Consolers Of The Lonely

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Rush-released in secrecy, the story goes that The Raconteurs wanted their album to appear in shops without any fanfare, as if it had always been there. It didn't work that way, but Consolers of the Lonely can certainly lay claim to being an album that is at once familiar and accessible--indeed, it won't be long before it'll seem like an indispensable part of your collection. The two opening songs lay out the sonic blueprint with a loose, rocking feel exemplified by overloaded lead guitar lines, fuzz bass and huge drums, with plenty of dynamic interplay between the vocals. Like Lennon & McCartney at their best, it's often hard to tell who is singing until one or the other takes the lead, while their dual guitar playing approach is similarly twinned, all ably supported by a rhythm section that's both nimble and powerful. Despite the strong offerings throughout, the best is saved until last with "Carolina Drama", a Jack White-led murder story-song that threatens to collapse under its own weight until the singalong ending breaks the tension. In short then, a huge improvement over the slightly underwhelming debut, and as good as anything else produced by the band's individual components. --Thom Allot

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-07-02 rating:
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In my earlier review of the first Raconteurs album, I said that I couldn't pick an outstanding track because they were all equally good. That effort was a solid and concise album - 10 short songs, plenty of ideas, and essentially it was veering towards pop rock. It sounded very different to The Raconteurs that I first heard at Leeds Festival in 2006. That band was awesome - big sound, tight performance, audacious musicianship... and I realise now that they must have been playing a lot of songs from this album, though it was clearly far from being released.

Consolers of the Lonely keeps a lot of the pop sensibilities that the earlier effort possessed (vocal harmonies, singalong choruses), but it is very much more rooted in traditional American rock n' roll... and by that I mean blues rock and country rock. It looks like Jack White's influence has been allowed to develop a little further, with songs like "You Don't Understand Me" and "Top Yourself" sounding very much like White Stripes songs - but with more instrumentation.

This is a solid album - tight, inventive, passionate - but unlike it's predecessors it does contain some standout tracks, and as a result that means there are also some weaker tracks. "Consoler of the Lonely" and "Salute Your Solution" start the record in a storming fashion, but I tend to find that a kind of lethargy sets in for a long while after that. Some inspired playing still crops up from time to time, but I could take or leave all the other tracks - with the exception of the last track, "Carolina Drama". That one stands out a mile. Awesome performance on Jack White's part. He delivers each line with passion, and creates a beautifully visual story, voicing the parts of several characters - the boy, the boyfriend, the mother, the little brother - in a way I first heard in Eminem's "Stan", and last heard in Ghostface Killah's "Maxine" (- I know!); it's a real goosebumps moment.

Elsewhere I find "Many Shades of Black" to be pompous and overblown, and definitely the weakest offering on the album. Also disappointingly, White's voice sounds off-key in "Five On The Five", a song that I have a much better recording of from the band's appearance at the Manchester Apollo.

So in summation, I think this record could have been trimmed down a little. I sure am thankful for the songs that standout, and must admit that the other tracks are worthwhile in general - whether it be for a certain horn part, a guitar solo, a drum fill or a vocal harmony - I just don't think it's one that I'll return to as often as I did to "Broken Boy Soldiers". I can't help thinking that the brilliance of "Consoler of the Lonely", "Salute Your Solution" and "Carolina Drama" only serve to make the other songs pale in comparison.

Best album of the year? I doubt it. Let's just say I'll be disappointed if I don't hear a better record this year.

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review by: joeadhemar date: 2008-06-23 rating:
Album of the Year
This is one of those albums I put on if someone complains that music 'is not what it used to be'. It is a rare moment where brilliant musicians and song writers find themselves in the studio at the top of their game. No pretensions. Pure, honest Rock and Roll. All the influences are there. Townsend, Page etc....
It's a shame the first single was 'I salute..' because this is the weakest on the album in my opinion.

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review by: date: 2008-06-05 rating:
Just getting better
Jack White & Brendan Benson are really getting into their stride with this fine album. Two great lyricists & guitarists sounding as though they are really having fun with this 'band' thing & a great improvement on the ever so slightly dissapointing debut.

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review by: date: 2008-06-05 rating:
Brilliant!
This is an absolutely fantastic album. Don't listen to the people who knock it - they must be deaf!

There's not a bad track on the album. My favourite album of the year so far.


review by: date: 2008-05-22 rating:
Not impressed
I loved their first album, but this just doesn't do much for me at all.

"Many Shades of Black" is great, but the rest of it just bores me. For me this was the most dissapointing album released in the last few years.

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