Unannounced New Release: The Raconteurs "Consolers of the Lonely" will emerge on 3/25

DATELINE: THE RUMOR MILL -

It's true, all true. The band has done no interviews and there is absolutely no press on this at all. This is an Emerging Story!

The unstoppable Jack White has proven his mettle once again by doing something completely unexpected. Rumors swirling about yesterday that Jack White appeared in a Warner Brothers executive office with unexpected completed and mastered Raconteurs recordings in hand appear to be true - at least in substance.

In a speculative report on RollingStone.com - there was a definite sense of urgency portrayed in the Raconteurs record release move. Jack White's request to the label was to get this release out as quickly as possible - in an unheard of less than two week's time... (White has since commented on the site that rushing the album to press isn't the reaction to knowledge of a specific leak. But, the rush clearly is a preventative measure against leaks. And certainly a safeguard following the advanced leaking of the Raconteurs' first album "Broken Boy Soldiers" as well as White Stripes material last year on a Chicago radio station last year. [ARTICLE])

The surprise release of material is a clear echo of what Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor did recently by releasing a collection of albums online with little to no notice whatsoever. ([ARTICLE])

Statements on their webpage and on the Raconteurs myspace substantiate and prove out the rumors. The world will get 14 new tracks from the Raconteurs on March 25. The title of the album is "Consolers of the Lonely" and the material will be available on record, CD and electronically.

The Raconteurs

Consolers of the Lonely


3/17 p.m. STATEMENT FROM THE BAND
The Raconteurs are happy to announce that in one week’s time their second album, entitled "Consolers Of The Lonely", will be available EVERYWHERE Tuesday, March 25th.

"Album" meaning: full length vinyl, CD and digital formats; and "everywhere" meaning: local mom and pop Indie retailers, corporate superstores, supermarkets, iTunes, Amazon, the band’s own website and any other location that could get the record up and going this quickly (some places couldn’t move this fast, so they will join in as soon as they can).

It contains 14 new recordings and is being released globally on Third Man Records in conjunction with our marketing/distribution partners, XL Recordings and Warner Brothers Records.

The album was mastered and completed in the first week of March. It was then taken immediately to a vinyl pressing plant. Then to a CD pressing plant. Then preparations to sell it digitally began. March 25th became the soonest date to have it available in EVERY FORMAT AT ONCE. The band have done no interviews or advertisements for this record before this announcement.

The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised. 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.

With this release, The Raconteurs are forgoing the usual months of lead time for press and radio set up, as well as forgoing the all important "first week sales". We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter. The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by it’s first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it.

Another purpose was to also allow people to have their own choice as to exactly which format they would like to hear the album in IMMEDIATELY, rather than having to wait for their favorite format to become available. The band are also not releasing any version of this record that contains bonus tracks. Musically this album will be the same as the band created it no matter what format it is purchased in (The sound quality of each format however, is a different story. The Raconteurs recommend hearing it on vinyl, but the choice is of course up to the listener).

The band also prefer that fans buy the album as a whole instead of breaking up the tracks, but until iTunes and other digital services allows bands to release their albums with the option of NOT breaking it up, it will be sold in that fashion on those particular sites. On the band’s website however, the album will be sold in its entirety as an mp3 at 320kb bit rate. Also 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.

The reason we are announcing this release one week ahead of time is because of retail pre-ordering and stocking, information about this album’s imminent release was bound to come to light and could be confusing to fans. Also in the event that the record leaks, we didn’t want this method of release to be seen as a REACTION to such a leak. It’s not. The actual worst thing about a leak is the usual poor sound quality, akin to watching a movie on a wristwatch instead of in a theater. Which for the album’s creators is a bit of a letdown, but again, it is completely up to the listener.

There will be a video up on the internet for the first single, "Salute Your Solution", on the 25th as well, provided it gets edited in time. We just filmed it the other day!

We hope not to confuse anyone with too many options, or deny them the formats that they like best. The Raconteurs feel very strongly that music has worth and should be treated as such. Thank you to all those who respect music in this fashion, and thank you to our label partners for working with us to get this album to fans in as many formats as possible all at once.

Thank you, and we hope that you enjoy "Consolers Of The Lonely".


photograph by Stephen Berkman

TWO AMAZING LIVE RECORDINGS
The Raconteurs live on the BBC's Radio 2

The Raconteurs - Steady as She Goes
The Raconteurs - It Ain't Easy



My Take: Get to the store on March 25th. Do it. You don't want to miss out on this one.

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