The Odd Couple vs. Consolers Of The Lonely

Recently the world saw the release of the sophomore efforts from both Gnarls Barkley and The Raconteurs. These super-sized side-projects both have had huge success with their 2006 debuts, and have both been heralded for their live performances. Since these bands have had such similar timelines, I decided to turn their album reviews into a bloody battle for supreme sophomore side-project domination!

See who wins after the jump!

Round 1: Album Title

The name The Odd Couple says several things about Gnarls Barkley even if you have never heard any of their material before. It suggests that these two men are not your typical two-some. It also suggests that you are not going to get your run-of-the-mill, cookie-cutter band either. If you have not been living under a rock, you know that these two assumptions hold true for Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse, the under-the-radar-before-2006 duo have made a name for themselves being just what the name of their album describes them as.

The only thing that The Raconteurs album title, The Consolers Of The Lonely, tells me is that Jack White and Brendon Benson are really good guys to be around if you need a pal. This album title tells me that they will be featuring very happy songs, and covering Common's "The Light" (very far from the truth).

Round 1 Winner: The Odd Couple

Round 2: Album Art

The cover of The Odd Couple features a 21st century yellow-submarine-style animation of Cee-Lo Green and Danger Mouse. It is quite odd, and very striking if you are walking by in a record store, but for some reason I do not like it at all. Compared to the art on their first album St. Elsewhere, this time they failed to recreate an image that will stick with them throughout.

On Consolers Of The Lonely's cover, it looks as if The Raconteurs spent the day at the fair and took a bunch of those old-time pictures. You know the ones that I am talking about, the ones that every family makes them take when they're on vacation. Anyway, I have always loved those pictures, and my family has never let me get one.

Round 2 Winner: Consolers Of The Lonely

Round 3: Release Method

With release methods constantly evolving these days, both Gnarls Barkley and The Raconteurs decided to get their albums out very non-traditionally. The Raconteurs decided that they were going to release their album as soon as they could get it out to every type of media outlet available. They announced the release of their album only about a week before it dropped. Radiohead's pay-what-you-want method of release still has been the most innovative, but The Raconteurs come in a close second due to the major hush-hush operations that were going on to make this happen without any of us damn music bloggers finding out about it.

Gnarls Barkley released their album about a week earlier than they planned to on I-Tunes. One reason for this was to get it out to the waiting fans, but I have a feeling that the main reason was because The Odd Couple had already been floating around the internet for a couple of weeks. Sorry GB, you didn't get it out to the fans soon enough!

Round 3 Winner: Consolers Of The Lonely

Round 4: The Songs

Gnarls Barkley's first album St Elsewhere was full of great beats and catchy hooks, but it also featured some of the darkest lyrics that I have ever heard on an album. Going into The Odd Couple I expected the same lyrical approach that Cee-Lo brought before. While some tracks are very dark - "Would Be Killer" and "Run (I'm A Natural Disaster)" - this album does not have that same dreary feeling that their first album did. Danger Mouse shines on certain parts of The Odd Couple, but, like Cee-Lo, does not bring his A-game to this project. Certain songs do stand out over others on this album though. After several listens I find myself growing more and more attached to three particular songs including "Charity Case" which opens the album, Cee-Lo's funky acceptance of life "Whatever", and album closer "A Little Better" which in my opinion features the best lyrics and beat of the whole album. Even if it is not the best work from Gnarls Barkley, it is still really good, and well worth picking up at your local record store. One thing that holds true for Gnarls Barkley on The Odd Couple is their ability to push through as many types of music as possible while making everything sync together perfectly.

Consolers Of The Lonely brings a completely renewed sound to The Raconteurs that I was more than happy to hear. After releasing their first album, Broken Boy Soldiers, they have had a chance to refine their sound by playing many gigs on tour including many major festivals stops such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and ACL Fest. Immediately the album starts off with two heavy hitters in "Consolers Of The Lonely" and "Salute Your Salution". "You Don't Understand Me" and "Old Enough" brings their sound back to the folk-rock, melody-oriented Raconteurs that I fell in love with on Broken Boy Soldiers. At times they even draw some country influence that has undoubtedly been placed on Jack White from his work with Loretta Lynn. They add horns to "The Switch And The Spur" and "Many Shades Of Black" while steady rocking on "Hold Up", "Top Yourself", "Five On The Five" and "Attention". The lyrical trade-off between Brendon Benson and Jack White on "Pull This Blanket Off" are worth the purchase alone, while "Rich Kid Blues" will prove to be their major arena rocker. The Zeppelin-esque "These Stones Will Shout" fits as a nice precursor to album closer "Carolina Dream" which channels the inner Bob Dylan in White, and ends the album off with vigor.

Round 4 Winner: Consolers Of The Lonely

Round 5: Staying Power

After listening to both albums pretty consistently since their releases, I have come to the realization that The Raconteurs pulled out all the stops for this album, and Gnarls Barkley didn't. I have a strong feeling that I will continue to listen to Consolers Of The Lonely well after getting bored with The Odd Couple.

Gnarls Barkley used the formula that already worked for them, but did not seem to change or improve on it at all. It is not a bad album, but compared to St. Elsewhere it is a very mediocre effort at best.

The Raconteurs grew from their first album and expanded on their overall sound. They made sure to make an LP that was very different from Broken Boy Soldiers while not straying too far from their original sound.

Round 5 Winner: Consolers Of The Lonely

The 2008 Supreme Sophomore Side-Project Winner is...

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The Raconteurs' Consolers Of The Lonely!

While both projects kick ass, White and Benson's Raconteurs brought a whole lot more to the table this time around. Sorry Gnarls, better luck next time!

You can buy both The Odd Couple and Consolers Of The Lonely and judge for yourself. Then you can come back here slander me when you realize you like Gnarls' jump-off better.

Stay tuned for the 2010 Supreme Junior Side-Project Championships!

Also, if you happen to have any of those old-time pictures of you, your friends, or your family I would love to see them (post a comment!).

Eat Your Damn Breakfast!

-Eggs