Dead Weather are no ‘Cowards’

It would seem there just aren’t enough bands to contain Jack White; even with the popularity The White Stripes have amassed, he still finds it necessary to start new lineups. His three bands might lead one to think that White is diluting the mixture, but The Dead Weather’s “Sea of Cowards” is a potent and raw collection of blues rock songs that never let up.

Right off, “Blue Blood Blues” announces The Dead Weather’s debt to Led Zeppelin. White shares vocals with singer Alison Mosshart, both of whom shout and snarl over crunchy riffs. Later, when Mosshart takes over vocal duties, she sounds as if she’s screaming into a megaphone in the middle of an abandoned warehouse (a surprisingly pleasant sound).

White’s drumming stays on the back of the beat, reminiscent of John Bonham and ratcheting up the Zeppelin comparisons. Although a bit derivative, The Dead Weather are a breath of fresh air for classic rock fans, and “Sea of Cowards” never overstays its welcome.