That's It, That's What We're Lookin' For

The Gutter Twins perform "Idle Hands" on Letterman 3/19/08.

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=2ad6ad89-f4cf-4a90-8591-ed2f42898346

Consolers Of The Lonely

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.

Sincerely,
The Raconteurs

Gogol Pics

The Gutter Twins

Cursive @ Great American Music Hall

This was a much better Cursive show than the one I saw at the Fillmore in 2006. It was more intimate and Tim seems to engage more with smaller crowds. They played 6 new songs; Hips, Couldn't Love You, Let Me Up, Bedding Down, Caveman, and Going To Hell. Going to Hell really highlights Tim's voice, which I enjoy. Their new drummer is a badass!

The security people at this show were real jerks, which I have never had happen at the Great American before. They were seriously all over anyone who was taking photos. They even hassled the guy next to us in the balcony even though he had a giant yellow pass stuck to his shirt. I snapped a few, almost getting myself kicked out for doing so. One of the security guys told me it was a Noise Pop rule that there were to be no cameras whatsoever. What a crock of shit. My love for Noise Pop is seriously declining. I pulled out my phone late in the show to check the time and got tapped on the shoulder, I almost lost it. IT'S MY PHONE!

Cursive did not disappoint, and I am looking forward to their new album.

Noise Pop ~ you disappointed me for the first time this year.