Jack White – ‘Frozen Charlotte’ album review: A solid record, albeit uninspired
Jack White has been one of the most exciting artists in rock music for a long time now, and his stature within the industry has only grown in recent years… However, his most recent album, Frozen Charlotte, fails to live up to the hype.
The Skinny: Jack White has a history with politics, but recently, he’s really struggled to hold his tongue when it comes to his ongoing critique of Donald Trump. Be it on stage or on social media, we’ve been seeing Jack White at his most opinionated, and it’s resulted not only in headlines but in live performances that feel packed with an added element of venom. The guitarist has always been able to convey heaps of emotion within his music, but when you see footage of him playing recently, he’s taken it to a whole other level.
As such, when White announced that he would be releasing a new album in the form of Frozen Charlotte, listeners everywhere were excited to hear this new edge to White come alive in the studio. That doesn’t mean he needs to release a political album, but just that his music should reflect how well he has been embedding feeling into his live shows recently.
Let me make something perfectly clear: this is a good album. White remains one of, if not the, greatest guitarist in the modern world, and his ability to bring the blues into the 21st century without devaluing the genre is inspiring. You hear that aplenty on Frozen Charlotte, as it’s White doing what he does best; however, it’s missing some bite, some real standout moments that could separate it from previous releases.
When you see him play live recently, there is an unrelenting ruggedness there, spurred on partly by his own frustration towards politics and society as a whole, but also as a result of his devotion to making good music. All of that doesn’t seem to have translated onto his new album, as the songs pass by like shadows, somewhat good to listen to but also relatively forgettable.
When Steve Van Zandt spoke about Eric Clapton, he highlighted the need for truly great artists to treat their career like a marathon, not a sprint. “He had seven years of the most extraordinary, historic guitar playing ever – and 40 years of doing good work,” he said. “Being the best has got to wear you out. So he pulled back, like Dylan and Lennon did. The sprint is cool – the marathon is better. Clapton has followed in the footsteps of his mentors: He’s become a journeyman.”
Frozen Charlotte feels like an extension of this hypothesis, not so much a turning point for White or an album which will go down as one of his best, but a refreshing of material for fans and a lovely top-up to what is already a great catalogue of music. There are some moments that peak a listeners interest, such as on the chaotic conclusion that is ‘Neighbors Blues’, but these are few and far between.
All in all, this is a lovely record to listen to, and fans of Jack White won’t be disappointed. However, it does seem to be lacking an added oomph that has otherwise been pretty present in White’s career of late. Maybe he’s just a victim of his own success, as he’s set the bar so high that merely a good album doesn’t cut it anymore? Come to think of it, that’s definitely it.
Standout Track: ‘Neighbor Blues’
The Verdict: On Frozen Charlotte, Jack White delivers what is undeniably a great album, and one that fans won’t struggle to sink their teeth into. That being said, it fails to stand out in what is already a pretty stacked discography.
Release Date: July 10th, 2026 | Producer: Jack White | Label: Third Man
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