Broken Boy Soldiers

The Raconteurs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros.
• ASIN: B001AP11KW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (146 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,079 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #10 in Music > Rock > Oldies & Retro > Garage Bands
  • #35 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > General
  • #41 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Indie Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Smothered by the indulgence of his rock star ranking, Jack White steps into the eccentricities of the supergroup, and at first glance, this seems to be a band where White's imposing presence could overshadow the rest. Not the case with these Raconteurs. Teaming with fellow Detroit songwriter Brendan Benson and Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler, the rhythm section from Cincinnati band the Greenhornes, White exhales a bit, deferring enough to his mates to make Broken Boy Soldiers play like a team effort. Following the Benson blueprint, "Steady as She Goes," which opens as a slice of 1960's radio pop, the record steers away from pigeonholing the rest of the way. White's in a Middle Eastern mood for the title track as he pulls off a wicked Robert Plant howl, while Lawrence and Keeler excel on the chorus-strong "Intimate Secretary" and the optimistic acoustic rocker "Yellow Sun." Like so many all-star bands before them, The Raconteurs could be one and done. But don't place the blame on this fertile and genuine debut. --Scott Holter

Leading up to The Raconteurs...

The Alternative to Love Brendan Benson	Get Behind Me Satan The White Stripes	Sewed Soles The Greenhornes
The Greenhornes	One Mississippi/Wellfed Boy Brendan Benson	De Stijl The White Stripes

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

The Raconteurs are a new band made up of old friends, consisting of Jack Lawrence (bass), Patrick Keeler (drums), Brendan Benson (guitars, vocals, keys) and Jack White(guitars, vocals, keys). The seed was sewn in an attic in the middle of a hot summer when friends Jack White and Brendan Benson got together and wrote a song that truly inspired them. This song was "Steady, As She Goes" and the inspiration led to the creation of a full band with the addition of Lawrence and Keeler. While each of these four individuals have had successful careers with their own bands, the culmination of all of their talents is what truly makes The Raconteurs a force to be reckoned with. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Can't you kids just have fun sometimes?, June 2, 2006

By 

Justin N. Voorhees "lymphnode" (Austin, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Broken Boy Soldiers (Audio CD)

This CD may not change your life. It may not be the greatest thing your ears have ever happened upon. But, it's a lot of fun. And sometimes I think we forget that one of the best things about music is the smile it puts on our faces. I really enjoy listening to this CD. Period. No comparisons needed, no deep, profound thoughts about whether or not it is better, same or worse than anything . . . it's fun. These people make good music. So stop the internal dialogue right there. Remember that it's okay to enjoy yourselves sometimes. Really.

48 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There are decent bands...then there's Jack White, May 22, 2006

By 

David Kenner (Fort Worth, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Broken Boy Soldiers (Audio CD)

This album clocks in at just under 34 minutes but when the half hour is this good, it's hard to complain.
The versatility that Jack White continues to show year after year is almost mind boggling. From the early White Stripes albums to "Candy Cane Children" to Loretta Lynn's "Van Lear Rose" to the music from COLD MOUNTAIN to "Get Behind Me Satan" to The Raconteurs, you just never know what he's going to do next. You can count on two things though: it will not be a copy of what he's done before and it will be quality music.
I believe he's the best composer and best musician in rock music today (and will be tomorrow).
The Raconteurs debut album is 10 infectious tracks that have a timeless quality. Sometimes it sounds as if this album could have been made in 1973, or 1979, or 1982, or 1990, yet it sounds very contemporary too. Instead of fronting the band, Jack's style is incorporated into a group of incredibly talented performers. The last track "Blue Veins" is one of the best songs from any of White's projects.
When there's so much insignificant music being made these days, it's good to know you can put your trust in Jack.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Raconteurs,the Saboteurs it's all good, May 16, 2006

By 

R. Zappelli (Rockford,IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broken Boy Soldiers (Audio CD)

The Raconteurs may not be as eclectic as the White Stripes but with Jack White's fingerprints all over this supergroup consisting of White, singer/songwriter Brendon Benson and two Greenhornes (Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence)comparisons are sure to abound. Benson and White have gone on the record to say that this is Detroit's answer to Nirvana's "Nevermind"; it's at least a couple of solid songs short of that lofty standard but for a debut album it certainly holds it's own.

Allready the group has had a name change forced upon them as there is a jazz band with the same name in Australia so they will be known as the Saboteur's downunder. That aside it has been smooth sailing for the foursome all whom have been doing exactly as they please in their musical ventures and yet managed to mesh together to the extent that you can sense everyone had their say in the way Broken Boy Soldiers sounds.

While all members of The Raconteurs may have been born equal, turns out that some are more equal than others. Because it's the songs that sound most like Jack that really soar: the piano/bass/cymbal heavy Blue Veins, or the astounding Broken Boy Soldiers far outshine the Benson penned jangle of Together or Call it a day.

Steady as she goes will garner a lot of airplay and is reminicent of sixties pop, it's also as catchy as the Bird-flu. This was the song that got the project of the ground when White and Benson got togther to write in Bensons attic.

If you heard Loretta Lynn's "Van Lear Rose" album then you will be familar with the Greenhorne's who Jack hired to work on that album, they also had/have the gig opening for the White Stripes.
Patrick Keeler plays like he want's to murder his snare and is a stark contrast to the drum-how-you-feel loseness of Meg that Jack is accustomed too.

In fact Jack sound's (and in publicity snippets he looks) as if he's having a ball and is a lot looser himself than the Jack White of late who broods onstage with the Stripe's. Maybe it's that he has freed himself from the self imposed white and red constraints of the Stripes, maybe it's because he like's hanging out with the boys for a change. He certainly seems to be invigorated and this can only bode well for future albums wether they be Stripes, Raconteurs or Saboteurs.