The White Stripes - De Stijl (rock)

Raw, blues-infused, and minimalist intensity—De Stijl captures The White Stripes in the early furnace of their sound, when analog gear, garage rock impulses, and heritage blues covers all collided into something rough-hewn and immediate. The VMP exclusive pressing (catalog E090) gives this 2000 album a fresh life, with a striking red-with-black-splatter vinyl that’s as visually bold as the music is audibly urgent.

While De Stijl as a whole is a foundational album for the band—melding punk blues, alternative rock, and garage aesthetics—the rendition of “Death Letter” (originally by Son House) stands out as a moment when Jack and Meg White channel raw emotional weight through sparse instrumentation and fiery performance. It’s a standout on an album that already has plenty of punches.

Label / Edition:
Third Man Records / Vinyl Me, Please Exclusive (E090)

Released:
Original album – 2000 Wikipedia+2Discogs+2
VMP red-with-black-splatter LP version – 2020 (20th-anniversary VMP exclusive) RareVinyl.com+2Discogs+2

Track Highlight:

• “Death Letter” – A cover of the Son House classic. On this pressing its weight is emphasized through analog warmth, intense vocals from Jack, and Meg’s stripped-down, thunderous percussion. It’s a pivotal track in how De Stijl connects the band to the roots of delta blues, while also pointing forward to what would become their signature: raw authenticity delivered without polish