In an age where rock is becoming progressively more slick and studio enhanced, it’s quite refreshing to see a band like White Stripes come up from the underground and play raw, sloppy, and soulful rock and roll the way it was meant to be played – straight out of the garage. On the Stripes’ third albumWhite Blood Cells, their songwriting and playing has become more focused and slightly more accessible than on their earlier releases (1999’s self titled debut and 2000’sDe Stijl). This is evidenced by such selections asThe Same Boys You’ve Always KnownandWe’re Going to be Friends. but White Stripes’ earlier direction can still be detected on several cuts, most noticeably on the cutNow Mary. With the release ofWhite Blood Cells, White Stripes are getting closer and closer to perfecting and bringing their modern blues-rock craft and bringing it to the masses.