The Raconteurs’ new album: The fans’ verdicts

Check out what indie fans think of the rush-released album

The Raconteurs released their second album ‘Consolers Of The Lonely’ today, and we’ve been asking for your reviews of the new record.

Below is a selection of the reviews you’ve sent in.

What do you think? – have your say on The Raconteurs‘ new album either by sending a 200-word album review to news@nme.com with Raconteurs as the subject, or by posting your comments below using MyNME.

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James Gordon –

Right from the opening words ‘Haven’t seen the sun for days/My skin is getting pale’, this album is everything it promised to be. The Raconteurs are back with a vengeance and most certainly don’t suffer from the tough second album syndrome. As ‘Consoler Of The Lonely’ ends, and ‘Salute The Solution’ starts, the pace is relentless. Catchy tunes, brilliant lyrics and a rock anthem. Next it’s the turn of ‘You Don’t Understand Me’, which begins with a slow and melodic piano, building up into a bitter examination of humanity until it finally crescendoes at ‘How can you know me and I know you when nothing is true?’. Several minutes later and you’re into ‘Top Yourself’, the best song on the album. Acoustic and raw, this track really defines the dark and yet interesting direction that this album takes. ‘Many Shades Of Black’ is perhaps the disappointment of the album, it feels overlong for what it is, simply repeating the chorus once or twice than is strictly necessary. Overall I’m sure this album will go down as a hit, despite the evident raw and rough edges.

David Silva –

For this album, The Raconteurs have broken off the knobs on every instrument, amplifier and microphone and rewired them until they uncontrollably bled electricity – in the form of filthy rock and roll. Reminiscent of the Jack White of days past, these songs remind us of the raw skills that made The White Stripes a band to remember. Not afraid to take over front and center, Jack wakes up our memories of ‘Fell In Love With A Girl’ with the track ‘Salute Your Solution’. ‘Hold Up’ unleashes a punk rock drumbeat and three-chord riff driven by a hypnotizing lead guitar. The raw track ‘Top Yourself’ features classic White slide guitar slowly drawn through a swampy southern vibe. Many of these songs recreate the warmth of a live recording and will make you forget where you are. On this record, you will no doubt hear new takes on so many old sounds that will leave you wanting more.

The Hired Man –

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Mr White‘s been having tantrums again and thrown his album out of the pram. I wonder if this rush release is because he doesn’t want the hacks to get hold of it. Having listened I can see why. This record is laughable. So devastatingly awful, unoriginal, belonging to some other era (I don’t know when) but certainly not today. Soft rock meets big band meets miaow-zak, then throw in every cliché in the book and I mean EVERY one. Lyrically and musically this album IS a cliché. It’s hilarious that the band would like it heard on vinyl, ooohhhhh really, why’s that then? They protest too much. The Raconteurs made it clear during the promotion of ‘Broken Boy Soldiers’ that they hated the internet, because anyone could write a review. They used John Peel as an example, saying people like Peel had thousands of records and knew what they were talking about, whereas the humble public were simply not qualified, but then this year it seems that they are contradicting themselves by snubbing the real journalists on this second release and leaving the reviews to the half-wit public – let’s hope they like what they hear.

MPH1990 –

I must first admit that I am part of the problem, as soon as I’d heard that the album had been leaked I pounced on it. This album is The Raconteurs‘ statement to the world that they are more than just a side-project for Jack White. Heavy rock riffs that could knock Keith Richards off his feet and put Jimmy Page to shame drive this album. Exquisite bass work and unrelenting drums add a powerful rhythm section under Jack White‘s voice. ‘You Don’t Understand Me’ is a great piano-driven rock ballad that shows The Raconteurs‘ versatility as more than just a blues-rock band, but shows they can do anything they wish and make it sound terrific. ‘Old Enough’ jumps out at the listener due to its acoustic guitar and fiddle playing. ‘Many Shades Of Black’, with its horn section, adds to the eclectic feel of this album. ‘Carolina Drama’ has the feel of an old folk song whose origins are untraceable. If you’re a fan of blues-rock buy this album. Don’t worry, when you hear the opening riff to ‘Consoler Of The Lonely’, you will thank me.

BlueDestiny66 –

‘Consolers Of The Lonely’ has a very different overall feel to ‘Broken Boy Soldiers’. ‘Consolers…’ is more steeped in Americana, with country and blues influences all over it, but it’s still an incredibly varied album, also with its fair share of moments of rocking out. Each song is really strong, with ‘You Don’t Understand Me’, ‘Old Enough’, ‘Many Shades Of Black’ and ‘Rich Kid Blues’ already standing out as highlights. Overall a great record, and a more cohesive and satisfying work than their debut.

Check out our NME.COM review of ‘Consolers Of The Lonely’.

Plus read our sister site Uncut.co.uk’s review of The Raconteurs online now.

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