THE RACONTEURS

Much like GNARLS BARKLEY last week, THE RACONTEURS felt compelled to move up the release date for their second LP, CONSOLERS OF THE LONELY, to help mitigate an Internet leak.

While there's nothing quite so effortlessly classic as "Steady, As She Goes" this time around, I still find myself drawn more to the "BRENDAN BENSON"-sounding entries than the "JACK WHITE" efforts. (Generally-speaking, though, that merely reflects my preference for pop-rock over blues-rock, and White's closing "Carolina Drama" has to rank as one of the album's highlights.) (And, come to think of it, "The Switch and the Spur" below shares some brassy swagger with "Conquest" from the last WHITE STRIPES album....)

THE RACONTEURS on MySPACE.

[MP3] "The Switch and the Spur" [REMOVED BY REQUEST]

[MP3] "Many Shades of Black" [REMOVED BY REQUEST]