Raconteurs explain rush-release album

The Raconteurs have explained why they decided to rush-release their sophomore album Consolers Of The Lonely.

Last month the band released the LP without any publicity and allowed fans to hear the record at the same time as radio stations and journalists.

Justifying the unusual promotion of the record, singer Jack White told The Sun: "The way the music industry is right now, so much fear is thrown upon a band.

"We have to figure out all this dumb little internet-based or digital-based trickery to make things work, to get our chart position, to make the first week’s sales really big, to make some sort of impact."

He added: "You get asked to do all these kind of aol.com things. You play a performance that 50,000 people hit on every day or you release two months early to radio. It’s all so wearing.

"Somehow, when you’ve finished an album, it doesn’t seem worth it. That stuff takes a lot of energy out of you that could be put into something more productive and creative, like playing shows. We just wanted to put it out."

Guitarist Brendan Benson also claimed the group were sick of record labels giving up on bands after only one album.

"They stop," he said. "They consider it a failure. They are completely losing the plot. Things need to grow. That’s the whole point of signing a band. You gamble."