The Raconteurs will Console everyone March 25 :: Music News :: Articles

The new Raconteurs album, Consolers of the Lonely, will be available everywhere in one week—from local vinyl stores to favorite (legal) digital sources for music. The band will also release a music video for the first single, “Salute Your Solution,” the day of the release.

Similar to the approach Radiohead and Trent Reznor took, this new business model only further illustrates the record industry's constant evolution. But with great change comes an opportunity to do things differently.

Thus, the Raconteurs seem to be seizing this opportunity to make a somewhat unprecedented move. As previously reported, last August, the band has been working on a second album. What is unusual is the band has opted to go forth with the 14-track sophomore release using more of a purist approach—no fanfare and very limited media attention. Abandoning the typical months of lag time makes sense in an era where radio seems all but irrelevant to the process anymore. Plus, the album will be the same beginning to end, no matter where it is purchased. That means no exclusive bonus tracks will be available via certain mass retailers.

The point: the band wants listeners to know that, to them, it is about the music.

“We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it's availability, reception or perception,” said the band in a press release.

The release also states that “the Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by its first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it.”

Essentially, the Raconteurs chose to release the album on March 25 because it was the earliest date that all of the available formats could be ready at virtually the same time (vinyl, CD, digital). Third Man Records is releasing the album globally alongside XL Recordings and Warner Bros. It was priority that consumers could have their choice of how to enjoy Consolers in every corner of the world.

“In Japan, fans will be able to download the record via their mobile phones, as that is how a majority of recorded music is consumed there,” they said in the release.

As for Jack White and the rest of the Raconteurs, they recommend enjoying the album by way of vinyl.

And if your favorite format happens to be live, they have that covered as well:

April
20 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
21 - Seattle, Wash. @ Neumo’s
22 - Portland, Ore. @ Wonder Ballroom
23 - San Francisco, Ca. @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
25 - Indio, Ca. @ Coachella
26 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ the Joint
28 - Denver, Co. @ the Fillmore Auditorium
29 - Kansas City, Mo. @ Uptown Theatre

May
1 - Dallas, Texas @ House of Blues
2 - Austin, Texas @ Stubb’s BBQ
3 - Austin, Texas @ Stubb’s BBQ
4 - New Orleans, La. @ New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest

June
13 - Machester, Tenn. @ Bonnaroo
26 - Arendal, Norway @ Hove Festival

July
12 - Kinross, Scotland @ T in the Park
13 - Naas, Ireland @ Oxegen Festival