I went out and bought a cd without having heard a single song from the album. I think, that’s only happened a handful of times in my life, and always only with artists I already know well. Except in the case of Broken Boy Soldiers by The Raconteurs. This was a purchase based solely on an interview article, I had read, and though I had an idea of the style of music, I figured, I’d let myself get surprised.
And let me just say it right away: This is a great album! The Raconteurs have successfully mixed the old with the new here. The album is filed under “Alternative”, but it’s really just good old rock ‘n roll. About as alternative as Lou Reed, if you ask me. Not that the two sound alike, but there are actually quite a few songs on Broken Boy Soldiers that remind me of old rockbands. The title-song itself reminds me of Jefferson Airplane’s style, and several of the other songs, such as Level and in particular Blue Veins remind me of Led Zeppelin. And various other places, I find traces of both The Who and The Doors. There’s even a hint of Beatles in the ending of Yellow Sun.
Still, I wouldn’t call Broken Boy Soldiers a step back in time as such. The boys in the band have managed to take all these elements from classic rock-bands and make them their own. It seems obvious that these guys love what they’re doing, the music itself and possibly even each other’s company. There’s a genuine energy in these songs and it shows.
Finally, I have to compare the obvious: The Raconteurs versus White Stripes. Jack White is part of both, and so the comparison is unavoidable. And the fact that I liked White Stripes was a definite influence in making me buy this album, but the truth is actually, that I like The Raconteurs better. The songs are just a little more melodic, well-played and varied. It is clear that the two are completely different and may even speak to different audiences in the end, but I think that they compliment each other nicely in my music collection.
