New collaborations, solo endeavors produce scorching summer albums
By: David Arey
Issue date: 8/29/06 Section: Decibel
The Raconteurs
"Broken Boy Soldiers"
90 Decibels
Sounds Like: Jack White in a real band
Jack White's side project with singer-songwriter Brendan Benson went so well there are rumors The White Stripes might break up. Let's hope both bands can stay together, as The Raconteurs' traditional rock perfectly complements the Stripes' more avant-garde approach.
The most surprising thing about "Broken Boy Soldiers" is how gracious White is in sharing the spotlight. He splits the vocals evenly with Benson, and in slower cuts like "Yellow Sun" he even allows Benson to dominate them. It's an intelligent choice; Benson's voice is more pristine than White's, and in some cases it shows what some White Stripes ballads were missing.
Benson is not the only addition, and aesthetically, he is not the most dominant. Even though he stays in the background, Jack Lawrence (bassist for The Greenhornes) is a pivotal part of what makes this album different from the White Stripes. For years, rock journalists have wondered what the Stripes would sound like if they had a bassist, and now they get their wish.
Lawrence is not any more technically proficient than an average bassist, but he's important because his presence provides the music with an easier-to-swallow vibe. Without the need to carry records with raw power, White sounds relaxed. While "Broken Boy Soldiers" is not as immediate or powerful as anything by the Stripes, it also doesn't carry as much baggage.
Thom Yorke
"The Eraser"
80 Decibels
Sounds Like: Radiohead minus the guitars
Even in earlier Radiohead albums, Thom Yorke turned emotional turmoil into grandiose opera - this solo album is no exception. However, that does not mean the formula has gone unchanged. It is still filled with muddled metaphors and confusing British slang, but without a band to back him up, Yorke sounds naked and fierce. Even when he's singing gibberish, one knows exactly what he's saying.
"Broken Boy Soldiers"
90 Decibels
Sounds Like: Jack White in a real band
Jack White's side project with singer-songwriter Brendan Benson went so well there are rumors The White Stripes might break up. Let's hope both bands can stay together, as The Raconteurs' traditional rock perfectly complements the Stripes' more avant-garde approach.
The most surprising thing about "Broken Boy Soldiers" is how gracious White is in sharing the spotlight. He splits the vocals evenly with Benson, and in slower cuts like "Yellow Sun" he even allows Benson to dominate them. It's an intelligent choice; Benson's voice is more pristine than White's, and in some cases it shows what some White Stripes ballads were missing.
Benson is not the only addition, and aesthetically, he is not the most dominant. Even though he stays in the background, Jack Lawrence (bassist for The Greenhornes) is a pivotal part of what makes this album different from the White Stripes. For years, rock journalists have wondered what the Stripes would sound like if they had a bassist, and now they get their wish.
Lawrence is not any more technically proficient than an average bassist, but he's important because his presence provides the music with an easier-to-swallow vibe. Without the need to carry records with raw power, White sounds relaxed. While "Broken Boy Soldiers" is not as immediate or powerful as anything by the Stripes, it also doesn't carry as much baggage.
Thom Yorke
"The Eraser"
80 Decibels
Sounds Like: Radiohead minus the guitars
Even in earlier Radiohead albums, Thom Yorke turned emotional turmoil into grandiose opera - this solo album is no exception. However, that does not mean the formula has gone unchanged. It is still filled with muddled metaphors and confusing British slang, but without a band to back him up, Yorke sounds naked and fierce. Even when he's singing gibberish, one knows exactly what he's saying.
Article Tools
Be the first to comment on this story