The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely

by Jon Fletcher

The Raconteurs' second album was released with only a week's warning. That's about the only interesting thing about it

"It’s like watching a monkey in a cage. For all the cartwheeling and screeching, The Raconteurs never seem to go anywhere."

Jack White’s a genius, right? And the Raconteurs are a supergroup with Jack White in, so they must be great too, right? Well, possibly, but that doesn’t make us want to listen to their second album any more.

‘Consolers of the Lonely’ is musically accomplished and extremely dull. A solid retro-rock base underpins plenty of variety, but it feels almost entirely bereft of emotion. White rolls out his trademark riffs from the off, but it’s like watching a monkey in a cage. For all the cartwheeling and screeching, The Raconteurs never seem to go anywhere.

On the band’s debut, ‘Broken Boy Soldiers’, the grunt was supported by some genuinely listenable melodies. The follow up has the same energy, but far fewer tunes. What there is often comes from the instruments rather than the vocals – the closing moments of ‘Attention’, or the melancholy tumbling piano on ‘You Don’t Understand Me’ are great examples.

Admittedly, White’s vocals have never been his selling point, but ironically he sounds stronger on ‘Consolers of the Lonely’ than ever before. It’s a sobering reminder that a powerful voice is nothing without a good tune to accompany it.

The partnership with Brendan Benson also seems to have shifted since ‘Broken Boy Soldiers’. White, who had always threatened to overshadow the rest of the band, emerges as by far the most dominant member, making this feel far more like a White Stripes album than a Raconteurs follow up. Perhaps that’s the problem with forming a band with a musical wizard. It must make it very difficult to say no when genius turns out to be not quite enough.
Dev said on April 12th 2008 [report abuse]

Wow, didn't this album come out about a month ago? Go NEW Noise…

fletchy fletch fletch said on April 14th 2008 [report abuse]

Last week of March - that's what happens if you only give people a week's notice and a site is written entirely by volunteers

Jen Perkin said on May 9th 2008 [report abuse]

No No No! I know I'm really late off the mark here, but I'm totally getting into this record. Tell me the opening track doesn't rock your socks. TELL ME! Give it another chance Jon :)

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