I love this and I saw Jack in Vancouver in 2022 and that was amazing.  
But . . . does he sound a little bit too “Plantish” here?  It works but is the reference too obvious?

Lyrics:

I am as ugly as I seem
Worse than all your dreams
Could ever make me out to be
And it makes me want to scream
When it's Halloween
And the kids are laughing at me

The rogue is a bank he's never broke
But worth as much as a joke
That no one is laughing at

Can you believe some things are not?
Appealing and there's a snot
On the ceiling of my childhood bedroom
And of these dreams that you can't imagine
But none of them match the vision
That you have decided for me

You want to take away from me
Things that are mine and it's not your right
I'll bet you wouldn't expect a fight

Can it be that I don't want what you want?
But the only thing I could care for
Is a place in a home that is safe and warm
Safe and warm, safe and warm, safe and warm
It's alright

You want to take away from me
Things that are mine and it's not your right
I'll bet you wouldn't expect a fight

Can it be that I don't want what you want?
Can it be so simple?
Can it be so simple to me?
There is a drop of blood on the ground
And it seems to me that it's not my kind
And I can't be sure if it's yours or mine

Can it be that I don't want what you want?
That I don't want what you want?
That I don't want what you want?

I am as ugly as I seem
Worse than all your dreams
Could ever make me
Out to be
Out to be
Out to be

Nothing to write home about. Sounds like recent Robert Plant to me.

Jack White has a hell of lot more talent than Robert Richie!!! AKA Kid Rock!!

ktnsb wrote: How do you know that's not intentional? I mean, keeping a beat is pretty easy these days to accomplish with such modern devices as the metronome. Or is that "Metro-Gnome?"?

Barman wrote: Actually the average rating for all 14 White Stripes songs on RP is a solid 6.5, which means despite all criticism Jack and Meg fall somewhere between pretty good and quite likeable... Currently I am going through all the Stripes tunes in the RP catalog and re-rating them as 10's to see if I can possibly skew the results further...

Odyzzeuz wrote:Spoken like a true masochist. :-)

Barman wrote: I'll bet you a mazillion gazillion dollars you're wrong.

nigelr wrote: Interstingly painful.

Intersting song!

ktnsb wrote: liser wrote: Oohh no, in the prescence of fanatico exacteroids..timing wa'n't perfect, so what...it's fun

ktnsb wrote: THAT'S what it is! There's always been something off about this song to me but I couldn't figure it out - just enough to bug me. Still like it, though.

govna wrote: Excellent!

I like this song but RP plays it so often that it is about to go the way of "Hotel California" for me. The White Stripes do have other songs.

lmic wrote: i disagree and add the following quote: "anything will eventually sound like something else if you dig deep enough." i also add that i'm not even a fan, so therefore the statement is an unbiassed, expert oppinion.

Posted 17 years ago by govna    [ Reply ]

ooooof

Avg. Rating: 6.1 (Total Ratings: 428) (I bet this song will rate 8.4 from Radio Paradise listeners in 2027)

Pretty cool, overall, I gotta admit. But they commit the one unforgivable musical sin for a rock band (yes, we're stretching a bit, but that's ok): they can't keep time! The box player (Jack's wife, ex-wife, widow, grandaughter, whatever) is constantly speeding up or slowing down trying to play with the guitar and they don't play together for a lot of this tune. It drives me nookin futs i tell ya. Most of their music is really cool, but I can't listen to this one.

pdhski wrote: I usually appreciate how Jack synthesizes his (many) influences, creating something unique in the process. I agree, though, that this is straight-up Blind Melon.

Hannio wrote: Not necessarily.

Ah, nice segue from the guitars of the Ditty-Bops...Jack is no slouch on the strings, is he?! He has given us some of the most unique, raw, and wild music to come along in a long time, and I thank Bill and RP for turning me on to it all...

so good they are (said like yoda)

milehighYinzer wrote: The "band" sounds pretty complete as it is. They put out some awesome noise for just two people.

milehighYinzer wrote: In that case Meg is also his ex-girlfriend, eh?

ElSupreme wrote: Just be thankful you have a social life or eventually have to sleep then.

physicsgenius wrote: Finally, a funny observation that I can agree with from you!

gdhog79 wrote: Nope, Meg is the ex-wife. The sister thing is part of the shtick, he routinely says "give a hand to my big sister Meg" in concert - I've seen them twice. https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7582742/white_on_white

nice......

Why am I disappointed that I missed this song on RP? I mean it is in my car. And on my iPod. And on 2 of my computers at work. And at home in my CD player. I could just listen with those copies. But no, I have to feel disappointed because I missed RP play it. Original CD (bought and paid for): CD player at home MP3 CD (with other WS albums): in car CD case MP3 : computer in bedroom, and home office MP3 on iPod: Sitting on top of Speaker box

boileymon wrote: I thought Meg was/is his sister.

boileymon wrote: I think the Raconteurs album is great! (so is this album) I saw them live at Lolla and they were fantastic.

milehighYinzer wrote: Uh, Meg is his ex-wife. RP has added The Raconteurs recently. I think their album is spotty. What is a "basist?"

I wish they would play the Raconteurs also. It is Jack White with a new band. His girlfriend drummer is no longer there, but the band is complete with a basist, other guitarist, singer, etc. It is awesome.

I have this cd and there isn't a bad track on it. This one's an 8.

lissen wrote: I like the way you said that. There are so many songs I hear once on RP, initially dismiss but later grow to love. For me, it's really a matter of learning to listen in a different way.

trekhead wrote: Definitly some Plant food been feeding this Stripe.

lissen wrote: Not really. Meg White is not bashing the hell out of something with drum sticks.

Papa_John wrote: yes, i read somewhere that this was his nod to bob...i like bob's song better

Led Zep thing going on here, 8.

White Stripes keeping true to themselves. Where's "We're Going to be Friends?" Great music all the time, even when it's something I'm still learning how to listen to.

I would listen to this a multitude of times versus some of the Hippie stuff that gets played time and time again. To be honest I find this probably one of the nicest songs that the stripes have done. Bill you do a good mix of stuff ... keep it up

I haven't heard this one yet, and for once here's some drumming that doesn't make me want to shove knives in my ears. Sorry, Meg.

Sorry, I just can't get past this guy's voice. I can hear why folks might think it's Plant, but this guy sounds like he takes half a breath before singing.

This song is not aging well.....getting overplayed!!

pgarner wrote: The music is overrated, but the lyrics aren't. 8

What is it about this guy? I like him.

DarkStar wrote: A young one, at that....

segueman wrote: Plant spot on!

quite pleasant, but so so overrated

physicsgenius wrote: The hyper-critical attitude. The obsessive hostility toward non-conformists. The torrent of sarcastic observational cut-downs offered in lieu of wit or insight. Could be sophomore year, could be physicsgenius 24/7/365.

It's amazing how much more I like bands such as the White Stripes and Jack Johnson when they're not shoved into my ears every half hour on commercial radio. Yay RP.

meghan89 wrote: Me too. It took a while. Their best songs (like this one) are great. I am even begining to appreciate how Meg's drumming works in their context.

physicsgenius wrote: I must say I'm surprised you actually consider this a song, PG.

bmo wrote: I thought it was Robert Plant as well till I checked.

physicsgenius wrote: hilarious!

Just so we know, are we going to hear this song every 10 minutes for all time or only for the next few years?

I love this duo. I like it how they just simply don't pigenhole themselves into a specific genre and they let their influences shine through, be it hard core punk or traditional bluegrass.

I always think this song is going to veer into The Beatles' "If I Needed Someone!"

ghrup wrote: Blind Melon maybe - easier to steal from the dead. Seems to be JW's MO

bmo wrote: QUITE! Uncanny.

physicsgenius wrote: Spot on

now that the file is fixed, YES this is a good one.

The hair. The makeup. The moustache. The hat. Welcome to your sophomore year in Drama Club, circa 1990.

The White Stripes? How can this be The White Stripes? This is not loud, irritating, and grating--this can't be The White Stripes. . . .

Sounds like an STP song.

Saw them a few weeks ago, interviewed by Charlie Rose, on PBS. Throughout the interview, Jack talked all the time. Meg sat there looking away from the camera, acting extremely withdrawn. I felt sorry for her as she seemed so uncomfortable, almost childlike shyness. Rose tried to involve Meg in the conversation in an attempt to draw her out, but she demurred. She described her drumming as "spontaneous" and "intuitive." Jack kept interjecting that he likes her "simplistic approach" and has encouraged her NOT to take any lessons. Oh well, it just makes me wonder. I think Jack is incredibly talented, but I don't see what Meg brings to the act. Not trying to be critical, but I couldn't relate to her as a person, and her musical talent is odd, to say the least.

bmo wrote: Yeah. I was wondering about that.

What the - ? Yeah, something's wrong here, all right. We get some whacky and pretty awful "little ghost" stuff, then jump into the middle of "As Ugly As I Seem." Yo, Mixmaster Bill - I think this file's bad. (Only time I've ever heard that happen here.)

Horrible. Just horrible. This need to be thrown away!

Yeah, for some reason we get the first minute or so of "Little Ghost" (off the same album), then it abruptly switches to "As Ugly As I Seem," which it's supposed to be. Someone goofed an upload, methinks.

ear drano :P

Somethings gone whacky. Says White Stripes but I'm hearing Robert Plant. How odd.

Wow. Yuck. Then ... what the ??

A song that mentions Halloween. Hmm.

nuggler wrote: In an alternate universe where the White Stripes (and Jack specifically) had seemingly infinite talent... Here, however, they're limited in all aspects. A 4 at best.

Renee' saw something... ... ... Beauty & the Beast... Actually, I think he is kinda cute... ...

nuggler wrote: g'day Nuggler

Reminds me of Bob Dylan's "I Belive In You." OK for Bob, but not The White Stripes.

It would seem that at last this generation has their own Jimmy Page....

Dream duet: Jack White + Jack Black

Okay, that was a very bad mix of two different songs from this album.

Kill it. Kill it now! Hurts ears!

Love The White Stripes... everything they do just hits me right. Cool tune.

As much as I like the Stripes, this song is definitely not one of their best efforts, IMHO. 3.

Sorry, but from my point of view, no amount of analysis is going to make this track sound good. it's weak, stuff I would have been embarrassed to play to anyone if I'd recorded it. It's a tribute to this radio station that there are regular listeners who like things like this mixed in with all the other great stuff i'd give 9s to. There's nowt as queer as folk....! :-k

Not bad at all ... a kind of Led Zeppelin touch

Well, this is way better than your average White Stripes song. . . .

Awesome to hear that there's more than "Seven Nation Army". Actually enjoying that song.

Sure she ain't that good "technically" but I'm guessing it is more about heart than precision. Let's face it ,without out Charlie the Stones would not be the Stones.

I just don't think a "slick" professional drummer would fit this sound. And at least one great band - The Rolling Stones - notoriously wobble the beats of their songs (Bill Wyman used to talk a lot about it - him and Charlie used to fiddle with time signatures and beat while playing live...). This is a raw, garage sounding band and it works - they kick ass in their shows. Check the DVD - Under Blackpool Lights.

One of those "bands" I like in concept... But don't really enjoy listening to. He's a talented guy, and an electric performer. But I don't think this is a musical form that works well in, what is essentially, prolonged solo performance. Even Hendrix & Stevie Ray needed good backup! As for Meg-- I simply like drumming too much to not cringe when I listen to her. It just smacks of simple arrogance to pair up a talent like his with someone who struggles to maintain the most basic, the most simple, of beats-- His way of saying, "Look Ma, No Hands!"? Ever notice how people, when they're making excuses, tend to resort to extreme comparisons? He didn't want a Neil Peart? Come on, Jack!

boileymon wrote: I think psycholynx's point was that he doesn't care whether it is simplistic/minimalistic or not but that the essential thing for a drummer is to keep time. Keeping time has little to do with simplistic/complicated etc. Personally I don't care so much about whether she is good or not, just if the music sounds good to me. On some of their songs I don't mind the simplistic drumming (and lack of bass) on others I find it rather annoying. Otoh I bet a very good drummer would sound better playing "simplistically" than a bad one.

psycholynx wrote: You should listen to the Fresh Air with Terry Gross interview from June of this year, link below. Meg barely talks and Jack can't stop. Anyway, Jack repeatedly talks about how simplistic and kidlike Meg's drumming is, but explains that this is exactly what he was looking for. In the recent Rolling Stone interview he explains how a Neil Peart clone wouldn't be a good match for their eclectic mix of styles. I agree, I saw them at Red Rocks earlier this week in the 9th row and her drumming simply "fits." https://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=9-Jun-05

thought I was hearing things too. heard little ghost, went to get stir stick for coffee, come back, it's gone! maybe a real ghost in the machine?

GreenJello wrote: I'm getting that too...anyone got a good version to upload?

Is this the only song on the album?

physicsgenius wrote: Oh that's right, there's something wrong with this track. I like the first part better but the second part matches the ridiculous picture better.

I would like to rate this up, but come on--that moustache!

Can't wait to see these guys at Merriweather Post Pavillion! (and the Shins open for them)

pdhski wrote: *writing that one down* It's...uh...different. I think.

th3boon wrote: i was a little disappointed by this album on a whole, personally. though it is more interesting than several other albums, it just doesn't gel as a whole as well as it should. meg is particularily distracting on this lp, whereas it seemed to work on the punkier-edged older material. even their older blues-oriented music on de stijl worked with megdrums, but not a lot of this stuff. i do believe this one to be better than elephant though, "seven nation army" or not.

coding_to_music wrote: Jack steals from everyone, and doesn't come close either. If the White Stripes were a bar band with a $2 cover, I'd still ask for my money back.

I think this track is corrupted. It jumps from "Little Ghost" to "Ugly As I Seem".

um... Sorry to hog this board, but did anyone else notice that the song switch halfway through from 'little ghost' to 'ugly as i seem'? is the track not ripped right or was that a dj chg? odd

this is basically one of the best albums you're likely to hear anywhere besides college radio this year. you need to listen to the whole album to appreciate it, the cuts or so diverse and varied. well and the hiss and pop is not, i don't believe, 'artistic', it's because they record on pre-computer equipment with an analog 8 track recorder I believe. maybe meg needs to be moved along, but jack is one of the est musicians producing stuff on a regular basis. who knows what they will be, but what they are and have been is refreshing.

not very interesting... I usually like the white stripes but not this one

ugh, could the singing be a little more nasal? oof.

Vandy005 wrote: I like that..."minimalism" is that what she's saying about her own drumming. I'm not saying they need to hit 300 drums a second or sycopate like Bonzo, or change time signatures like Danny Carey or be absolutely perfect like Neil Peart. She just needs to keep time, and that seems to be the one thing she cannot do. Ask anyone who is/was a drummer and they will say she is not very good at all. I would equiate her skill to mine after I had only played for 5 months. I guess if you think about it, playing as often as she has, show after show, album after album...her real talent is not improving. How does she do it? =P Don't worry though, there are plenty of cool bands that started off with crappy drummers: Everclear, No Doubt, Nirvana & Guns and Roses. I'm done shooting off my mouth for the moment. *reloads*

jbtidwell wrote: me three! And then Bill follows up with Led Zeppelin.

mildersoap wrote: Actually, I think it's track 11, called "As Ugly As I Seem"

I'm not the first to notice the Robert Plant sound...

This may not be FM mainstream radio but there still is limited variety. I've heard maybe two songs off of this album in two months of listening to RP. I assume there are other songs on the album? Play 'em...

i really like this song... possibly one of the best songs they've done - reminds me of the de stijl album. but this song is mistitled? this isn't little ghost. it's "forever for her"

What a horrible set. Robert Plant wanna be?

crouton215 wrote: and that's why i love this song!!

What's with the background hiss and pops? Was this ripped from vinyl, or is someone trying to be "artistic"?

i really like this song,, white stripes are somewhat mainstream,, but this song is not mainstream,, good deep track,, thats why i love RP,, great deep tracks!!

blue-ice wrote: This might be more of a semantics issue, but I don't think melody should be measured in the more or less line of reasoning. You can't take measuring cup from the kitchen and say "yep this one only has cup and half of melody, the recipe calls for two." Melody is concept of better or worse. Just my opinion on that. I actually enjoy both the Gorillaz and White Stripes.

Gregorama wrote: Bruce Springsteen isn't the best defense for any recording method! But that aside, I think I mean more in the context of the other aspects of this song that I don't like, the cheap recording technique doesn't seem to help. For me, at least.