Help Us Stranger
by The Raconteurs
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 59 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 59
  3. Negative: 4 out of 59
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  1. marsmole
    Jun 28, 2021
    1
    Copy of a copy of a copy. Incredibly uninspired and boring! Why don’t you try something new for a change?!
  2. Planetvibz
    Jun 24, 2019
    10
    All White's unhooked wildness meshes impeccably with Benson's instinctive melody to create a seemingly effortless romp through 60s and 70s influences, from Donavan to Led Zeppelin. Ultimately it's still uniquely "The Raconteurs" and immensely re-playable!
  3. Ricko
    Sep 22, 2019
    8
    This is more than just a safe rock n'roll rethreading of old ground. Jack White is the Godfather of 21st century rock. Don't be fooled by the traditional rock aesthetic on the surface. Listening closely and frequently and you will see that White is a natural innovator. Out of all the various vehicles for his creative output, The Raconteurs are the least contemporary and the ones that mostThis is more than just a safe rock n'roll rethreading of old ground. Jack White is the Godfather of 21st century rock. Don't be fooled by the traditional rock aesthetic on the surface. Listening closely and frequently and you will see that White is a natural innovator. Out of all the various vehicles for his creative output, The Raconteurs are the least contemporary and the ones that most aim for that anthemic classic stadium rock, that titanic sound of the late 60's and 70's I would say. "Help Us Stranger" is a logical follow up to "Consolers of the Lonely" and much for me closer to that record that their instant and underrated debut. Like "Consolers", this takes more listening time to get into, is more layered and goes off in more tangents. For sure this is an album built on the classic rock n' roll set up but this record is a whole lot more than the straight up rock n roll soup many would have you believe is on offer. There are very few rock bands writing traditional yet complex rock songs like "Bored and Razed" and "Sunday Driver" out there. "Help Us Stranger" doesn't change the game but it is another interesting play from the intriguing Mr White.… Expand
  4. Andremax
    Jun 24, 2019
    8
    In Help us Stranger, although band is playing better than ever, songs doesn't left to sounds like something Jack White's solo work. Allowed with a highlighting rhythm section and some acoustic arrangements, these two gives a impression that songs has much more details that it likes. In another words, great form and good music resumes this album.
  5. CiphirSol
    Aug 1, 2019
    8
    Respectable, solid album. It throws you back to the sound they had years back which in itself is a throwback, and it manages to do so successfully. Critically this is their most well-received project as well, proving that we NEED solid rock albums in 2019. It seems the tides are shifting once again.
  6. zvenero1
    Jun 24, 2019
    9
    This is the most accessible, straight forward rock n roll record the band has made thus far. However, there is a fair amount of experimentation happening from track to track but they've focused more on tight hooks, rad riffs, and less twang.
  7. wowee
    Jun 21, 2019
    10
    After all these long gab years and hiatus, but however the group managed to stuck together and came with this amazing record.............................................. JUST REALLY FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!
  8. Aron_G
    Jun 21, 2019
    9
    Literally the only thing which was a con to me was the fact that the lyrics were repeated for longer than they had to, but not to the point to where it’s annoying. It’s just a bit of space that could be filled up with other things.
  9. Dristiron
    Jun 26, 2019
    10
    Loved it. Sunday Driver and Now that you ate gone are bangers! Jack White can do no wrong.
  10. Sundardev
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    Wow! Stupendous! Jack White and the other Raconteurs are simply breathtaking. Their music is familiar and extrodinary, firmly steeped in America's musical roots while propelling the conversation of rock and roll to a deeper, more nuanced and complex place. The voice of this album is really exciting: sincire, unhinged, and unflinching.
  11. Introscapes
    Apr 12, 2023
    1
    Overcompressed and tired. I believe the only reason people listen to this is simply that Jack White is in it. The composition is so simple and redundant it's remarkable. An AI would write better guitar licks and riffs if it was fed a random high school rock band.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed Album of 2019
9
#9 Most Shared Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 4, 2019
    89
    Help Us Stranger moves garage-punk polymath Jack White from the Sixties to the Seventies. And from the sounds of things, he, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler did it in Z/28 with an 8-track player and a hash pipe.
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  2. PopMatters
    Jul 8, 2019
    80
    The Raconteurs have found the sweet spot between quality songwriting and tight musicianship, and both the blustering boogie and longing ballads present throughout the album shouldn't be considered empty-headed guilty pleasures.
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  3. Rolling Stone
    Jun 27, 2019
    80
    Help Us Stranger and Let’s Rock are simply great records from very different bands coming from the same ideals: Rock is a living thing, and guitars can be your best friends in the war on jive.
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