Jack White – Frozen Charlotte

Jack White is no stranger to a headline these days. Whether it’s one of his astute social media posts going viral for speaking his mind about President Trump or updates on his private life, he often appears in the news for things outside of music. However, White has just released his seventh studio album since leaving behind The White Stripes and going solo in 2011, putting him back in the spotlight for all the right reasons.

Frozen Charlotte is another bluesy, wonderfully gritty record from White, featuring his signature storytelling lyricism mixed with heavy, raw guitar riffs. GOD and the Broken Ribs begins with White adopting a more spoken-word vocal style, followed by Derecho Demonico, both of which were released as singles before the album’s release. Religious themes continue throughout the record, with lyrics laced with attitude and intrigue, all complete with White’s trademark chugging guitar tone.

White has never been afraid to call anyone out, and his lyrics on Frozen Charlotte are often pointed, especially when they appear to have a female focus. While the people in White’s songs are often fictionalised, songs like You’ll Never Fix Me and She’s in a Frenzy speak of anger and jealousy, and it’s hard not to attribute them to something personal. Lyrics like “My love is broke, it’s inside your mind” and “Can you believe the energy she wasted on the kitchen floor? She’s a tempest in a coffee cup and jealous of the freedom I ignore” bring up vivid imagery and add bite to the already punchy tunes.

It’s slightly slower-paced than the Nashville rockers’ last release, No Name, which was famed for its punkier edge. Here we see White return to his gothic roots, particularly on Dollar Bill and I Can’t Believe What I’m Hearing. The chorus on I Can’t Believe What I’m Hearing is strong, with a fitting key change and plucky riff, giving it a stand-out edge over some of the other tracks.

Things wrap up with the recently released single Neighbors Blues, kicking off with a deliciously melancholic synth. The song reads like a warning fit for a horror movie as White sings, “Yeah, my hedges are too high, aren’t they? They wanna keep an eye on me,” later concluding, “You make one step, and you’re dead/And on your grave/Three roosters standing guard.”

It’s the sort of album you can stick on confidently and know you’ll be treated to non-stop scuzzy guitar bliss for the duration of the 13 songs. If you’re craving a completely different direction from White, you’ll be disappointed, but for dedicated fans of quality rock ‘n’ roll and rich lyricism, it doesn’t get much better.

Hannah Broughton
Image: James Swanson

Frozen Charlotte is released on 10^th July 2026. For further information or to order the album, visit Jack White’s website here.

Watch the video for G.O.D. And The Broken Ribs here: