Broken Boy Soldiers
by The Raconteurs
  • Record Label: V2 / XL
  • Release Date: May 16, 2006
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 35
  3. Negative: 1 out of 35
  1. PopMatters
    60
    If only the rest of the album were as good as the lead single.
  2. Billboard
    60
    No one is breaking any ground here, and White fanatics looking for a new White Stripes record should temper their expectations. But as far as side projects go, this is as good as it gets.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    When it comes down to it, it ain't gonna change your world any.
  5. cokemachineglow
    59
    Nothing is really very exciting here, or very interesting.
  6. Blender
    50
    The results are either stiffly egalitarian... or stripped of personality altogether. [Jun 2006, p.143]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Stylus Magazine
    42
    Instead of consolidating their respective strengths, Broken Boy Soldiers is White and Benson compromising them in favor of finding an agreeable but ultimately dull and colorless middle ground.
  8. Prefix Magazine
    40
    The songwriting is bland and the production is overdone.
  9. Austin Chronicle
    40
    In the end, though, Broken Boy Soldiers merely makes you wonder what Meg White has been up to.

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Most Discussed Album of 2006
67
#67 Most Shared Album of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 96 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 96
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 96
  3. Negative: 4 out of 96
  1. Ricko
    Nov 30, 2017
    9
    Jack White and Brendan Benson' supergroup first record was dubbed as Detroits answer to Nevermind (granted this was by White himself). It'sJack White and Brendan Benson' supergroup first record was dubbed as Detroits answer to Nevermind (granted this was by White himself). It's never the 10 out of 10 classic that Nevermind is but it is a strong record none the less. It's full of classic rock hooks that you'll end up thinking - "Where have I heard that before?", and the thing is you probably have heard most of these riffs somewhere else before. It's like the band got together, looked through there record collection, decided to pick their favourite rock anthems out and then proceeded to rearrange and reinterpret them. For the most part it works very well - the musicianmanship on here is raw but brilliant for the rock that is being delivered. The majority of the time the songs are very strong. "Steady As She Goes", "Hands" and "Intimate Secretary" all need to be played with the volume turned to 11 :-)… Full Review »
  2. ScotchRobbins
    Dec 3, 2015
    6
    It's a top-heavy album. It starts very strong, the first three tracks being some real A+ four-piece old-school rock music, but the album sitsIt's a top-heavy album. It starts very strong, the first three tracks being some real A+ four-piece old-school rock music, but the album sits on a bit of a downhill incline and gets less interesting as it goes. on. Still worth a listen through though!… Full Review »
  3. Vampire25
    Dec 12, 2010
    7
    Broken Boy Soldiers has so little to offer here. some songs seem kinda bland, but other ones seem really good. This album was like a mix forBroken Boy Soldiers has so little to offer here. some songs seem kinda bland, but other ones seem really good. This album was like a mix for me. The First track "Steady As She Goes" is a great song. Good way to start off the album. "Hands" and Store Bought Bones are also really good. BUt aside from a couple more, the rest of the album feels kike its missing something. There second album is much better. C+… Full Review »
See all user reviews »