The album has Jack White’s style and blues influence written all over it, with a much higher level of energy than their first outing.

Jack White and company decided to take on drastic measures in order to release their sophomore effort, “Consolers of the Lonely,” in its pure unadulterated form to the public. The band announced its March 25 release date to the world just one week prior to the event. An unprecedented move, considering the time frame leaves no room for advertisements or marketing for the album.

The bands intentions were to release all forms of the record at once, including its vinyl, CD and digital versions to the public before music critics could put a spin on it, giving listeners the opportunity to form their own opinion with virgin ears.

The albums production, shrouded in secrecy began in the early weeks of March. Once the album was mastered, it was immediately pressed for vinyl and then CD, preparations for its digital release were also carefully arranged.

The band announced the albums existence and its release date to the public on March 17. However, four days later, the album was leaked online by, of all sources, iTunes.

Apparently the number one music retailer in the world didn’t get the memo. It seems that the albums 14 tracks were accidentally made available prematurely on iTunes for several hours before operators disabled the purchasing option.

A few hours was just enough time to dismantle the severe precautions put into place by the group. Oh well boys, hats off for the valiant effort, better luck next time.

Even if the critics had the opportunity to persuade those purchasing music, it certainly didn’t have a negative effect, as the album came in at seven its on the billboard charts, selling almost 42,000 copies in its first week. Not bad considering they beat out recent chart toppers Jack Johnson and Snoop Dogg.

If you liked the Raconteurs 2006 debut “Broken Boy Soldiers,” you’re in for a bit of a surprise. Where “Broken Boy Soldiers” was able to maintain a certain cohesiveness of style throughout, “Consolers of the Lonely” is all over the musical grid. The album has Jack White’s style and blues influence written all over it, with a much higher level of energy than their first outing.

It should be noted that this album has the song arrangement and energy of a classic ‘70s rock record, something in the vein of Zeppelin or the Who. Heavy guitars reign supreme as White and Brandon Benson trade off riffs and lyrical duties throughout the 55-minute affair. Mixing things up with some horns and fiddles on appropriate tracks, as well as piano and synthesizers on the bulk of the record

The album closes with its standout track “Carolina Drama.” White opens with this preface, “I’m not sure if there’s a point to this story/But I’m going to tell it again/

So many other people try to tell the tale/Not one of them knows the end.”

White puts on his Bob Dylan shoes for this one and nails the part of the storyteller. It’s a country western/bluegrass-flavored tale of murder and family secrets starring a boy named Billy, his mother, her boyfriend, the preacher and the milkman.

The fiasco at the center of the story comes to a dreadful climax, but no ending is revealed. White ends the song on this note “If you must know the truth about the tale/Go and ask the milkman.”

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