Following the iTunes leak of The Raconteurs’ surprise, fans-first sophomore album Consolers of the Lonely, many music blogs discussing the controversial story were thanked by the Internet watchdog Web Sheriff for plugging the album’s “pioneering” release method. Regardless of whether or not Consolers of the Lonely changes the way music is released, it has certainly changed The Raconteurs’ sound. With painstaking production and grandiose instrumentation, Consolers of the Lonely is a progression that improves upon the band’s established style.

While traces of the band — made up of Jack White of the White Stripes, singer-songwriter Brendan Benson, and Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler of the Greenhornes — that was heard on 2006’s Broken Boy Soldier remain, the sound of Consolers of the Lonely is a vast departure from its predecessor. More akin to a grander, tamer version of the White Stripes, the album’s instrumentation is impeccable. White and Benson are gods of the guitar, and their unique style is enough to hold even the least instrumentally inclined listeners’ attention.

Buried among the scorching electric slide lines and acoustic blues riffing of “Top Yourself” is the subtle plucking of banjo strings and piano keys, just one example of the many instrumental layers that are heard throughout the album. “The Switch and the Spur” builds with a chorus of horns, organs and strings that then culminate in a collision of fuzzed out guitars. The painstaking production of these multi-layered tracks is evident, as guitars buzz and shimmer in just the right way. The accompanying instruments are arranged with excellent harmony, creating large soundscapes that define the key differences in The Raconteurs’ discography.

The partnership of White and Benson shines once again in the vocal department of Consolers of the Lonely. Spinning narratives with the detail and color of a Tolkien-like troubadour, Benson’s floating voice perfectly complements White’s wailing madness. Whether singing about the difficulties of successful communication in “You Don’t Understand Me,” or the plight of a poisoned cowboy in “The Switch and The Spur,” the album’s vocals are delivered with melodic and interpretive expertise.

Final track “Carolina Drama” also displays haunting lyrical complexity, as it depicts the story of a boy who kills his mother’s violent boyfriend: “Mama, let’s put this body underneath the trees/ And put Daddy in the truck to head to Tennessee.” This chilling track provides an intriguing contrast to the rest of the album’s upbeat narratives, leaving the listener in a state of perplexed awe.

Consolers of the Lonely is a very different album for The Raconteurs. While it retains many of the positive qualities of Broken Boy Soldier, it also loses much of the loose, under-produced feel that has characterized the band in the past. Although this may disappoint hardcore fans, the polished production is ultimately a vast improvement from that heard on their debut release.

Ultimately, this second record from The Raconteurs is a solid release that promises to dominate the charts in the spring — and it only gets better and better with each listen. By doing as The Raconteurs had originally hoped and listening to the album without any preconceived notions, Consolers of the Lonely can be truly appreciated and enjoyed.

3 1/2 stars out of 5