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January 30, 2006

Jack White & Brendan Benson Are Raconteurs

You can finally listen to some of the much anticipated collaboration between critically acclaimed Michigan music men Jack White and Brendan Benson. When NME first heard about the project, they wet their pants and claimed it would be "Detroit's answer to Nevermind." Not quite. But "Steady, As She Goes" and "Store Bought Bones," both streaming at theraconteurs.com, do not disappoint, especially the latter.

Jack and Brendan handle guitar, vocals, and keys. Their rhythm section is Jack Lawrence on bass and Patrick Keeler on drums. See how happy they all look together:

Can we get some MP3 action in the comments? I admit there's something sort of perverse about ripping embedded flash audio from a site designed to look like a DOS prompt, but I'm sure that won't stop you.

UPDATE: MP3 for ya. Bass riff's straight from "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" ... but rocks.

The Raconteurs - "Steady As She Goes" (MP3 Link Expired)

Posted at 2:34 PM in
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73 Comments

they look stupid. i refuse to check them out.

Posted by: scott at 01/30/06 3:04 PM | Reply
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wow... who'da thunk that there could be three other rockstars who could make Jack White look really attractive?

Posted by: whb at 01/30/06 3:05 PM | Reply
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"Jack White looks like Zorro on doughnuts." - Noel Gallagher

Posted by: nme at 01/30/06 3:12 PM | Reply
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They are possibly the ugliest band since DCfC

Posted by: Josh at 01/30/06 3:13 PM | Reply
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"Jack White looks like Zorro on doughnuts." - Noel Gallagher

LOLOLOL
either that or michael jackson's plumper cousin (when in makeup)
oh my.

the new nevermind?
i just don't think we need one.
i'm so tired of DCfC references I just might start listening to classical music just to revolt and rebel...

Posted by: miranda at 01/30/06 3:18 PM | Reply
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Don't hate.

While I'll admit Noel's comment is funny, Jack is still nice looking. I don't think its intentional, but he kind of "uglifies" himself with his various costumes - he is naturally a handsome guy.

PS: The guy in green is kinda hot.

Posted by: Rina at 01/30/06 3:23 PM | Reply
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Thanks Matt!

Posted by: scott at 01/30/06 3:35 PM | Reply
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jack does "uglify" himself. photos of him from his pre-elephant days show him to be quite a handsome fella.

Posted by: george at 01/30/06 3:46 PM | Reply
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thanks for the mp3 matt.
i have the 7" on pre-order but i've cheated and had to listen.
'the new nevermind'? 'steady...' does sound very nirvana in places, and in a good way too.

can't wait for more!

Posted by: the idiot at 01/30/06 3:51 PM | Reply
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where'd you preorder the 7" from?

Posted by: george at 01/30/06 3:53 PM | Reply
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wow

they sound incredible.

Posted by: Chea at 01/30/06 3:55 PM | Reply
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whoa... is there no sun in detroit? what the hell? these dudes look sickly... (and not 'sick' in the 'cool' way that the younguns are using it)

that said, the new tunes are awesome. nice post!

Posted by: s at 01/30/06 3:58 PM | Reply
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Awesome!!! I've been excited about this project again the last couple of days, when I remembered it was happening soon and started seeing the little ripples on blogs.

Is it just me or does the outro "I'm steady now..." sound kind of like the end of Toxic by Britney Spears?

Posted by: Arya at 01/30/06 4:08 PM | Reply
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I like the way both tracks sound...I'm diggin' it.

The website is cooler than the band, though...

Posted by: Justin at 01/30/06 4:12 PM | Reply
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hey george,

puregroove.co.uk for the 7".

i just checked their site and it said this:

"Hey, I got 100 spare copies of the Raconteurs single. Just kidding. They've all gone. Sorry. That was a cruel joke. We don't know how many we're getting but if you haven't pre-ordered then it's unlikely you'll get it as it's the usual first come first served, one per household, no sneaky business etc. Fingers crossed and we wish you luck. It could be you."

what bothers me is all the speculators out there who snap up limited releases only to sell them on ebay minutes later. it makes it hard for music lovers to get hold of stuff we NEED.

my racontuers 7 is going as far as my turntable and NO FURTHER!

Posted by: the idiot at 01/30/06 4:13 PM | Reply
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I want to know what the photographer said to Brendan Benson to get him to make that face.

Posted by: Kyle at 01/30/06 4:15 PM | Reply
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No matter what they look like, they still rock fairly welll and that's all I care about.... I will buy this album.

Posted by: Fred at 01/30/06 4:17 PM | Reply
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Who’s up for starting a fund to feed Brendan Benson? Is that a fly buzzing near his eyelid? Sally Struthers, where are you now?

Posted by: martha at 01/30/06 4:39 PM | Reply
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Store Bought Bones. Sorry about the Rapidshare, but my webspace is down.

Posted by: Brian Drew at 01/30/06 4:40 PM | Reply
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There's no sun in Detroit between Nov and March. Also, last I checked, those guys didn't get out a lot during the day... something about playing rock n' roll at night for a living.

Posted by: gorilla at 01/30/06 4:46 PM | Reply
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store bought bones- http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MF6DXW2R

steady as she goes- http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LLRMMHEX

Posted by: anonymous at 01/30/06 4:50 PM | Reply
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Holy crap I didn't know Tobey Maguire was in their band too.

That's him on the left, right?

Posted by: seiche at 01/30/06 4:59 PM | Reply
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There's no food in Detroit between Nov and March. Also, last I checked, these guys didn't eat a lot during the day... something about playing rock 'n roll for a living.

Posted by: gorilla II: more serious than the original at 01/30/06 5:07 PM | Reply
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Sorry kids, they're not a pretty band like your beloved Sufjan or that guy with the hair from Death Cab or whatever the hell you're prostrating yourself in front of these days. But the songs are great, and I can't wait for the CD.

Thanks for the mp3s, folks!

Posted by: David at 01/30/06 5:20 PM | Reply
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Is that Brendan Fraser on the left?

Posted by: beth at 01/30/06 5:20 PM | Reply
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Steady as She Goes starts out just like "Is She Really Going Out With Him?."

Posted by: famous at 01/30/06 5:31 PM | Reply
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Fugly is the new Hawt.

I hate music from now on.

Posted by: ryan p at 01/30/06 5:51 PM | Reply
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They say that looks don't count for much. Well, now there goes your proof.

Posted by: ews at 01/30/06 6:01 PM | Reply
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I have "Store Bought Bones" here: http://zombiesatemusic.blogspot.com/

Posted by: cbotwell at 01/30/06 6:28 PM | Reply
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that's funny regarding the comment that he looks like michael jackson. i was about to buy one of the white stripes old cd's and my daughter said "mommy it's michael jackson!"

i thought it was funny.

but i guess i'm the only girl on earth who thinks there is something hot about jack white. i think i love his voice so much that it magically makes him appealing.

Posted by: Retardo at 01/30/06 6:41 PM | Reply
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Oh come on go look at pics of Jack before the Elephant days and you will see he is a very cute and handsome guy. Why do people have to be so fucking judgmental? These guys aren't trying to be models, their goal isn't to be pleasing to the eye. All they are trying to do is make good music and it sounds like they succeeded. On another note, Brendan Benson never compared this album to Nevermind that is just another example of NME blowing shit out of proportion. Brendan said, "I played it for a friend and he said it made him feel the same way he felt when he first heard Nevermind".

Posted by: Susan at 01/30/06 8:07 PM | Reply
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that guy on the left with the cool glasses is in the greenhornes. i couldn't stop watching him when i saw them live last week - so geeky!

Posted by: richard MF at 01/30/06 8:40 PM | Reply
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WOW. I'm so glad to finally here something like this. The Greenhornes are just incredible as it is. We see them everytime they're in Chicago and they're just the nicest guys. Jack White mixed with the Greenhornes rhythm section and a little Brendan Benson in the mix makes for a cocktail of musical heaven!

Posted by: Larry at 01/30/06 10:08 PM | Reply
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does anyone else realize how fucking hot this is dynamically. this is the most intensely mastered song i have ever heard. IT IS LoUD AS HELL. LOUD AS CAN BE!

INSANE WHERE DID THIS MP3 COME FROM!

Posted by: Rman at 01/30/06 11:57 PM | Reply
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I love how Jack White is lurking in the background.
"LOL, THEY'LL NEVER KNOW I'M THE GUY FROM THAT BAND!"

Posted by: changa at 01/31/06 12:41 AM | Reply
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the website is so awesomely pretentious i can't even begin to explain.

Posted by: fat asian baby at 01/31/06 1:54 AM | Reply
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"Jack White looks like Zorro on doughnuts." - Noel Gallagher


Pretty strong words from a guy who looks like he lives under a fucking bridge. Jack White may be carrying a few extra pounds, but Noel, ugly is forever.

Posted by: JK47 at 01/31/06 3:02 AM | Reply
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is it me or is jack white slowly turning into mick mars...

kreeeeeeepy.

Posted by: dennis at 01/31/06 3:35 AM | Reply
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http://student.ec.se/jet99_kna/rosemarieo/mars19.jpg

(previous post did not let me post a pic, so here's motley crue's own mick mars

still kreepy.

Posted by: dennis at 01/31/06 3:39 AM | Reply
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dammit, puregroove doesn't have any more, rough trade, nobody i can think of has any to sell online. yes except ebay - it's ridiculous to pay 44gbp for that!

Posted by: rachael at 01/31/06 5:43 AM | Reply
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As a UK blog writer I feel as though I should be the one to stick up for the NME here. Yes they hype things up sometimes (no way Arctic Monkeys is in the top 10 albums ever) but you seem to take every opportunity to attack a magazine, and top website, who bring us excellent news, reviews and introduce a lot of new bands to the world. If you read what they say about it being the new Nevermind it is not them that say it but they are quoting someone else. If they quoted Hitler they wouldn't be condoning the Holocaust would they?

Posted by: Adam at 01/31/06 9:19 AM | Reply
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David, the guy from DCfC is a veggie-filled moon bounce. Two, these guys are butt, the song is great. I will buy their music (I think I'm going to hold out for the 12"), I will see them live, I will leave the venue with my mind blown, and then about three days later will say, "what an bunch of ugly suckers!" And you can't stop me.

Posted by: janine at 01/31/06 10:04 AM | Reply
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Not as bad as RollingStone calling the Strokes the next Stones. I'm one of those pretentious dorks who doesn't like Nevermind that much anyway, but I'm not going to condemn it. I just don't think it's the best album of the 90's.

Posted by: fido at 01/31/06 10:17 AM | Reply
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FUCK DEATH CAB CAN WE JUST NOT BRING THEM UP EVERY 10 FUCKING SECONDS

Posted by: ARGH at 01/31/06 10:38 AM | Reply
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At least Jack finally shaved that damn Satan beard. However, my inner mom would like to say, "Jack, sweetie, push your hair out of your face so the world can see your dimples." And I don't mind the post-smoking 10 pounds. Girl's gotta have something to hold onto when a fella can rock out like that.

Ahem. And in less shallow news, I really liked both of the songs. The keyboards are a nice 60s-Zombies touch. Like the way it's mixed for maximum loudness. Very excited to hear the whole thing. If they toured with the Dirtbombs, it would be wonderful and deafening.

Posted by: Jen W at 01/31/06 10:42 AM | Reply
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Comment 1: Considering when the album was made, I wouldn't be surprised if the photos were taken before Get Behind Me Satan was released and Jack went into full Confederate Army Magician mode.

Comment 2: Yes, the Raconteurs site is marvelously pretentious. The only thing more pretentious is having a blog called "Fat Asian Baby".

Posted by: Yawnie McYawn at 01/31/06 12:25 PM | Reply
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ARGH, I seriously didn't want to, but anyone calling Ben Gibbard a pretty boy needs to have a few things explained to them.

Posted by: janine at 01/31/06 12:40 PM | Reply
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Yawnie McYawn: Yes, but as photos from the Aussie Big Day Out can attest, El Goatess del Diablo is no more.

Ben Gibbard looks like Ben Gibbard on doughnuts.

Posted by: Jen W at 01/31/06 2:16 PM | Reply
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who the hell is brendan benson?

Posted by: cesar at 01/31/06 2:27 PM | Reply
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In the picture above, he's the love child of Skeletor and the guy from the Spin Doctors (minus the stupid hat).

Posted by: janine at 01/31/06 2:33 PM | Reply
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yo, dey is from my city yo! Detroit, reprazent!

lol, but i am seriously diggin' this. And no, Jack white is not ugly. he just looks weird with a goatee, that's all. And thank you, Jen W, for finally saying it! Good God, how Death Cab got into this thread confuses me, but these raconteurs already seriously kick their butttts and I'm lovin't it.

Posted by: alexis at 01/31/06 4:09 PM | Reply
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if you compare the strokes 3 albums with the latter half of the stones discog, I think there's a fair comparison...

Posted by: Devin at 01/31/06 6:32 PM | Reply
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It's sold even before anyone's been sent it! unplayed too! surely there should be a law to stop this:
Amazon (UK)
Condition Seller information
£69.00
New Seller: the_record_factory (Safe buying guarantee)

Comments: - Brand new mint unplayed 7". All items in stock and sent same day in secure packaging.
or
£70.00
New Seller: aandamusic (Safe buying guarantee)
Comments: - new, mint, unplayed, fast shipping from UK.

Posted by: randydandy at 01/31/06 7:01 PM | Reply
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Hey they look rad as as a band and hell they are making fab music so who gives a shit its cool as man

Posted by: Yayness at 01/31/06 9:24 PM | Reply
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I doubt any of these dudes aspire to be hunks. If you equate physical attractiveness with everything that good in the world ... not my problem.

Posted by: janine at 02/01/06 10:45 AM | Reply
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Absolutely fantastic

Posted by: Arnar at 02/03/06 12:55 PM | Reply
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i cant wait until may to get there album. really. im not gona sleep until may.
: |

Posted by: beth at 02/04/06 5:47 PM | Reply
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about the quotation of noel gallagher: I think that a boy like him who just does the same as the beatles, doesn't have to say anything!! He's just envious because Jack White had found his own style!!
When he'll stop copying the beatles he could talk about music!the only thing he's able to do is criticize the others just to be remarked by the others! Shut up Noel!!
Noel means "Christmas" in french!! it's a quite stupid name for a french like me!! yes you're like a tree decorated for christmas: full of ornements but ugly without them!!

Posted by: olivia at 02/07/06 2:37 PM | Reply
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anyone that says jack white is ugly is out of there frigen minds he is majorly hot and does not look ugly with a goatee. also i love the songs thanks for posting them. love ya, emily

Posted by: emily white at 02/15/06 8:21 PM | Reply
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Hey This is Emily White's Friend! and I think that she is cool and what ever she says (most of the time)I agree with! thanks everyone for listening! thanks,
Emily's friend

Posted by: Taylor Smith at 02/16/06 1:30 PM | Reply
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I know this is lame but i think that Brendan Benson is hot lol

Posted by: Carissa at 07/26/06 9:22 PM | Reply
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Ok Brendan Benson is really hot

Posted by: Carissa Smith at 07/26/06 9:26 PM | Reply
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Like Brendan Benson is hot in other pictures but this pic at the top is ok....either way brendan is so fricken hot

Posted by: Carissa Smith at 07/27/06 1:30 PM | Reply
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lol really hot

Posted by: Carissa Smith at 08/05/06 12:22 PM | Reply
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lol really hot

Posted by: Carissa Smith at 08/05/06 12:22 PM | Reply
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The judge who put coded messages in his Da Vinci Code plagiarism trial ruling has written another...

Posted by: Toby Baumann at 11/12/06 11:00 AM | Reply
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brendan benson is really good looking. you guys don't know what you're talking about. looks shouldn't really matter for MUSIC, anyhow. use your ears, not your eyes.

Posted by: elle at 11/30/06 4:37 PM | Reply
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brendan benson is really good looking. you guys don't know what you're talking about. looks shouldn't really matter for MUSIC, anyhow. use your ears, not your eyes.

Posted by: elle at 11/30/06 4:37 PM | Reply
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I think Jack White is hot...

!?

I know, I'm a freak...Pale skinny rock stars yum yum...
Don't throw things at me.

Posted by: Me at 06/08/07 4:10 AM | Reply
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Jack White not hot? Get your heads outta your asses. The guy is amazing musically, and is one fine piece to look at. No, not all his pictures are flattering, but I would doubt yours would be either. Love that man!!! Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Rachel at 09/25/07 3:46 PM | Reply
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I totally agree with you Rachel!!! Jack White is definitely one fine piece of a man to look at- hot doesn't even begin to cover it!! Yummy, yummy!!!

Posted by: Vicki at 10/11/07 11:59 AM | Reply
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