The Raconteurs have finally found their sound. Unlike their outstanding but sonically fractured debut – 2006’s Broke Boy Soldiers – Consolers of the Lonely is a tight, crisp, and slick album that is the first truly definitive musical statement by the Raconteurs as a cohesive band.
As has been heavily documented, the Raconteurs are a supergroup consisting of Jack White of the White Stripes, critically acclaimed but commercially ignored Brendan Benson, and perhaps the most talented rhythm section in garage rock, deriving most directly from the Greenhornes, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler.
On their first record – specifically as it related to the songwriting duties handled by both Benson and White – the melding of styles and influences was an aspect that was very lacking in execution. In other words, while the tracks on Broken Boy Soldiers were, as self contained entities, very strong, it was also very easy to decipher the source member of their genesis – with both men hesitant to fully release themselves from the signature methods that established their fame.
Consolers of the Lonely is the proof that the release has been achieved and the results are an astonishing success. Rather then acting as a showcase of Mr. White and Mr. Benson’s prolific abilities to write in their own styles of music, on this latest offering a definitive Raconteurs sound strongly emerges that may surpass the quality and appeal of both man's previous works.
Taking over the larger portion of the record this new sound is incredibly successful in creating something totally unexpected in its formation – a result that no doubt highly appeals to the sensibilities of both of the group’s front-men.
While some tracks, such as the raucous thrash rock track “Salute your Solutions” and the distorted jam out “Five on Five” still echo with the riffs that are obviously influenced by White’s stylings with his other band, even these songs have been stroked with Benson’s brush and polished with an excellent rhythm section (especially when you consider what he was working with in the White Stripes) to make the cuts more full and complete than anything White released with the Stripes.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - Gary Schwarz
This is a great review. I cannot understand why some so-called experts give the album only a 7/10. It surely is one of the best albums of 2008.
2 - Tony
Thank you very much. I appreciate it. My only explanation for the luke warm reaction is that many of the so called garage rock purests were upset about the divergence from their traditional sounds, or more specifically the White Stripe's sound.
3 - Dopi
Its a good review!. Altho i luv The White Stripes. Raconteurs are getting a sound and i like it. Dont give up on WS tho Jackie!
Such a nice talent put into one band.