I know someone posted already, but I just bought Broken Boy Soldiers, the new album from Jack White's new band the Raconteurs.

It's pretty good, way too short. Similar to the White Stripes, but a bit more conventional in production/arrangements--ie more classic rock than alternative.

Obviously historians, they particularly channel Zeppelin & The Beatles, going from heavy blues & eastern flavored riffs to breezy, summer of '66 psychedelica, and vocals from screeching howls to lush harmonies.

They were smart in that both singers appear on nearly every song, preventing White Stripes fanatics to skip to "the ones Jack sings," familiarizing us with the other singer in the process.

Without completely abandoning Meg, Jack's also allowed what some fans have secretly (and even openly) wanted to hear from him--bass & excellent drumming, and along with the different vocal styles we are provided a fairly rich sound, something you don't hear so much from The White Stripes.

It's an interesting glimpse into the collaborative process, because Jack White's style (something I know very well) is reduced to being just an element of the band, rather than being the band.

I give it a B+
[Edited 7/26/06 16:18pm]

this is my favorite album this year next to Gnarls Barkley

pkidwell said:

I saw the Raconteurs last Sunday and they played a killer cover of Gnarls' "Crazy."

Is this the "Detroit's Nevermind" record I remember being mentioned last year?

Stax said:

what? OMG

pkidwell said:

the house went nuts.

I like the album. I don't think any of the other tracks came close to "Steady As She Goes", but I haven't listened to it in awhile. They are performing here in NYC two days in September.

sextonseven said:

If you like them, you might want to see them now. I don't think it can last. At Sunday's show, White introduced the bassist by saying something to the effect of "me and this guy are tyring hard to get to know each other on the road...trying to figure it out." The bassist was not smiling. Then, during Store Bought Bones, White saunters over to the keyboardist, pushes him aside, and takes what was obviously an unplanned solo. The rest of the band was shooting looks to each other as if to say "WTF?"

All in all,it was a good show, but I think there is a very good reason why the White Stripes have only two members.

In addition to covering "Crazy," they covered that Nancy Sinatra song "Bang, Bang" that was on the Kill Bill Vol. 1 soundtrack, and Bowie's "It Ain't Easy."

Stax said:

That's funny. The whole project seemed to display Jack White's willingness to not be the primadonna leader, but maybe not. He is a star with a model wife and actress ex-girlfriend, after all

Speaking of Store Bought Bones, that song is maybe my favorite. I really like them all pretty well, though the two slow songs, particularly Together, don't really excite me.

Blue Veins is the killer track on that album. Zep rip tho it may be, I love it. I wish the whole album had been like that. Steady As She Goes could have appeared on any of the stripes last 2 albums, albeit with a slimmer arrangement.

Stax said:

you're kidding!!!??? I'll bet that was DOPE!

I really like Intimate Secretary. Not the best song, but I'm such a sucker for that Beatles sound.

NDRU said:

I really like that track too.

HoneymoonXpress said:

jack nailed the vocals.

NDRU said:

I don't think Jack is a prima donna as much as he's a musician who loves to improvise and go full out with the music.If the other band members don't like that, the band won't last. It's only a matter of time till he reincarnates into something else anyway. His career will never be static....thank goodness. They played a little underground bar here a couple weeks ago and I had to miss them. My friends that went said they were amazing, $5 cover charge and less than 100 people in the house.

Jack!

The cd's ok....but they are 1000 times better live!!!

I really hate what they did to Blue Veins on the cd.

Live that's the best song they got!

But I'd pay to watch Jack sleep for an hour and a 1/2 so what do I know.
[Edited 7/29/06 0:00am]

sextonseven said:

I'm going to one or two of the shows, I'm going to the Virgin festival in Baltimore too.


My Jack obsession runs fucking deep.

Sweeny79 said:

Oh and there is a show in Atlantic City too....but think I'll miss that one.

Stax said:

The bass player is "Little Jack"... Jack Lawrence...of The Greenhornes... I like him. But Jack White loves to throw fits on stage so I'm not surprised he picked on him.


He did that keyboard thing at the Irving Plaza a few months ago... I think it's part of the act.


[Edited 7/28/06 23:59pm]

shellyevon said:

I think Jack's a little of both.... He can be a whiney bitch...and he seems to have some anger problems to say the least.

and

wow.... i would have freaked out .... ok time for me to ove on to another thread...

Sweeny79 said:

Ah well, artists are like that sometimes. Passion can't come out in the music if it isn't in the musician.

All the big acts play that bar, it's like they feel they haven't made it unless they play there. It holds just over 100 people max, and they never advertise when a well known act is playing, you just have to be there and see who's going to perform that night.

shellyevon said:

I would love that bar.

And yup... you have to be crazy to an extent.



[Edited 7/29/06 9:35am]

Sweeny79 said:

orgnote!

Still an album I have yet to get. I can't stand the White Stripes, but this band intrigues me a bit more for some reason. Just by word-of-mouth reviews of them though. I haven't heard a note so far.

What would be GREAT, is if I could see them live first because they're playing at First Ave. on Thursday, but it's sold out.

pkidwell said:

ditto that for me as well. But, I would also add Wolfmother for my top three.

Later

minneapolisgenius said:

Why do you hate the White Stripes? Are they toolike Zeppelin? To my ears that's definitely their biggest influence.

This album has two songs that are very, very Zeppelin-esque, but now that sound is becoming Jack White-esque to me as well.

That song "Broken Boy Soldier" is like one of the best songs I've ever heard. I hope this band lasts but you can tell that without Jack White in the band you would not know who this band is. He is a genius.

liltalkm said:

couldn't agree more...

I also really like The Arctic Monkeys.

pkidwell said:

Why would you not know who they are?

I mean granted The Greenhornes aren't very famous, other than the theme for Broken Flowers, I don't think they have done anything commercial....But Brendon Benson has a pretty big following....at least he does around by me.

NDRU said:

If you like the neo classic rock sound buy this album : http://www.amazon.com/gp/...nce&n=5174

The drummer and bass player might even pull it off better... on this album.


[Edited 7/29/06 23:28pm]