“Five On The Five” opens with some guitar flourishes sounding straight off Icky Thump, but then plays out with a mainstream rock sound that continues on “Attention.” “Pull This Blanket Off” has an odd edit at the opening. White is backed by piano, then after a Keith Richards-sounding guitar riff, Benson joins in for more ‘70s country rock. It is so loose and short it comes across like a demo. It's a track that should have been worked on more, or cut.
They cover Terry Reid’s “Rich Kid Blues,” which alternates between arrangements that are small and large, bringing to mind bands like Styx and Queen. They continue the pattern slightly on “These Stones Will Shout” that begins as a heartfelt acoustic number, as White warns “grab hold and do not let go” just before a barrage of serious blues-rock comes bursting out of the speakers. The album closes with wonderful talking country-blues “Carolina Drama,” a song that slowly smolders in intensity as the story of murder and intrigue unfolds.
Jack White III, as he is credited here, sounds more like the White everyone is familiar with from his other well-known band. On The Raconteurs debut, Broken Boy Soldiers, it sounded as if there was a conscious effort on his part to restrain himself in order to create a distinct separation between the bands, but here he sounds more like the White we all know. He and Benson make a very good songwriting and lead-singing team. Unsung heroes Jack Lawrence on bass and Patrick Keeler on drums are a fantastic rhythm section that can handle almost any challenge throw at them, allowing the songwriting pair’s musical imaginations to run wild. Consolers Of The Lonely finds The Raconteurs beating the sophomore slump handily.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
I've yet to give it a real hard listen. But as it has played in the background a couple of times I've dug it.
2 - El Bicho
I like it the more I listen to it except for "Blanket." You should give it a random shuffle when you have the time.
3 - Douglas Mays
I have not had a chance to analyse the disc, but I have heard all the songs as I saw the Raconteurs last Monday (4/21/08). The Seattle show. AMAZINGLY GOOD!!!
Jack White is quite the musical powerhouse. The whole show had the feel of a jam, yet so precise. Really heavy rock with the depth and feel of the blues soul. Best of all, flavors of art rock!
Anyway, thank goodness for White Stripes and the Raconteurs. Music you can feel in this sterile day and age. It gives hope that the music industry will be able to get back on its feet.
best,
DM
4 - NewmRadio
Yeah, I def like this new album more than the debut. Thanks to the Raconteurs for keeping real rock alive!