THE WHITE STRIPES Get Behind Me Satan XL ****

Other acts may camp out in studios perfecting their masterpieces, but Jack and Meg White have little time for such procrastination. Why take forever getting your head together when you can record an album in just over two weeks in downtown Detroit? Indeed, it would seem that producing knockout punches, killer riffs and crunchy musical wallops is something that still comes easily to the Stripes. Since Elephant reared its head in 2003, Jack and Meg have become rather ubiquitous, the thrilling thump of Seven Nation Army soundtracking an unintentional and no doubt uncomfortable move from underground to mainstream. Jack's dalliance with Hollywood via an appearance in Cold Mountain also blurred the picture, though his contributions to that film's soundtrack were certainly fascinating to behold. But while there's some indication that the folky winds from Cold Mountain and the lonesome country of his Loretta Lynn collaboration have played a part in this album's gestation, Get Behind me Satan is still devilishly indiscriminate in scope. When the duo are not ripping Stax-style shapes here (first single Blue Orchid), there (the honking, yelping My Doorbell) and everywhere (the rough and sleazy Take Take Take), they're coming up with lovelorn laments like Forever for Her (is Over for Me) or paring down the brutally minimalist stabs of The Nurse. Still the most intriguing duo making music today. www.whitestripes.com