is improved.
"I Can't Believe What I'm Hearing"
When the track begins, there is a slight nod to Motown, which is fitting since White is from Detroit. The sound would be deep in his bones, and he's self-aware enough to know how he can use it. But make no mistake, the recipe is a heaping dose of MC5 with a sprinkle of Berry Gordy's songcraft.
The song is only two minutes and 29 seconds long, but incorporates more ideas than some symphonies. The tightness of the delivery from White and the rest of his long-standing band (drummer Keeler, bassist Dominic Davis, and keyboardist Bobby Emmett) forces a lack of length, and that is part of the magic.
Plus, a little over two minutes in, one will hear Jack White at his best: An eruption of dirty guitar that he is one of the few masters still able to formulate. Just like the entire album, this is White in full control of his devices, and arguably his best solo album.
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