This month Melissa Goode is featuring Jack White’s first solo album, Blunderbuss, as the Modern Rock CD of the Month.

From BBC Music (http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/5q6m):

Having recently divorced his wife of six years, it’s tempting to interpret Jack White’s debut solo album as his very own version of Dylan’s breakup classic, Blood on the Tracks. After all, with its bruised, scabrous lyrics – full of nosebleeds, burst lips, missing limbs and pummelled digits – and preoccupation with love gone not so much bad as cataclysmic, it sounds as though the erstwhile White Stripe has been eviscerated by his loss.

But it’s important to remember that, not only was the split apparently amicable (his ex sings back-up on three songs here), but that White has never been a confessional songwriter in the conventional sense. Despite his deep devotion to the blues – that most ‘authentic’ of musical genres – he’s a conceptual art-rocker at heart, inhabiting his own unique crossroads between theatrical artifice and bloody-minded sincerity.

There’s a sense throughout Blunderbuss – trust him to choose such an archaic weapon – that White is positively revelling in the role of the wronged lover. So you never get the sense that he’s being entirely serious; he’s too eccentric and machismo-camp to suggest otherwise. It’s what defines him as an artist and it’s why he may be the only great rock superstar of recent years.

While this isn’t a major musical reinvention, it certainly develops his trademark synthesis of stripped-back garage-rock and Americana. Despite his guitar God reputation, White – ever the contrarian – relegates his axe to a supporting role, favouring instead a sort of aquatic country-blues dominated by Rhodes electric piano and the punk-Liberace glissandos of pianist Brooke Waggoner. She’s part of a small group of musicians who never detract from White’s minimalist aesthetic – Meg may be gone, but the primal rhythms remain – and who hit upon a particularly delightful sound on the breezily Kinks-esque Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy and the compact mini-opera Take Me With You When You Go.

During those moments when White’s guitar does come to the fore, it fits and squalls as though it’s having a breakdown, although he still swaggers with the best of them on the likes of Sixteen Saltines and on a raucous cover of Little Willie John’s jittery hoodoo, I’m Shakin’.

After all these years, there’s still nobody quite like him.

We had Patterson Hood and Jay Gonzalez from the Drive-By Truckers in-studio with us Tuesday afternoon. Patterson and Jay played “Mercy Buckets” and “Used to Be a Cop” from their most recent album, Go Go Boots and talked to Melissa Goode about life on the road, Patterson’s solo project and Record Store Day. Check out the interview below!

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Cheyenne Marie Mize came by the WNRN studio this afternoon to tell us about her impromptu concert tonight at the Garage! Can’t make it to the show tonight at 7:00pm? Check out her full interview below with James Albert and hear her play “Wishing Well” and “Call Me Beautiful” live!

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Band of Heathens stopped by the WNRN studio about a week ago to talk to James Albert. If you missed their interview or missed their show at the Southern, have no fear; they played 3 songs live during their in-studio! Check it all out in the podcast below!

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Lake Street Dive visited the WNRN studio today and spoke with James Albert about some pretty cool stuff–including their show tonight at the Southern Cafe’ and Music Hall supporting Love Canon’s CD Release Party. Check out the podcast below to listen to the full interview and hear them play two songs off their new EP, Fun Machine, and one song off their newest CD of originals.

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Photo by Rich Tarbell

Matt Vasquez from Delta Spirit was our in-studio guest this morning. He talked with Tad about his life as a newlywed, his work with Middle Brother, and his tour with Delta Spirit thus far. He also played “Empty House” and “California” from Delta Spirit’s new album, Delta Spirit (March’s Modern Rock CD of the Month!). Listen to the interview below!

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Melissa Goode’s pick for CD of the Month is The Lumineers by The Lumineers. They were named one of the best new bands by Paste Magazine at the end of 2011 and their self-titled album drops April 3. Their music has been described as “floor-stomping, instrument-clanging, yell-out-loud goodness.” Check out the first single “Ho Hey” below!

Our CD of the Month for March is Delta Spirit’s self-titled album.

You can join the CD of the month club right now or pick up Delta Spirit in our upcoming fund drive!