Jack White's feral tribute to U2's timeless "Love is Blindness"

I've always loved U2's hypnotic, pained "Love is Blindness". It is one of those amazing songs that somewhat gets lost on one of the most amazing albums of all times that happens to feature some of the most popular songs of all time.

There was always something overwhelming, weighty and tense, unnerving, disturbing, moving, pained, pensive, beautiful, brilliant and big. A small love story, told as the universal love story. A mood, a single moment shot on to the night sky like a crazy big bat-sign.

It may be the most complete, or really the only partner to the main masterpiece: "One".



In a parked car
In a crowded street
You see your love Made complete
Thread is ripping
The knot is slipping
Love is blindness



So I didn't know what to make of it when I heard Jack White decided to cover this song. When I heard it - it didn't seem to do justice (but then, what could?) and yet, in a way it was great, a justification, a validation, because it meant more exposure to one of U2's relatively unsung gems. Those who weren't around when 1991 happened or for whom U2 is not us.

Jack White's rendition is guttural, feral bleeding bumpy loud, drum-based force to U2's brilliantly undersung, underplayed masterpiece. Bono & The Edge were pensive, Jack is peeved.

In some ways it is a bluesy, folksy, older version of the original. It is a sound that will grow on you. The drumbeat will stick in your head, like a headache after a night of fun, a hangover.


A little death
Without mourning
No call
 And no warning
 Baby...a dangerous idea
That almost makes sense