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| Creator: The Raconteurs
Label: Warner Brothers
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.99
You Save: $8.99 (47%)
New (27) Used (13) from $8.49
Rating:  95 reviews
Sales Rank: 225
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 456060
UPC: 093624987314
EAN: 0093624987314
ASIN: B0015KO52S
Release Date: March 25, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 I like it less every listen.. September 14, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
First of all I want to say that I love most of what Jack White has released, and also Broken Boy Soldiers is one of my favorite albums in my collection.
I've listened to this album in it's entirety about 10-15 times, and I'm done trying to like it, it's just plain boring. It starts out strong and gets worse and worse with every song. It does have some interesting parts, some things musically I have never heard before, and it is all right compared to other music out there right now, but to me it's a failure. The upbeat songs sound like they're trying to rock out, but aren't hard enough to be powerful, they comes off weak and monotonous. The slow songs just drag by.
It seems to me Raconteurs (and Jack White's other work as well) sound the worst when they try to do country western, mediocre on the mariachi influenced songs, and best when they do experimental rock/blues.
The title track is killer, though.. It also happens to be the only track that sounds like it could have been on Broken Boy Soldiers. B.B.S. blows my away every time I listen to it, I even have to cut myself off from it so I don't get sick of it.
 Second album from the Raconteurs delivers September 11, 2008
Jack White (or should I say Jack White III, as he is billed on this album) is one busy man, keeping things going between the White Stripes and the Brendan Benson co-lead Raconteurs. After the band's 2006 "Broken Toy Soldiers" poppy-sounding album, the band now returns with this.
"Consolers of the Lonely" (14 tracks; 56 min.) starts off with the White Stripes-sounding title track, which I love. But it's immediately clear that when the next track ("Salute Your Solution") plays that the band is after a more expansive musical pallet, and to great effect. That said, I don't get into "The Switch and the Spur" at all, with a trumpet overplay, same with "Many Shades of Black". But "Hold Up" rocks hard! Other highlights for me include "Attention", an all-out rocker, and the closer "Carolina Drama". A great album all around, even if a bit overlong at 56 min. Cut a couple of the weaker tracks and we're talking 4.5 stars.
The evolution/departure from "Broker Toy Soldiers" is quite remarkable and impressive. I saw the Raconteurs deliver a blistering set at Bonnaroo a few months ago, and let there be no mistake, this is Jack White's band, sorry Brendan. Can't wait to see how Jack will keep the balancing act going between the White Stripes and the Raconteurs.
 Album of the Year...The New White Stripes... September 3, 2008
The new Raconteurs album is incredible in its layered simplicity. This is Jack White's new band and the album breaks boundaries while still having a familiar feeling to it. The instrumentation mixes modern and traditional styles in a seamless album. I found the debut album "Broken Boy Soldiers" to be a bit weak, not bad, but not terribly memorable. Pick this album up immediately! You will not be disappointed.
Rebirth of the Raconteurs August 27, 2008
Consolers of the Lonely was sprung upon the public a mere three weeks after completion in yet another unorthodox indie music release. The Raconteurs successfully avoided any pre-release media hype/promotion, and got their newest album into everyone's hands (in all formats) at the same time.
Although this could be perceived as a rushed album release, the final product sounds anything but rushed. Simply put, Consolers of the Lonely is what The Raconteurs should have released as their first album. Raw and energetic, with ballsy storytelling done in Jack White's bard-like fashion. Rid yourself of any preconceived notions, because if you're expecting a carbon copy of Broken Boy Soldiers, you'll be disappointed.
With Brendan Benson and Jack White at the songwriting helm, The Raconteurs have merged energy and writing styles in a cohesive yet abrasive album. They've taken a softer version of The Raconteurs and transformed the band into a harder rocking, more in your face reincarnation, with shades of Meg White's "bash and slam" drum style interspersed throughout the album. Besides the strong instrumentals and vocal performances, the backbone of the album resonates from White and Benson's storytelling.
The title track kicks off the album, immediately informing the listeners that The Raconteurs have moved away from the ballad-y nature of their former selves, which is a very welcome evolution. Stepping up the power and rock content truly showcases the talent within the band. "Salute Your Solution" seems to be their first single (and video), as it puts a true garage rock energy exclamation point on the album. Ballads aren't completely absent from the album, as the piano driven "You Don't Understand Me" gives a pleasant tempo and sentiment change within the album. Throughout Consolers of the Lonely, one can hear The Raconteurs' many influences: The Who, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Allmans, as well as a bit of traditional country elements.
Broken Boy Soldiers failed to speak to me in the same manner as Consolers. The Raconteurs have combined their respective strengths and released an album which they truly needed to produce. With Consolers of the Lonely, The Raconteurs have transcended the Stripes' shadow and ultimately released an album which has the potential to be one of the albums of the year.
Rock is back! August 15, 2008
I knew I would be seeing this band at Lollapalooza so I checked them out beforehand. All I knew was that Jack White was in the band, and I had never been a big fan of the White Stripes, but the collaboration with Brenden Benson (the other main singer) and the other musicians turned out to be a godsend! This album is incredible, I haven't stopped listening to it since I bought it nearly a month ago. I highly recommend it to anyone, especially anyone who thinks rock is dead.
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