Refer to The Raconteurs as a side project and face the wrath of Jack White. Instead of taking a normal vacation from his day job, White teamed up with power pop buddy and labelmate, Brendon Benson, to co-write a series of songs that defy classification. He filled out his supergroup with the rhythm section from connoisseurs of vintage rock, the Greenhornes, who also played with White on Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose. Buzz spread through the blogosphere and eventually everywhere else following the release of two flawless tracks, "Steady, As She Goes" and "Store Bought Bones" - both included here in all their glory.Virtually all the press for this record has revolved around White, and he is the driving force here. However, White's raw blues emotion is nicely smoothed over with Benson's Beatles-influenced leanings. More comparisons to the late sixties could be made to this record than any White has made prior, from the sunshiny "Hands" and "Intimate Secretary" to the dark psychedelia of the title track and aforementioned singles. When White pulls out the blues ("Level," "Blue Veins), it is a bit smoother as well, benefiting from the talented musicians. While this is certainly a collaborative effort, the standout tracks are certainly White-heavy. Benson works great as a collaborator, but when he takes the lead ("Yellow Sun," "Call it a Day"), the results are not quite as fulfilling.
4 (out of 5)
::Previously::
1 Review: "Steady, as She Goes" b/w "Store Bought Bones" / The Raconteurs
2 Raconteurs' Website: Awesome, and a little similar to Jonah's
2 comments:
Previously I had only heard Steady As She Goes, and wasn't all that wild about it - seemed rather repetitive to me, but the rest of the album is a lot more solid.
Isn't it amazing how similar our reviews are Will. I hadn't read yours....honestly !!!!!!
Post a Comment