The Raconteurs- 'Broken Boy Soldiers' (XL) Released 23/10/06

‘Broken Boy Soldiers’, the third single to be taken from The Raconteurs' splendid debut of the same name, shows the band in rip roaring form with a primal slice of dirty blues rock. Whilst not as infectious as ‘Steady As She Goes’ or as melodic as ‘Hands’ ‘Broken Boy Soldiers’ charm lies in it’s power and aggression with Jack Whites vocals as urgent and raw as the early White Stripes records. A marching rhythm kicks the track off and is accompanied by a slide guitar straight out of a Clint Eastwood Western. “I’m child and man, then child again” shows Jack White hasn’t lost his knack for writing blindingly obtuse lyrics but the atmospherics of the track take over and guide you past all that.