You know how it feels when you listen to a new album and it gives you chills up your spine and that feeling in your throat?  Well, that’s how The Raconteurs' new album Consolers of the Lonely makes me feel.  It’s sooooo good!!!  The first thing I noticed that was somewhat different was the general feeling of the album: comfortable and relaxed.  Now, I don’t mean the music sounds comfortable and relaxed-- the band does.  There was a feeling of excitement surrounding the last album, Broken Boy Soldiers, since it was the first time these old friends had recorded an album together.  This time around, they know exactly what they are doing and have evolved into the next level.  They must have been enjoying themselves because the album is quite long considering the length of the previous album.  55+ minutes and 14 songs as compared to 33+ minutes and 10 songs.

It’s exciting to hear the Nashville influence on this album.  After Detroit turned on Jack White, he moved down to Nashville, as did Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler.  “Top Yourself” and “Old Enough” particularly capture a southern country/blues feel, which is different than the more typically northern sound that was on their previous album.  There is more acoustic guitar in these songs and some banjo and fiddle too, and I can picture these ol’ boys hanging around on the porch in the evening warmth just finger pickin’ these songs and enjoying themselves.

Yes, it's true!  Our silent prayers have been answered and The Raconteurs will release a brand new album on Tuesday, March 25 called Consolers of the Lonely! 

Apparently Jack White didn't want anyone to get a hold of the new tracks and leak them to the internet, thus the sped up announcement/release date, and I'm all for that.  What a fantastic surprise! 

There's even going to be a YouTube video for the first single, 'Salute Your Solution' on the 25th.  I am loving this! 

And, excitement of all excitements, there's even already a tour date in my own fair city of San Francisco!  Here are all the dates:

04-20 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
04-21 Seattle, WA - Neumo's
04-22 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
04-23 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
04-25 Indio, CA - Coachella
04-26 Las Vegas, NV - The Joint
04-28 Denver, CO - The Fillmore Auditorium
04-29 Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre
05-01 Dallas, TX - House of Blues
05-02 Austin, TX - Stubb's BBQ
05-04 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
06-13 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo
06-26 Arendal, Norway - Hove Festival
07-12 Kinross, Scotland - T in the Park
07-13 Naas, Ireland - Oxegen Festival

Ok, it's not really gross. I kid, I kid.

Jack White has this wife named Karen Elson; Here's what she looks like, no joke:

...and she had another baby on Tuesday, for all you Stripes fans playing along at home.

It's a boy and his name is Henry Lee.
How appropriate.  Good for them, and all that.

They already have a baby girl named Scarlett Teresa.  Awwwwww.....
You gotta love a guy who names his daughter after his own momma.

Icky Thump, it's a fantastic record.  If you read my blog, you are already sick of hearing about the White Stripes, so I'll make my comments brief. 


The songs: I heard 'em, absorbed 'em and immediately felt like I'd already been hearin' and lovin' 'em my whole life.  If that isn't a sign of a great record, I don't know whatall is. 

Jack White knows what's real and he knows about integrity and that's a large part of why the band remains untouchable.


From the Onion, 2003:

O:  Do you see more people getting turned on to the blues in the future?

Jack White: I hope so. I think it's the pinnacle of songwriting. It's never been topped, and I don't think it ever will be. It sort of accidentally broke songwriting down to its three basic components: storytelling, melody, and rhythm. And that's the way I see it. It's so truthful, it can't be glamorized. If people really love music, they're going to start being drawn toward honesty, and if they're drawn to that, it's a direct line right back to Charley Patton and Son House. I'm very skeptical of musicians who say they love music and don't love the blues. It's like someone saying they don't like The Beatles: It makes you think they're in it for the wrong ideas.