Under Great White Northern Lights is the documentary film and second live album by The White Stripes. The film, directed by Emmett Malloy, documents the band's summer 2007 tour across Canada and contains live concert and off-stage footage. The album collects various recordings from throughout the tour. The album was released on CD, as well as 180-gram vinyl LP. The documentary was released on DVD and Blu-ray, alongside the album. A special edition box set was also available. The CD, LP, DVD, BD, and box set were released on March 16, 2010.
Review:
Given the White Stripes’ reputation for powerful concerts, it’s a
little surprising that they waited until more than a decade into their career to
release a live album. However, Under Great White Northern Lights was worth the
wait: While nothing can really replace seeing the band live, this set captures
most of their riveting on-stage presence. The album was recorded during the
Stripes’ 2007 Canadian tour, which was such a special experience for them
that they chronicled it with a DVD as well. The band was touring in support of
that year’s Icky Thump, and the Scottish and Celtic motifs that are woven
throughout that album pop up here, too, from the bagpipes intro to a brisk
version of “Little Ghost” that sounds almost like a reel. Like most White
Stripes concerts, Under Great White Northern Lights features an evenhanded mix
of early songs and newer ones – Jack and Meg White go way back for incendiary
takes on “Let’s Shake Hands” and “When I Hear My Name,” which sound
right at home next to the lunging “Icky Thump” and “I’m Slowly Turning
into You.” The album opens with four furious rockers that show just how primal
the duo is live – on “Black Math” and a breathless “Blue Orchid” they
sound like they can barely keep up with the energy flowing through them – but
many of Under Great White Northern Lights’ brightest moments happen when they
slow down. Jack and Meg settle into a groove on “300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour
Blues” that makes the song fresher than it was on Icky Thump, while a
particularly stunning version of “The Union Forever,” with extra-desperate
vocals from Jack surrounded by a swelling, horror-movie organ, just might be the
album’s standout. The Stripes also include plenty of favorites, including
“Jolene,” a bluesy “Fell in Love with a Girl,” a singalong “I Just
Don’t Know What to Do With Myself,” and a bruising “Seven Nation Army”
as the finale, all of which capture the kind of show the band puts on for its
fans. Since a big part of The Stripes’ live show also rests on their visuals,
the Under Great White Northern Lights DVD gives the complete experience, but
this album is satisfying enough to make it a must for most fans.
All Music Guide – Heather Phares