The most striking piece is the propulsive rocker ‘Hello Operator’, which demonstrates how effective The White Stripes’ stripped back sound can be, with its repetitive riffing adding urgency to the paranoid vocals. Just look at the aforementioned IANAHB2 or other DONDA-produced album covers like The Pinkprint, and B.O.A.T.S. 1999, 6.5/10Compared to their later records, Te White Stripes’ debut album is extremely primitive. Tonträger: It's a tranquil image, and also a very traditional representation of European beauty. By 2012's Ten$ion, they'd found their sinister sweet spot, and the cover of last year's follow-up, Donker Mag, promised to dig in even deeper: A black and white photo of a naked, painted Yolandi hovering possessed above a compass. That scream, my God. 2000, 8/10De Stijl is a step forward in most facets, with a noticeably tidier production and stronger original songs. Still sealed copy sold by an independent record store. They’re still the same two piece band, so there’s no bass to risk confusion with The Hives, The Vines and the rest of the crop of 2001, but this new direction is more generic than what they were doing previously. It also stands to reason its minimalist aesthetic was probably swaggerjacked by Kanye’s design company, DONDA. I have the compilation as it was the only album I could find on CD – not sure if I should just cover that, or dive right in. Though they were opening for the Rolling Stones, even cool album covers couldn’t hide the fact that they had lost some of that wild and raw excitement of De Stijl and White Blood Cells.—Tim Scott. The latter is surely what initially appealed to the man who appropriated it for his own use: infamously racist, xenophobic wackadoodle (and Burzum creator) Varg Vikernes. It remains the dividing line for Lupe's career, but it also remains his best album cover. The album garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, earning a nomination for Album of the Year and a win for Best Alternative Music Album at the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004, peaking at number six in the US Billboard charts and topping the UK album charts. This is music for people who like to be made to feel smart and defiant without the burden and man hours required to pull it off. A mixed bag of talent. By this time, Gillis was already playing drums with musician friends, including his upholstery apprenticeship mentor, Brian Muldoon. It follows on nicely from the opening ‘You’re Pretty Good Looking (or A Girl)’, upping the ante a notch after its predecessor’s catchy riff craft. The album’s sound reflects the garage band trend; the arty minimalism of De Stijl isn’t as prevalent, replaced by a dirtier fuller sound. Tonträger: