The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger
Release Date: June 21, 2019 via Third Man Records
10 June 2019
Welcome back, guys. We’ve missed you.
The Raconteurs last released a full length studio album eleven years ago. During that time a lot has changed in the musical landscape. The way music is played, made and consumed is much different than it was in 2008. But something else feels different too. Many artists and bands today seems to write albums around what is a popular trend and hope that people will respond to what they create.
To be honest.. I get it.
Point: There aren’t that many artists that can afford to deviate from that path or the enticement of “now”. The Raconteurs are putting out an album that says, This is who we are, take a listen and if all goes well, you’ll like it and share it with a friend. And what they’ve put out is a twelve song album that is unbelievably solid from start to finish. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t sound like a dated sounding record. It’s simply a band doing what they do best and putting creative maneuvers on well written and crafted songs. In short. This thing is bitchin’.
The album opens with my personal favorite song, Born and Razed. When I first loaded in the record, I was hoping for that pulse raising feeling I got when I first heard Consolers of the Lonely and hoped that Jack White and Brendan Benson would do a verse/chorus exchange in similar fashion. The song definitely accomplishes this. There is that back and forth with Jack and Brendan, only this time it’s White on the verses and Benson on the choruses. And you know what? I got the same chills I got on Consolers. There couldn’t have been a better choice for a song to open this album. I’m hoping to see Born and Razed released as a single. It’s more than worthy.
The second song, Help Me Stranger has already been released as a single along with a music video. The track moves right along with a funky drum and bongo combination that is sure to leave you grooving in your seat. The double vocal of White/Benson throughout song is very pleasing to the ear. These two have a great way of taking up different space on the eq band and making for a nice blend when it is all mixed together.
Track three, Only Child is a classic Brendan Benson type song. I was immediately whisked away to his Lapalco days and I loved every minute of it. In contrast, Don’t Bother Me is easily my favorite drum track on the record. Drummer Patrick Keeler slays through this one. Make sure you stick around for the end. Any drum fan will be scrolling back to hear that again. I know I did. Okay.. that groove at about 1:21 in. This is exactly what I signed up for. How’s this for lyrical content:
THE WAY YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR
YOU’RE YOUR BIGGEST ADMIRER
ALL YOUR CLICKING AND SWIPING
ALL YOUR GROPING AND GRIPING
Don’t Bother Me conveys its intended message and White’s delivery is aggressive and strong while Benson’s dropped in harmony “Don’t Bother Me’s” are smooth and hypnotic.
I mentioned earlier about a classic sounding Benson song. Well Shine The Light On Me is vintage Jack White. That piano riff behind somber lyrics make for a great song. White finishes with strong and emotional sounding vocals.
Track six, Somedays (I Don’t Feel Like Trying) treats us to a taste of southern rock and gives us a killer guitar going into the chorus. I absolutely love the guitar tone during those choruses. Rich, full and warm. Song seven is a cover of the Donovan song, Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness). I love Jack’s interpretation of the harmonica on the original with his guitar. I wondered what they were going to do here when I first saw the track listing. To my surprise, Benson eventually brings in an excellent harmonica at the end of the track. Great bouncy snare. Great cover. Dig it.
Okay, let’s go. Sunday Driver. I’ve reference classic sounds twice so far. Here’s your classic Raconteurs sound. They deliver the goods on this track. Tone, vocal delivery, sharp snare, thick bass, Benson’s dreamy harmonies right in the middle and Jack’s “whews!” are you need to know here. A fan of the band?
You’ll love it.
I’m going to call Now That You’re Gone, the Jack Lawrence song. His work on the bass guitar as well as the septavox carries this song from start to finish. It’s truly one of those times where the song is completely changed, if his work is any different. He is leading instead of being complimentary.
Live A Lie – This is straight out of my wheelhouse. You get those Benson, Beatle undertones combined with a beefy electric guitar that always feels like it’s going to carry the riff too long but then ends perfectly, just like they intended.
As you can tell I like the entire record thus far but I’ve picked out my fave-favorites and the second to last track is one of those. What’s Yours Is Mine is almost hard to put into words. While Born and Razed is my favorite, I’ve probably listened to this song the most. I know.. I know. But it’s like two different songs put together and interchanged throughout, but COMPLETELY works. The guitars and bass combine to create an output that is sinister in tone. It’s definitely one of my favorite drums tracks. Keeler starts off locked into the pocket and then as the song abruptly changes, the cowbell gives the listener a completely different flavor.
Let’s finish this album off. The band did something here that I am a huge fan of. Leaving us with an introspective and beautiful piece of music. I mentioned in previous reviews that I love the way the DeLeo brothers tend to end their projects with a calming and dreamy piece of music but that it takes a special touch and not everyone can pull it off. The Raconteurs definitely pull it off here. The acoustic guitar is mesmerizing and as the song builds with pianos, violins and mandolins, it never seems to get lost for me. Those other parts I just mentioned, however, lift the song to another level. Everything they put into this song compliments each other fantastically. An outstanding way to end what I think is the best album the band has released to date.
So while the musical landscape has changed since their last album, The Raconteurs just did what they have always done: Make music that doesn’t wear a watch or worry about what the mainstream looks like at any given moment. And in doing that, they’ve created an extremely relevant record that I consider to be a contender for album of the year. It’s certainly one of the best I’ve heard in 2019.
So, welcome back. Music has missed you.
9.5/10
-Tommy Marz
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The Raconteurs
Help Us Stranger
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