Music Reivew: The Raconteurs' Consolers of the Lonely
I happened to be walking down Main Street here in Newark earlier today and noticed our local record shop had copies of The Raconteurs new disc, Consolers of the Lonely, out early. This is significant because the album was only officially announced on Thursday of last week. Since the supergroup's 2006 effort, Broken Boy Soldiers, was my favorite album of 2006, I immediately snapped up a copy of Consolers. Track by track review follows, overall comments at the end.
"Consolers of the Lonely" - The first and title track starts off with a nice guitar lick. Overall, the song's sound is half classic rock/half all White Stripes. A solid opening salvo.
"Salute Your Solution" - This is the first single from the album and starts out with a really sweet guitar pickup, and doesn't look back. The vocals are very Jack White, which isn't a complaint.
"You Don't Understand Me" - A much softer, more laid back track than the first two, and also shows a definite progression from Broken Boy Soldiers tracks "Together" and "Hands."
"Old Enough" - Some country influence here, which shows how diverse these guys can be. Ripe for a Rascal Flats cover? Also some nice call and answer structure for the chorus, which continues the vocal broadening from Jack White.
"The Switch and the Spur" - After a few listens, this storytelling ballad is my favorite track on the album. The bass line on this one is infectious, and the trumpets are a nice touch. Three minutes in, the track changes direction and begins building towards a roaring climax.
"Hold Up" - Definitely sounds like something from the Icky Thump sessions. The guitar solos are really good. Does a really good job of capturing the feel of a garage-jam session.
"Top Yourself" - Another Icky Thump-esque track, continuing Jack White's love affair with Country & Western-Blues fusion. Not as strong as "Hold Up," though.
"Many Shades of Black" - The trumpets are back to open this one, another slow-ish track. I like this softer side to the band, and the blues-inspired guitar solo is very nice.
"Five on the Five" - The disc speeds back up into a bunch of distorted guitars, but a strong central riff that keeps things from swaying too far. Sweet bass line.
"Attention" - I like this song a lot, it definitely moves. Very 70's-sounding, I think.
"Pull This Blanket Off"- This short (1:59) track seems to come out of nowhere, and is a decent distraction, but nothing more.
"Rich Kid Blues" - This is a cool song, with a nicely layered structure. Nice drum work here, too.
"These Stones Will Shout" - First have is soft, almost acoustic, then the drums pick up into a harder section.
"Carolina Drama" - Another part of the Country/Western theme, and another storytelling song, but not particularly strong.
Overall, four stars (out of five). A nice, solid effort if not quite as masterful as their first outing. Definitely recommended if you want something that is a less-weird version of a White Stripes album.
"Consolers of the Lonely" - The first and title track starts off with a nice guitar lick. Overall, the song's sound is half classic rock/half all White Stripes. A solid opening salvo.
"Salute Your Solution" - This is the first single from the album and starts out with a really sweet guitar pickup, and doesn't look back. The vocals are very Jack White, which isn't a complaint.
"You Don't Understand Me" - A much softer, more laid back track than the first two, and also shows a definite progression from Broken Boy Soldiers tracks "Together" and "Hands."
"Old Enough" - Some country influence here, which shows how diverse these guys can be. Ripe for a Rascal Flats cover? Also some nice call and answer structure for the chorus, which continues the vocal broadening from Jack White.
"The Switch and the Spur" - After a few listens, this storytelling ballad is my favorite track on the album. The bass line on this one is infectious, and the trumpets are a nice touch. Three minutes in, the track changes direction and begins building towards a roaring climax.
"Hold Up" - Definitely sounds like something from the Icky Thump sessions. The guitar solos are really good. Does a really good job of capturing the feel of a garage-jam session.
"Top Yourself" - Another Icky Thump-esque track, continuing Jack White's love affair with Country & Western-Blues fusion. Not as strong as "Hold Up," though.
"Many Shades of Black" - The trumpets are back to open this one, another slow-ish track. I like this softer side to the band, and the blues-inspired guitar solo is very nice.
"Five on the Five" - The disc speeds back up into a bunch of distorted guitars, but a strong central riff that keeps things from swaying too far. Sweet bass line.
"Attention" - I like this song a lot, it definitely moves. Very 70's-sounding, I think.
"Pull This Blanket Off"- This short (1:59) track seems to come out of nowhere, and is a decent distraction, but nothing more.
"Rich Kid Blues" - This is a cool song, with a nicely layered structure. Nice drum work here, too.
"These Stones Will Shout" - First have is soft, almost acoustic, then the drums pick up into a harder section.
"Carolina Drama" - Another part of the Country/Western theme, and another storytelling song, but not particularly strong.
Overall, four stars (out of five). A nice, solid effort if not quite as masterful as their first outing. Definitely recommended if you want something that is a less-weird version of a White Stripes album.
Labels: Music
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