De Stijl  is the second studio album by the American rock duo the White Stripes, released on June 20, 2000, on Sympathy for the Record Industry. The album was recorded following the covert divorce of band members Jack and Meg White, who insisted they continue in music. It was produced by Jack White, and was recorded on an 8-track analog tape in his living room.

The album takes its name from the De Stijl art movement, which also inspired the White Stripes' signature color schemes and presentation. Though it was not an immediate commercial success, De Stijl later reached number 38 on Billboard'''s Independent Albums chart in 2002, two years after its release, when the White Stripes grew in popularity. It is regarded a cult classic.

 Background and recording 
Jack and Meg divorced in 2000, and Jack assumed that the band was over. On the day the band was set to perform after their separation, Meg convinced Jack that they should continue their work as the White Stripes regardless. It was self-recorded by the duo in Jack's living room, using an 8-track analog tape. The album takes its name from the De Stijl ("the style" in English) art movement, which included the painter Mondrian. Vocalist Jack White had been an admirer of the style for some time, especially of furniture designer Gerrit Rietveld. Rietveld designed the Rietveld Schröder House, which Jack and Meg White visited while on tour in the Netherlands. De Stijl was dedicated to both Rietveld and Blind Willie McTell.

On February 5, 2008, Canadian media reported that former Radio-Canada host Dominique Payette filed a lawsuit against the White Stripes for using a nine-second clip of her interview with a little girl at the beginning of "Jumble, Jumble". She demanded $70,000 in damages and the removal of the album from store shelves. The dispute was settled out of court.

 Release De Stijl was released on June 20, 2000, through the Sympathy for the Record Industry label. A re-issued vinyl LP version of the record was pressed at United Record Pressing in Nashville, Tennessee and mastered all-analog from the original master tapes. The album was re-issued again for its 20th anniversary.

 Reception De Stijl was a sleeper hit, earning a following after the White Stripes began to grow popular outside of Detroit. It earned positive reviews from critics, who noted its simplicity and fusion of blues and "scuzzy garage rock". A critic for the New York Times described the album as "what many hip rock fans consider real music." AllMusic gave the album 4 and a half stars out of 5, writing that "As distinctive as it is diverse, De Stijl blends the Stripes' arty leanings with enough rock muscle to back up the band's ambitions." Pitchfork gave the album a rating of 9.1, writing that the album "contained thunderous, honky-soulful, lacerating pop at various stages of evolution". Rolling Stone gave the album 3 and a half stars out of 4, calling it "feisty and clever" and praising the drumming, guitar and vocal performances, stating that "like everything about the White Stripes, it [De Stijl] proves that you don't need bombast to make a blues explosion."

The song "Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me?" appeared on The Simpsons in 2010, used in the episode "Judge Me Tender" from its twenty-first season. The song "Apple Blossom" was featured in the 2015 Quentin Tarantino film The Hateful Eight''.

Track listing
All songs written by Jack White except where noted.

Personnel
The White Stripes
Jack White – lead vocals, guitar, piano, double bass on "I'm Bound to Pack It Up", production
Meg White – drums, tambourine, backing vocals on "Your Southern Can Is Mine", shaker & floortom on "I'm Bound to Pack It Up"

Additional musicians
John Szymanski – harmonica on "Hello Operator"
Paul Henry Ossy – violin on "I'm Bound to Pack It Up", electric violin on "Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me?"

Charts

Certifications

References

2000 albums
The White Stripes albums
Albums produced by Jack White
Sympathy for the Record Industry albums
Third Man Records albums