V2 drops band; signs with Warner Bros.

On January 12, 2007, V2 Records announced that, due to being under the process of reconstruction, it would no longer release new White Stripes material, leaving the band without a label. However, as the band’s contract with V2 had already expired, on February 12, 2007, it was confirmed that the band had signed a single album deal with Warner Bros. Records . Their sixth album, Icky Thump , was released on June 19, 2007. Following the well-received Get Behind Me Satan , Icky Thump marked a return to the punk, garage rock and blues influences for which the band is known. It was recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville and took almost three weeks to record—the longest of any White Stripes album. It would also be their first album with a title track. The album’s release came on the heels of a series of concerts in Europe and one in North America at Bonnaroo. Prior to the album’s release, three tracks were previewed to NME : ” Icky Thump “, ” You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You’re Told) ” and ” Conquest “. NME described the tracks as “an experimental, heavy sounding 70s riff”, “a strong, melodic love song” and “an unexpected mix of big guitars and a bold horn section”, respectively.