THE RACONTEURS

When Whites Stripes' Jack White and singer Brendan Benson announced the formation of The Raconteurs with Greenhornes rhythm section Jack Lawrence (bass) and Patrick Keeler (drums) cries of 'indulgent' and 'super-group' were bandied about. But the group's debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, quickly put paid to any accusations of self-indulgence. White's love of bluesy rock and punk-funk meshes perfectly with Benson's, sun-kissed retro power-pop. Their debut single, Steady As She Goes boasted heavenly riffs melded with a soul-funk rhythm and the whole album is an elegantly raucous affair. As busman's holidays go, this is still proving a helluva ride.