As 2005 rolled around, Jack White began to prepare material for the White Stripes next album. Recording would prove to be problematic as it was decided that sessions would take place in Jack White’s home. The reasons behind the problems were that the tape machine and microphones would stop working along with water that would drip down from the ceiling.
Jack White also felt that he had been betrayed and burned by fellow members of the Detroit music scene. One of these was Jim Diamond, who had brought a law suit against the band claiming he had been the mixer and editor on the bands first two albums. The other was Jason Stollsteimer from the band The Von Blondes. Jack White had been credited as the producer on the Von Blondes debut album, which Jim Diamond (him again) felt he should have had been given credit for instead of White. Jack White and Jason Stollsteimer would have a physical altercation. White would plead guilty to assault after this incident and had to pay costs as well as attend anger management classes.
The album was different from its predecessors as there is less focus on the blues and punk rock sound that had been so prevalent on the bands previous records. There was also more experimental with instrumentation. Piano, mandolin and marimba can all be heard on the finished product.
The album had a listing event for music journalists, where each of them received an vinyl copy of the record. There was also a further 600 released which for the next ten years, would be the only vinyl version of this album.
Disc 1
The original album with B-Sides & non LP A-Sides
- Blue Orchid
- The Nurse
- My Doorbell
- Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)
- Little Ghost
- The Denial Twist
- White Moon
- Instinct Blues
- Passive Manipulation
- Take, Take, Take
- As Ugly As I Seem
- Red Rain
- I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)
- Who’s A Big Baby (B-Side)
- Through I Hear You Calling, I will Not Answer (B-Side)
- You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket (Live Belfast, UK – 25/8/2004) (B-Side)
- Same Boy You’ve Always Known (Live Manaus, Brazil – 1/6/2005) (B-Side)
- Screwdriver (Live Manaus, Brazil – 1/6/2005) (B-Side)
- Blue Orchid (High Contrast Remix) (B-Side)
- Shelter Of Your Arms (B-Side)
- Top Special (A-Side – Non LP Single)
- Walking With A Ghost (Walking With A Ghost EP)
Disc 2
Rare tracks, demos, tracking rehearsals & live B-Sides
- City Lights
- Instinct Blues (Demo)
- Red Rain (Demo)
- City Lights (Demo)
- I’m Slowly Turning Into You (Demo)
- Semitone Blues (Demo)
- The Denial Twist (Demo)
- My Doorbell (Demo)
- My Doorbell (Band Demo)
- The Nurse (Demo)
- Over & Over & Over ((Demo)
- White Moon (Demo)
- Forever For Her (Is Over For Me) (Tracking Rehearsal)
- Spitting Tracks (Tracking Rehearsal)
- The Denial Twist (Alt. Mix)
- White Moon (Alt. Mix)
- City Lights (Alt. Mix)
- Over & Over & Over (Outtake)
- As Ugly As I Seem (Alt. Mix)
- I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet) (Alt. Mix)
- Ain’t No Sweeter Than Rota Blues (Inst Outtake)
- The Denial Twist (Live On KCRW Radio) (B-Side)
- As Ugly As I Seem (Live On KCRW Radio) (B-Side)
- Screwdriver (Live Manaus, Brazil – 1/6/2005) (Walking With A Ghost EP Edit)
- Whispering Sea (Live, Gorge Amphitheater 6/8/05) (B-Side)
Disc 3 – Live at Auditorio Coca-Cola, Monterrey, Mexico 11th May 2005
- Dead Leaves & A Dirty Ground
- Black Math
- Blue Orchid
- My Doorbell
- Jolene
- Hotel Yorba
- Fell In Love With A Girl
- Let’s Shake Hands
- When I Hear My Name
- Take A Whiff On Me
- Cannon
- The Nurse
- The Same Boy You’ve Always Known
- The Denial Twist
- Death Letter
- Little Ghost
- We’re Going To Be Friends
- I Fought Piranhas
- Passive Manipulation
- I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself
- I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely)
- Seven Nation Army
- Boll Weevil
Blu-ray
Unreleased footage filmed by David James Swanson as he joined the White Stripes Central and South American tour in 2005.