Help Us Stranger

On the tenth anniversary of the band's second studio album, Consolers of the Lonely released in 2008, Third Man announced a re-issue of the album, along with two previously unreleased songs, "Sunday Driver" and "Now That You're Gone" were released as double A-side singles.{{cite web|url=https://thirdmanrecords.com/index.php/news/vault-38-the-raconteurs-consolers-of-the-lonely/|title=Vault # 38: The Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely|access-date=2019-05-07|archive-date=2019-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412080939/https://thirdmanrecords.com/index.php/news/vault-38-the-raconteurs-consolers-of-the-lonely/|url-status=dead}} Both songs received videos, which were shot a week before the release.{{cite web|url=https://thirdmanrecords.com/index.php/news/the-raconteurs-return-with-first-new-music-in-over-a-decade/|title=Raconteurs Return with First new Music in Over a Decade|access-date=2019-05-07|archive-date=2019-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412080942/https://thirdmanrecords.com/index.php/news/the-raconteurs-return-with-first-new-music-in-over-a-decade/|url-status=dead}} On April 2, 2019, the album artwork, along with its track listing and release date were announced. On April 10, "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)", a cover of the Donovan song, premiered on Bandcamp.{{cite web|url=https://theraconteurs.bandcamp.com/track/hey-gyp-dig-the-slowness|title=Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)}} Two days later, it was also made available on other platforms. On September 5, 2019, the band performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and performed the single "Only Child", as well as "Shine the Light on Me".{{Cite web|url=https://headlineplanet.com/home/2019/09/04/first-look-the-raconteurs-perform-on-the-tonight-show-starring-jimmy-fallon/|title=The Raconteurs Perform On "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"|date=2019-09-04|website=Headline Planet|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-05}}{{Citation|title=The Raconteurs: Shine the Light on Me|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAv1HlpwEJo|language=en|access-date=2019-09-05}}

A limited edition LP release with lenticular cover art was sent out to Third Man Vault subscribers. This edition features a parodic photoshop of the original "butcher" cover for the Beatles{{'}} 1966 studio album Yesterday and Today, in which the Raconteurs' heads are pasted atop John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr; the artwork is hidden beneath the lenticular print, mirroring Capitol Records{{'}} method of censoring the "butcher" cover, thus requiring buyers to peel it off in order to reveal the image.{{cite news |last1=Willman |first1=Chris |title=Raconteurs Salute Beatles With ‘Butcher Cover’ Parody Hidden Within New LP Sleeve |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/raconteurs-jack-white-beatles-butcher-cover-parody-1203251055/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=Variety |agency=Penske Media Corporation |publisher=Michelle Sobrino-Stearns & Dea Lawrence |date=23 June 2019 |ref=Willman 2019}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/9942/The-Raconteurs-Help-Us-Stranger.aspx|title=Help Us Stranger by The Raconteurs reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=June 24, 2019}}

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/help-us-stranger/the-raconteurs|title=Help Us Stranger by The Raconteurs Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=May 9, 2020}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/help-us-stranger-mw0003272836|title=Help Us Stranger – The Raconteurs|publisher=AllMusic|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|accessdate=June 24, 2019}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/greg-kot/sc-ent-raconteurs-review-0621-20190621-mnliduwlunc55b6ytwqdy66uvm-story.html |title=Review: Raconteurs reconvene and Jack White regains his stride on 'Help Us Stranger' |last=Kot |first=Greg |date=June 21, 2019 |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=July 1, 2019}}

| rev3 = Consequence of Sound

| rev3score = B{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2019/06/album-review-the-raconteurs-help-us-stranger/ |title=The Raconteurs Remain Steady as She Goes on Help Us Stranger |last=Clark |first=Tyler |date=June 21, 2019 |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=July 1, 2019}}

| rev4 = DIY

| rev4score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2019/06/21/the-raconteurs-help-us-stranger-album-review|title=The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger {{!}} Reviews|work=DIY|last=Wright|first=Lisa|date=June 21, 2019|accessdate=June 24, 2019}}

| rev5 = Exclaim!

| rev5score = 8/10{{Cite web |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/the_raconteurs-help_us_stranger |title=The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger |last=Hudson |first=Alex |date=June 18, 2019 |website=Exclaim! |access-date=July 1, 2019}}

| rev6 = The Guardian

| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/21/the-raconteurs-help-us-stranger-review|title=The Raconteurs: Help Us Stranger review – classic rock undone by aggro|work=The Guardian|last=Aroesti|first=Rachel|date=June 21, 2019|accessdate=June 24, 2019}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 6.4/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-raconteurs-help-us-stranger/|title=The Raconteurs: Help Us Stranger Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Thomas|first=Peyton|date=June 26, 2019|accessdate=June 26, 2019}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/black-keys-and-raconteurs-852140/ |title=The Black Keys and Raconteurs Take Rock Back to the Future |last=Fricke |first=David |date=June 27, 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 1, 2019}}

| rev10 = Slant Magazine

| rev10score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-the-raconteurs-help-us-stranger-is-a-robust-return-to-form/|title=Review: The Raconteurs's Help Us Stranger Is a Robust Return to Form|website=Slant Magazine|last=Winograd|first=Jeremy|date=June 12, 2019|accessdate=June 24, 2019}}

}}

Help Us Stranger received favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 81, based on 24 reviews. Loudwire named it one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019.{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Rock Albums of 2019 |url=https://loudwire.com/best-rock-albums-of-2019/ |website=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=March 7, 2021 |date=December 5, 2019}}

Help Us Stranger debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 88,000 album-equivalent units, of which 84,000 were pure album sales. It was The Raconteurs' first US number-one album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8518137/the-raconteurs-first-no-1-album-billboard-200|title=The Raconteurs Land First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Help Us Stranger'|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=June 30, 2019|accessdate=July 1, 2019}} It has also charted in the top ten in Canada, UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders region).

{{Track listing

| headline = Help Us Stranger track listing

| all_writing = Brendan Benson and Jack White, except "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)" written by Donovan Leitch

| title1 = Bored and Razed

| length1 = 3:35

| title2 = Help Me Stranger

| length2 = 3:36

| title3 = Only Child

| length3 = 3:41

| title4 = Don't Bother Me

| length4 = 2:53

| title5 = Shine the Light On Me

| length5 = 3:28

| title6 = Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying)

| length6 = 4:06

| title7 = Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)

| note7 = Donovan cover

| length7 = 2:25

| title8 = Sunday Driver

| length8 = 3:38

| title9 = Now That You're Gone

| length9 = 4:01

| title10 = Live a Lie

| length10 = 2:20

| title11 = What's Yours Is Mine

| length11 = 2:49

| title12 = Thoughts and Prayers

| length12 = 4:42

| total_length = 41:14

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Third Man Records Vault edition bonus 7"

| title1 = Help Me Stranger

| note1 = demo

| length1 =

| title2 = Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying)

| note2 = demo

| length2 =

}}

Personnel adapted from album notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Help Us Stranger|others=The Raconteurs|year=2019|type=album liner notes|author=Third Man Records|publisher=Third Man Records}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

The Raconteurs

• Jack White – vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer, production
• Brendan Benson – vocals, guitar, percussion, harmonica, production
• Jack Lawrence – bass guitar, guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals, production
• Patrick Keeler – drums, percussion, backing vocals, production

Additional musicians

• Dean Fertita – piano, synthesizers, guitar, organ
• Lillie Mae Rische – violin
• Scarlett Rische – mandolin
• Joshua V. Smith – backing vocals, organ

{{col-2}}

Technical personnel

• Michael Fahey – assistant mixing
• Dusty Fairchild – assistant engineering
• Vance Powell – mixing
• The Raconteurs – production, mixing
• Bill Skibbe – mastering
• Joshua V. Smith – engineering

Other personnel

• Rob Jones – design, cover art concept
• Patrick Keeler – photography, design
• Tristan McNatt – cover art concept
• Ian Montone – management

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{The Raconteurs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Help Us Stranger}}

Category:2019 albums

Category:The Raconteurs albums

Category:Albums produced by Jack White

Category:Third Man Records albums