Back in November, Jack White announced that he would be releasing two solo albums in 2022, and shortly thereafter it became clear that the pair would stand diametrically opposed. Look no further than the two versions of "Taking Me Back" to illustrate the differences.

Following April's quirky, rocking Fear of the Dawn, on July 22 came Entering Heaven Alive, an acoustic, folkier effort with some notable Zeppelin III vibes, starting with the chorus on the opening "A Tip From from You to Me." Much like the English legends to whom White has professed his love, the Michigander is no slouch at writing and performing on both ends of that sonic spectrum. While slightly more straightforward than the recent April effort, Entering Heaven Alive is unmistakably White and littered with his peculiarities. The individual songs themselves on Heaven might not be quite as strong, but the strength here lies in the totality. I completely understand if the masses prefer Fear of the Dawn, and I would probably also give it a slight edge, but regardless, in my book, Jack White is two for two in 2022.