Band: The RaconteursAlbum: Consolers of the LonelyLabel: Third Man Records (Warner Bros.)Released: March 25, 2008Genre: Rock
Once again the White Stripes’ rock star, Jack White, has teamed up with the pop aficionado Brendan Benson and the rhythm section of garage-rock revivalists Patrick Keeler and Jack L.J. Lawrence (of The Greenhornes) for their second album, Consolers of the Lonely.
The album was announced a mere one week prior to its release, a rushed effort to say the least. This left no time for advertising, a decision probably made by the band and not the label’s suits. Many speculate this was to prevent Consolers from leaking to those pesky bit-torrent addicts. Maybe it was an ode to Radiohead’s In Rainbows release. Whatever the reason, I hope it works for them. It seems, however, that distribution has been spotty: Schoolkids Records on Hillsborough Street had only two LPs and no CDs delivered at lunchtime. After calling other local stores, it appeared that Schoolkids was the only carrier at the time. So without haste, I bought the last LP available.
Was it worth it? The answer is YES! This album really rocks. I realize now that The Raconteurs rushed this release to get it to the fans as quickly as possible. Although this record is less blues-driven than the previous one, Broken Boy Soldiers, it still deserves to be turned up to 11. I hear overtones of country and even bluegrass on some tracks, which makes me believe Benson pulled more song-writing weight than the others. These seemingly disparate tones fit perfectly over the garage-blues rock that Jack White and The Greenhornes are so familiar with.
The title track that opens the record is definitely a throwback to the BBS guitar rhythms, and Benson’s poppy voice is a great counterpoint to White’s hoarse caws. The next song, “Salute Your Solution,” is one of the more rockin’ tunes, along with “Five On Five” — upbeat, heavy tones and reminiscent of the White Stripes’ Icky Thump.
“You Don’t Understand Me” follows, driven by piano and bass, sung by Benson; it is slower and shows the more refined side of the band. The horn arrangements in “Many Shades of Black” is refreshing and full-sounding, proving again that each band member’s many talents shine through on the albums, rather than just being a Jack White side project. The album closes with “Carolina Drama,” which struck a note with me, if only because of the title. Here, White tells the tale of a young man who comes across a bloody scene and conflicting testimonies; we never really get the ending, but it makes you think. All the tracks basically melted my face and stand on their own, making for a bang-up listen.
As a longtime fan of The Greenhornes and anything Jack White touches, I really enjoyed this dynamic record. Some points were a little too pop-influenced for me, but overall, this record kicks. Even if you are new to The Raconteurs, I highly recommend this record if you enjoy any type of rock music. You must get it on vinyl.
