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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