Broken Boy Soldiers
Encyclopedia
Broken Boy Soldiers is the debut album of The Raconteurs
, released on May 15, 2006 in the United Kingdom and May 16, 2006 in the United States. The album was generally favored among critics and spawned the #1 hit single "Steady, As She Goes
". The album earned a nomination for Best Rock Album at the 49th Grammy Awards.
" was the first song the pair worked on, followed by "Broken Boy Soldier
". After the completion of these two songs and their demos, they called in Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler to work on the songs.
In an interview with Uncut
magazine White said that "Store Bought Bones" originated from an outtake of The White Stripes
album, Get Behind Me Satan
. In the same interview, Benson also said that "Call It a Day" and "Together" were both songs he was working on for his next solo album.
Benson said in an interview with Mojo
magazine that the album feels like a demo because of how the band plays the songs live now. "Hands" features an outro heavily influenced by AC/DC
's "Back in Black
", "Call It a Day" has been sped up (found on the Zane Lowe EP), "Store Bought Bones" has been merged with B-side "The Bane Rendition", and many other changes.
The cover was photographed by Autumn de Wilde
and designed by Patrick Keeler
and Aleksey Shirokov.
and Jack White
.
Deluxe edition
said of the album "Expectations were sky-high, but the Raconteurs exceed them all." People
magazine gave the album three-and-a-half stars, making the album the Critic's Choice of the week; they commented "Broken Boy Soldiers incorporates just enough weirdness to show that he (White) hasn't completely changed his stripes." More conservatively, Billboard remarked "No one is breaking any ground here, and White fanatics looking for a new White Stripes record should temper their expectations. But as far as side projects go, this is as good as it gets."
The album ranked No. 28 on Rolling Stone's year-end critic's list and No. 19 on Spin Magazine's year-end Top 40 albums. It entered the UK charts at #2 and managed to reach #7 in the U.S. Since its release, it has sold approximately 425,000 copies in the U.S. In December 2006, Britain's Mojo magazine made it their Album of the Year. The lead single "Steady, As She Goes
" became the band's first Top 10 hit in the UK.
The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs is an American rock band that was formed in Detroit, Michigan, featuring four members known for other musical projects: Jack White , Brendan Benson , Jack Lawrence , and Patrick Keeler .-Formation:The...
, released on May 15, 2006 in the United Kingdom and May 16, 2006 in the United States. The album was generally favored among critics and spawned the #1 hit single "Steady, As She Goes
Steady, As She Goes
"Steady, As She Goes" is the debut single by the rock band The Raconteurs from their first album Broken Boy Soldiers. It has also been covered by such artists as Corinne Bailey Rae for BBC Radio 1's Live lounge....
". The album earned a nomination for Best Rock Album at the 49th Grammy Awards.
Recording history
The songs were written by Brendan Benson and Jack White. "Steady, As She GoesSteady, As She Goes
"Steady, As She Goes" is the debut single by the rock band The Raconteurs from their first album Broken Boy Soldiers. It has also been covered by such artists as Corinne Bailey Rae for BBC Radio 1's Live lounge....
" was the first song the pair worked on, followed by "Broken Boy Soldier
Broken Boy Soldier (Raconteurs song)
"Broken Boy Soldier" is the title track and the third single to be released from the album Broken Boy Soldiers by The Raconteurs, on October 23, 2006 in the UK...
". After the completion of these two songs and their demos, they called in Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler to work on the songs.
In an interview with Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
magazine White said that "Store Bought Bones" originated from an outtake of The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
album, Get Behind Me Satan
Get Behind Me Satan
Get Behind Me Satan is the fifth album by American alternative rock band The White Stripes, released on June 7, 2005 on V2 Records. Though still basic in production style, the album marked a distinct change from its guitar-heavy 2003 predecessor, Elephant...
. In the same interview, Benson also said that "Call It a Day" and "Together" were both songs he was working on for his next solo album.
Benson said in an interview with Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
magazine that the album feels like a demo because of how the band plays the songs live now. "Hands" features an outro heavily influenced by AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's "Back in Black
Back in Black (song)
"Back in Black" is a song by AC/DC, appearing as the first track on side two of their 1980 album, Back in Black. Known for its opening guitar riff, the song was AC/DC's tribute to their former singer Bon Scott...
", "Call It a Day" has been sped up (found on the Zane Lowe EP), "Store Bought Bones" has been merged with B-side "The Bane Rendition", and many other changes.
The cover was photographed by Autumn de Wilde
Autumn de Wilde
Autumn de Wilde is an American photographer best known for her portraiture and commercial work photography of musicians.-Early life:...
and designed by Patrick Keeler
Patrick Keeler
Patrick Keeler is an American rock music drummer from Cincinnati, who best known for playing in The Greenhornes and The Raconteurs. He plays with both traditional and matched grips.-Recording career:...
and Aleksey Shirokov.
Track listing
All songs by Brendan BensonBrendan Benson
Brendan Benson is an American musician and songwriter. He sings and plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released four solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs....
and Jack White
Jack White (musician)
Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor...
.
Deluxe edition
Reception
Critics were generally favorable towards Broken Boy Soldiers. Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
said of the album "Expectations were sky-high, but the Raconteurs exceed them all." People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine gave the album three-and-a-half stars, making the album the Critic's Choice of the week; they commented "Broken Boy Soldiers incorporates just enough weirdness to show that he (White) hasn't completely changed his stripes." More conservatively, Billboard remarked "No one is breaking any ground here, and White fanatics looking for a new White Stripes record should temper their expectations. But as far as side projects go, this is as good as it gets."
The album ranked No. 28 on Rolling Stone's year-end critic's list and No. 19 on Spin Magazine's year-end Top 40 albums. It entered the UK charts at #2 and managed to reach #7 in the U.S. Since its release, it has sold approximately 425,000 copies in the U.S. In December 2006, Britain's Mojo magazine made it their Album of the Year. The lead single "Steady, As She Goes
Steady, As She Goes
"Steady, As She Goes" is the debut single by the rock band The Raconteurs from their first album Broken Boy Soldiers. It has also been covered by such artists as Corinne Bailey Rae for BBC Radio 1's Live lounge....
" became the band's first Top 10 hit in the UK.
Personnel
- Jack White – vocals, guitars, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, production, mixing - Brendan Benson – vocals, guitars, keyboards, production
- Jack Lawrence – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Patrick Keeler – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Vlado Meller - mastering