Like the other archival releases that appeared after the White Stripes called it quits in 2011, The White Stripes Greatest Hits is filled with the same detail, wit, and willingness to subvert expectations that made the band so dynamic when they were active. As with all things involving Jack and Meg White, the collection's hand-curated feel is much more personal than the average best-of or streaming play list. The idiosyncratic track list shuffles the pages of the Stripes' songbook, bringing new life to their music in the process. While there are plenty of expected choices here ("Fell in Love with a Girl," "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "The Hardest Button to Button") that still sound great, the set goes deeper with songs that are just as strong if not quite as well known. "Astro" and "Screwdriver," both from 1999's The White Stripes, reaffirm just how bold and clearly conceived the band's music was from the start, while the brash hooks of De Stijl's "Hello Operator" foreshadow the massive success they earned with White Blood Cells just a year later. Elsewhere, the marimba-driven "The Nurse" sounds just as eerie as it did on Get Behind Me Satan, serving as a potent reminder that the group's artiness was as vital to their music as their dedication to rock. The compilation's nonchronological approach allows for some clever song pairings, such as the floral theme of "Blue Orchid" and "Apple Blossom" and the animal-related duo of "I Think I Smell a Rat" and "I Fought Piranhas." Jack and Meg's flair for covers is well represented by "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself," "Conquest," "Death Letter," and "Jolene," the latter of which became nearly as iconic as Dolly Parton's original. The decision to put their most inescapable song, "Seven Nation Army," at the end is an unusual move and also a fitting one, adding an extra sense of finality to the proceedings. It's clear a lot of love went into crafting The White Stripes Greatest Hits, and its quirks should make it all the more endearing to fans and newcomers alike.

Let's Shake Hands    
The Big Three Killed My Baby    
Fell In Love With A Girl    
Hello Operator    
I'm Slowly Turning Into You    
The Hardest Button To Button    
The Nurse    
Screwdriver    
Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground    
Death Letter    
We're Going To Be Friends    
The Denial Twist    
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself    
Astro    
Conquest    
Jolene    
Hotel Yorba    
Apple Blossom    
Blue Orchid    
Ball And Biscuit    
I Fought Piranhas    
I Think I Smell A Rat    
Icky Thump    
My Doorbell    
You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl)    
Seven Nation Army