The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers

The debut album from musicians making anything but their debut. This is one of those cases of bands making eyes at eachother from across the smoky piano bar of modern rock. This is a union, not out of necessity, not out of ennui, but out of love. Brendan Benson and The Greenhornes have been close to Jack White's heart and musical barometer (redundant?) for an indefinite amount of time. They seem to accurately temper the variety of Jack's bravado with The Greenhornes bringing the balls and Brendan bringing the brains. And me bringing the alliteration.
I would call this collaboration something of an all-star team, but Jack White is the only one really bringing the star quality. Who else brings the star caliber is...debatable. And since this is a fairly solo effort, I'll save the debate for the humans.

The one clear fact in this union is Jack White is in control. That is not to say he is the most talented (also not to say he isn't). Jack White would be the alpha male in a pack of wolves; it's just who he is. Don't let the fact that he's always standing in the back of pictures fool you, it's quite intentional. He is literally always in the back of Raconteur band photos. But whether he surrounds himself with talentless bit players (sorry Meg) or talented musicians, they are all but pawns in his neverending chess game with...um..God? And this fact bodes well for this review, dear reader, because I fancy myself something of a Jack White expert.

Steady, as She Goes
Ha, see? Isn't it obvious that Jack's in control? This is exactly how Jack White starts an album. This song is awesome. A roaring start to an album that could go in any direction. He even throws in a lyric from a Stripes' song ("had too much to think" - Ashtray Heart) which may seem inconsequential to your av-erage bear but I like to think it's a little nod to his fans that he's got things under control. Steady as she goes, indeed.
Hands
Now it's Brendan's turn. He croons in sounding a lot like Jack White on some perks or otherwise euphoric. My theory is that's why Jack likes Brendan in the first place. This song is a perfect pick for number two because it really sets off the duality of the band coming down from Jack's high throttle tendencies, and meandering a bit in the style of its vocalist. By the end of this track, I don't want to say you know where the album's going, but you've got a pretty good idea of the route it will take.
Broken Boy Soldier
This is the track that really ensures me that Jack is in control. He's never strayed far from childish themes. Family, school, toys, candy, Christmas, the White Stripes' logo is a peppermint swirl for chrissake. And the fact that this track shares the name of the album (almost) is all the proof I need. But what really makes this track is the percussion. The persistent beat and those crazy cymbals breathe life into this broken toy soldier.
Intimate Secretary
This song baffles me. And what really baffles me is that it seems like it's supposed to baffle me, and that just baffles me more. What should be the chorus of this song are more like verses and what should be the verses of this song are a lot more like choruses. The lyrics make very little sense. And the whole song's over before it really goes anywhere. By all rights I should hate this song. But I don't. Hm.
Together
Now this song I get. This is a love song. This is what Brendan brings to the table. His gentle warble is the perfect medium for such beautiful lyrics. He could have done this song without The Raconteurs, sure, but I'll be goddamned if there's anything that could have given the same bend that Jack's back-up vocals add to this track. His sincere desperation tweaks the sensitive lullaby into this altogether new, altogether wonderful manifestation. Surely, it's better together.
Level
This is a filler track. A great filler track, don't get me wrong, but a filler track. It doesn't rock too much, it doesn't roll too much, and luckily it's not very long. If it was about a minute longer I'd get annoyed, but as it stands, it's a fine filler track.
Store Bought Bones
Also something of a filler, but this is what a filler track is supposed to be. An awesome chorus, a great hook, and a sweet solo. There's not much to this song, but it has rightfully earned a place on the album.
Yellow Sun
I think I might have turned off the album or at least tuned it out after the last two tracks the first time (or few times) I listened to it. I can't believe what a mistake that was. The last three tracks of this album are at least as good, if not better than the first three. There's not much variance in overall feel on this album, except for track 3 and this track. Without this track, I don't know that I would have ever listened to the end.
Call it a Day
There's only one word for this song. Smooth. This song is floating through the ocean. This song is laying in the clouds. This song is rubbing your aching back. Just close your eyes, lean back, and bliss out to three and a half minutes of the gentlest verses, the most hypnotic back-up vocals, and most simple and serene bass line you could want to hear. It's beautiful. And it is exactly where it belongs at the second to last track. You don't necessarily want anything after it, but I don't think you're in much of a fighting mood either.
Blue Veins
This might be my favorite album closer Jack has ever made. A simple blues song, but done right. And I hate to praise backing vocals so much, but The Raconteurs have certainly shown me exactly what backing vocals are there for. This album just made me stop taking them for granted, I suppose.

One more great track really would have helped this album. The middle of it just seems to drag out a bit longer than it needs to. "Together" is a great track, but it is not enough to support the other three and that's where the album loses credit.

My overall album rating: 8.5