I don't think many on here are so much dissing White's guitar skills or saying that one must shred to be good. My experience in music is almost the exact opposite. The sweetness lies in one's songwriting intuition and their ability to listen to and play with others. Now......Jack White a songwriting legend?
Must. Take. DeepbreathsorI'llexplode.
Please go listen to "Hotel Yorba" or "The Hardest Button to Button" a couple times with an empty bucket by your side and then thank me later for suggesting the bucket be there when you need it. I feel like his strategy as a songwriter is to annoy the listener into a state of confusion where they just accept his music as decent. Then after a few more listens you don't notice the horrible tone of his voice and you know the songs. Next thing you know you're even willing to accept Meg White as a passable drummer for a rock band. </rant>
I like 7 Nation Army, but Audioslave's live version is sooooo much better. The reason for that lies in the fact that Chris Cornell is a ripping vocalist oozing with soul and natural ability. I'm sorry if I offended any White Stripes fans, I will admit that my hatred for them blossomed when Jack White made Rolling Stone's list of the most influential guitarists of all time.