The Raconteurs
Help Us Stranger
scum stats: Vault version with diff cover and green/copper vinyl, indie store exclusive with silk-screened sleeve and white vinyl, also dedicated versions for the Saboteurs down under (one of which i’m holding in the accompanying pic…because that’s how I roll)
What can I say? I feel the same way about this record as I did about “Consolers of the Lonely” when it came out eleven years ago. Working in a medium that is so easily rehashed, bloated, signified and “old”, the Raconteurs distill the most classic essence of rock and roll into a new, compelling and progressive form.
If I’ve learned anything from the lead-up campaign to this album, it’s how MANY people favor the Racs as their preferred Jack White vehicle. Weirdly, some peeps just can’t get on board with the Stripes because of the lack of bass, simplified drumming, matching outfits or whatever. I don’t understand it, but I acknowledge it. And in the ten years at Third Man…the Racs have primarily been relegated to reissues and live Vault releases…we’ve not previously experienced the wallop that a new studio album from them brings.
But wallop it does and live, it’s even stronger. I’m very, very excited to see where this journey takes us.
Also…just post some shit in the comments. Whatever you want. I’ll let my daughter Violet scroll through and pick a name at random and that person will get a test pressing of “Help Us Stranger”
Happy release day everyone.
Hi Violet from Craig in Wales ???
Hello Violet, you have a beautiful name and I hope you pick mine.
Great record. Hope Violet picks me!
I love this record, my favorite so far. ironically, that’s probably because, to me, it sounds like a record the Stripes might have made if they’d stayed together. feels like a natural progression from Icky Thump, with a few albums in between.
Roses are red VIOLETS are blue
A test pressing would be cool but I can’t wait to hear what you have planned for the 20th anniversary of the self titled White Stripes album that was teased on Instagram.
Thanks TMR! I got the three different versions of Help Me Stranger on the day of release ????
Once upon a time there was a princess named Violet who lived in a kingdom or Amber and Blue. Her kingdom feel under a witches spell removing all sound light and color. Hearing of this plight a raconteur rode into town on a dream made of stallion made of golden vinyl and love. He gave the princess a secret box filled with a universe of stars. As soon as she opened the wooden chest the world burst into pure bright light and returned Violets kingdom to it’s glory. The witch could never return because of the purity of the light. Then out of gratitude Princess Violet gave the raconteur a stallion that could sing and fly. The kingdom would never be in darkness again.
This new record has my 2 year old playing along on her Rhodes piano. Check it out on Instagram I tagged TMR.
Once upon a time there were three little pigs. One pig built a house of straw while the second pig built his house with sticks. They built their houses very quickly and then sang and danced all day because they were lazy. The third little pig worked hard all day and built his house with bricks.
A big bad wolf saw the two little pigs while they danced and played and thought, “What juicy tender meals they will make!” He chased the two pigs and they ran and hid in their houses. The big bad wolf went to the first house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in minutes. The frightened little pig ran to the second pig’s house that was made of sticks. The big bad wolf now came to this house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in hardly any time. Now, the two little pigs were terrified and ran to the third pig’s house that was made of bricks.
The big bad wolf tried to huff and puff and blow the house down, but he could not. He kept trying for hours but the house was very strong and the little pigs were safe inside. He tried to enter through the chimney but the third little pig boiled a big pot of water and kept it below the chimney. The wolf fell into it and died.
The two little pigs now felt sorry for having been so lazy. They too built their houses with bricks and lived happily ever after.
yes