Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
To be more specific:
I dislike this decision and it's hard to make any sense of it when one considers how much "magic" is inherent in their recording process. There has always been something of ease and naivety about it that made their music special, and I don't think there was any chance of them losing that. Their budget had increased and White had become more ubiquitous a presence in the recording industry, but there was no change in his approach to recording music as far as the White Stripes were concerned. They were always different from his side projects because democracy isn't an issue when you're just a duo: they hit on a sound or idea, and, two weeks later, a new album would be finished and it would kick ass. They made the concept of recording music of my own a very welcoming one, and they made the relationship of artist and fan one of awe for the first time since hair metal bands decided to make themselves unworthy of it. I do believe they are looking out for their fans with this decision, but I'm just not sure this is going to stick, and I anticipate a reunion gig(s) within the next 5 years or so.