Despite the title of their latest release, Consolers of the Lonely, the Raconteurs won't be in sparse company much longer. Consolers of the Lonely avoids the famed sophomore slump by miles. As compared to the Raconteurs' first offering, Broken Boy Soldiers, Consolers offers a far more consistent and accessible blend of eclectic rock, and will no doubt score the Raconteurs legions of new fans and solidify their credibility as far more than a side project for White Stripes frontman Jack White.

After seemingly originating out of nowhere in 2006, the Raconteurs were hailed critically for their very original sound, but were considered by many to be either a supergroup or just a playtoy for Jack White whenever the White Stripes were in between tours. The band prefers to think of themselves as a complete band, independent of any of the other bands that members of the Raconteurs have performed with. Consolers of the Lonely truly combines the input of all of the band members into one funky, downright enjoyable album. It certainly has the far-out stamp of Jack White, but Consolers proves that the Raconteurs are certainly not just the White Stripes redux.

Consolers of the Lonely is high-energy rock album, and will be enjoyed certainly by fans of the White Stripes, but more broadly by fans of classic rock and modern rock who are looking for a fresh new sound. Most tracks feature rock progressions overlapped with driving synth parts and White's squealing guitar tone. The lead parts of the songs are certainly unorthodox, but rewarding for anyone willing to adopt their eccentricities. There are plenty of acoustic guitars and even a ballad or two on the album, but the band's freshness carries over to all corners of the product with interesting rhythms and strong songwriting that keeps the audience listening.

The Raconteurs play by their own rules in every facet of their creativity. Refusing to be discounted as a novelty or a simple conduit for Jack White's whims, they have built credibility and are coming into their own with each release. Even their recording strategy reflects their individuality. In an era when most popular albums are promoted for several months before their release, Consolers of the Lonely was released a mere 3 weeks after it was finished.

Consolers is a great album, and the Raconteurs should be rewarded with at least a listen by every rock fan. Their style certainly is not for everyone, but anyone even mildly enticed by their approach should give Consolers of the Lonely a try. It deserves a B+ for its unique, eclectic sound and surprisingly high consistency. It comes close to being an album that a fan can listen to straight through, and if the trend continues, the Raconteurs will only deliver better work in the future.