W/e 17/07/26 - The Rolling Stones, Jack White, The Temper Trap, Trophy Wife, My Chemical Romance

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A very good week all round — the averages were noticeably up and Jack White takes Album of the Week with an impressive average of 8.03, the highest scoring album of the year so far and a new entry at number 16 in the all-time rankings. The Rolling Stones ran him reasonably close on 7.69, which on most weeks would have been a comfortable winner. Trophy Wife prop up the table on 6.91 but even that is a decent score in the context of recent weeks.

Tune of the Week: Dollar Bill by Jack White — though Jim made a strong case for In The Stars by the Stones, which took four votes overall and ran it very close.

Sam claims the 😊 again this week with an 8.03 average — he's becoming a fixture up there and clearly has impeccable taste in guitar music. Phil J takes the ☹️ on 6.95, though in fairness that's hardly a disaster of a week.

Andy

The Rolling Stones - This almost feels a bit Stones by numbers but that’s a pretty good thing to be. Interesting choice of cover and nice that Mick let Keef have a go at one, even if he did rock up at the end to help out 7.5

The Temper Trap - Even with the light falsetto that I’m not always enamoured with this was a pretty good bit of indie 7

Trophy Wife - Enjoyable stuff. The sort of thing I’d love to see live 7

Jack White - Like the Stones he does what he does but he does it well and this more good blues rock 8

TotW - Nobody Knows by Jack White

My Chemical Romance - Love this and have done ever since I first heard I’m not OK. Black Parade is definitely more complete but this is an emo all-timer 8.5

Sam

The Rolling Stones: it all sounds pretty damn good for a bunch of octogenarians! 8

The Temper Trap : known as one hit wonders , before I heard it I did hope they had more to offer . His voice is fantastic. I prefer the rockier numbers but this is a decent album ; 7.6

Trophy Wife : some decent bits of angsty indie . Needs a tad more cohesion; 7

Jack White : everyone knows my love for Jack ! What an absolute legend . Another album of blues tinged guitar masterclasses . Virtually perfect as ever . 9.5

TOTW so many to choose from but I’ll go for Dollar Bill by Jack White

MCR : what a second album! Full of Emo anthems . Blistering stuff : 9.2

Guy

The Rolling Stones – They’ve not lost it. This is a great blues rock album with some top tunes on it. – 8.1

Temper Trap – Better than I expected. I love Sweet Disposition but have listened to other albums and found them weak. This was decent but I still probably won’t be back – 7

Trophy Wife – Angsty with a bit of a shoegaze feel. Nowt too wrong with it but it was a bit too maudlin for my liking – 6.7

Jack White – He’s prolifically good. I don’t think this album was as good as some of his we’ve listened to but he sets a high benchmark and even a slightly weaker album is still way better than many we listen to – 8

TOTW – Rolling Stones – In The Stars

My Chemical Romance – Not really my cup of tea. In places this is a bit frat rocky and in others just loud and screamy. Both are bad – 5.8

Carlo

The Rolling Stones – 8.0

Within the first 10 seconds, you know this album is going to be a banger. Although I did feel it lost its way a little after the initial excitement. Also not completely sold on the Amy cover.

The Temper Trap – 8.3

Just what I was hoping for – sultry rhythms, gentle synths and high pitched vocals. Album of the week for me.

Trophy Wife – 6.8

Her delicately angry voice isn’t quite for me. I do like the songs though, along with the subtle chilled beats. Would I have preferred it if she had a sweeter, less droning voice… I think I would!

Jack White – 7.0

Even though I’ve heard you lot bleat on about how good he is, I really wasn’t looking forward to this. To be fair though, considering it’s not really my bag, I was pleasantly surprised. Nice beats, tasteful guitar riffs that never became too pretentious and a good mix of blues and rock made this much better than I expected.

TOTW: The Temper Trap – Sungazer

Classic – My Chemical Romance – 6.6

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but they were a little more shouty than I’d hoped. Shame really, because I could hear some quality tunes in there. The occasional squealing guitar was a bit of a challenge for my poor, precious ears though.

Phil (New)

The Rolling Stones - 7.5

The Temper Trap - 7.1

Trophy Wife - 6.8

Jack White - 8.5

TOTW - Raising the grain - Jack White

My Chemical Romance - 6.8

Justin

The Rolling Stones - Classic Rolling Stones. No absolute classic stand out song but great blues rock album. 7.5

The Temper Trap - Doesn't all work and not really sure exactly what the genre is, but good varied indie. 7

Trophy Wife - Started good and ended good but definitely a bit dreary in the middle. 6.5

Jack White - Initially I thought this sounded a bit too raw as if he recorded it in one take before breakfast. On further listening it has grown on me as classic Jack White 7.9

TOTW Giving Up Air - The Temper Trap

My Chemical Romance - Background Main Stage (aka The Grid) afternoon music. I won't listen to voluntarily but okay as background music on a sunny afternoon when drinking. 6.5

Simon

The Rolling Stones 7.5

Sound remarkably sprightly for a bunch of eighty-somethings - I enjoyed it, they can still write a tune although wouldn't prioritise listening to this over their classics from yesteryear.

The Temper Trap 6.5

More pop than indie, almost as if they are trying to position themselves in the same space as Coldplay - lacks an edge, they sound more appealing when they let rip, e.g. as on Dystopian Radio.

Trophy Wife 7.5

Liked this a lot - has a lo-fi grungy feel and the tracks all have something about them. Great opener in Pervert Workaholic.

Jack White 8

Not his best album - songs are a bit samey compared to the likes of Lazaretto - but an average Jack White album is still a cut above most of what we get to listen to these days.

TotW: Jack White - G.O.D. and the Broken Ribs

My Chemical Romance 4.5

I have the same allergic reaction to this that Andy does when he listens to electronica - can see why it might appeal to some of you but it does absolutely zip for me.

Mark D

Rolling Stones 7.5

Brilliant opening tracks and blues rock. Not listened to all the 25+ albums before this but shows Deep Purple how it's done. Some slower songs didnt stand out, and album a couple of tracks long, but otherwise. Craft.

Temper Trap 7

Bit undecided. Great opener and ending tracks w. nice 90's sort of groove but couldn't sustain the energy / felt a bit indistinguishable at times. Upbeat numbers stood out.

Trophy Wife 7.5

Enjoyed the grungier sound here w her vocals and songs kept variety across the album. Quite haunting at times, heavier at others and a great album!

Jack White 7

Great set of tunes but the sound is too heavily distorted for me and too many guitar interludes to score higher..

TOTW - Temper Trap - Dystopia Radio

My Chemical Romance 7

I'm fine w heavier stuff and a new listen, but this was a bit punkier than I expected. There's clearly a lot of anger and anthems there, but not all I'd hoped for and felt quite samey.

Phil (OG)

Rolling Stones 7.8

Well, as ageing rockers go, the Stones make a stronger case for keeping going than Deep Purple did. My only issue wIth this album was that it was just too long. To be fair, there were a couple of misfires – Mister Charm, for instance – but too old to rock’n’roll? Surprisingly not.

Temper Trap 5.8

Bland and soporific. Made Coldplay sound edgy.

Trophy Wife 7.2

Enjoyed this a lot on first hearing. Second time around the faults became apparent. I liked their scratchy indie sound but they don’t do a lot with it and it’s all a bit samey.

Jack White 7

I have pretty much the same reaction to this album as to his No Name effort. It’s a solid, slightly scruffy, slab of blues rock and it’s not difficult for me to listen and see why Jack is so revered. Yet for whatever reason, he just doesn’t connect with me.

TOTW – Rolling Stones – Rough and twisted

Classic

My Chemical Romance 7.4

Noisy and frantic. I enjoyed the Black Parade a lot more than I expected but I think this might be the better record. Great song titles too!

Erol

The Rolling Stones - fresh and modern sounding, slickly produced, but unmistakably the Stones. They still sound great after all these years. Even the Amy Winehouse cover (You Know I’m No Good) is strong. 7.9

The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition is a great track but it’s their only one I know. This album is very different; but it’s still entertaining, uplifting indie electronica. Giving up Air and Dystopia Radio are crackers. Interesting that they are currently supporting Muse’s US tour, so that can’t be a bad thing. 7.5

Trophy Wife - grungy, fuzzy

indie rock. It’s ok but I found it too slow paced and down beat after a while. 6.3

Jack White - this man can do little wrong when it comes to making music. Another outing of rip roaring blues guitar. Sounds so good. 8.7 🤟🎸

TOTW - Derecho Demenico, Jack White

MCMR - I know they’re a marmite band for most of you but they are great at high tempo, high drama rock ‘n’ roll. Not quite as good as The Black Parade but it’s still damn good. 8.9

Annette

The Rolling Stones: 7

The Temper Trap: 7

Trophy Wife: 7

Jack White: 8.5

TOTW: Derecho Demenico by Jack White

Classic: My Chemical Romance - 7

Adam

The Rolling Stones 7

Some cracking stuff from the veterans. Blues rock well and alive.

The Temper Trap 9

Wow. Loved these guys back in 09. It’s still light but maybe a bit more darkness/edge to it than previous outings. Two listens through this week. Got my head bopping.

Trophy Wife 8

We’ve had various slow folksy albums this year, a number falling into blandness. This doesn’t. She manages to keep a good tempo and feels like there is some soul to it and a bit of edge.

Jack White 7

Good quality rocking but doesn’t take his finger off the distortion does he.

TOTW Giving Up Air - Temper Trap

Classic 9

Was obsessed with this album back in the day, I think this is their best one and for me holds up well today. Great angsty, emo riffing and singing.

Paul

The Rolling Stones (7.9)

They’ve still got it, Mick’s Voice has held up well. Sounds like they had fun making it.

Temper Trap (8)

Joyous upbeat summer synthy indie tunes.

Trophy Wife (7)

Decent grungy indie, enjoyed the heavier tracks.

Jack White (8.8)

Excellent quality blues rock, once again a genre that I’m really enjoying at the moment.

TOTW - Jack White - Dollar Bill

My Chemical Romance (7.5)

Not something I’d usually go for, but enjoyed it. high tempo, shouty, punky fun!

Mark KE

Rolling Stones - 7.5 - not that we needed new Stones material but this is a surprisingly good set, kind of like a collection of so many different Stones styles down the years, and the single is fab.

The Temper Trap - 5.5 - pleasant enough but lacking any real edge, a bit bland and middle of the road, probably destined to ever be a one hit wonder.

Trophy Wife - 6.5 - nice atmospheric grunge lite.

Jack White - 8.5 - yet more brilliance from JW, how does he do it, great band behind him on this one as well that fills the sound out a bit more and gives it some roll with the rock.

TOTW - In The Stars, by the Stones

Matt

The Rolling Stones - 8

The Temper Trap - 7.2

Trophy Wife - 6

Jack White - 8

TOTW - The Rolling Stones, In the Stars

Jim

The Rolling Stones 8

Great fun, with a handful of absolute bangers especially in the first half. Astonishing really how they can sound this chipper like they are loving it still.

The Temper Trap 6.5

Nice upbeat pop, if a little light and wafty at times. Giving Up Air was a choon.

Trophy Wife 7

Enjoyed this moody sludgey indie. One for future early slot in the Festival Republic, or whatever it’s called now.

Jack White 8.5

More wizardry. Felt a little rawer than his most recent, with early White Stripes simplicity, especially on Neighbour Blues. Plenty of TOTW contenders and a few for the 26f’ selection. Great work.

TOTW: Desite Jack’s gems it has to be the joyous In The Stars by The Rolling Stones

My Chemical Romance 6.5

Overall decent sounds, and it’s obvious they are leaders in their field, but like recent my experience of Foo’s at the harder end, it’s relentless but not in a great way and the tracks don’t offer enough variety.