Consolers of the Lonely is an album that I didn’t give an honest chance to for too long. I initially wanted it just so I could listen to ‘Salute Your Solution’ on repeat. So, when I turned 13 and got the album as a gift, all of my focus went onto that track and I shamelessly disregarded everything else. I do remember thinking ‘You Don’t Understand Me’ was quite good too. Years later I would have my iTunes library open with all the songs on shuffle while playing FIFA when I got bored of the game’s soundtrack. Whenever songs from Consolers… popped up, they were always the tracks that immediately caught my ears, which made me wonder how I had this great album up on my shelf all this time. But I was a kid, really. The mind can’t concentrate on albums at that age. At least mine couldn’t. Was all about the singles with me.

‘Old Enough’ surely would have played during those FIFA days. But those days were so menial that trying to recall my first impressions of the songs would be pointless and probably exaggerated. Though as I type to you now, what I can say is that Consolers… is definitely my favorite Raconteurs album, and ‘Old Enough’ is one of my favourite tracks on there. The fourth number on the record, it showcases a folky/bluegrass influence – a significant change up from the hard rock one-two punch of the almost title track and ‘Salute’ and the piano ballad of ‘Understand’ – emphasised by a presence of acoustic guitars and fiddles. Even so, the band still provide a great rock groove behind it. Brendan Benson and Jack White have a bit of tag-team dynamic going on when it comes to the lead vocal, which is always appreciated. The song concerns a girl who maybe thinks they’re more important they she really is and acts as a bit of a know-it-all. Benson and White take on the narrative voices telling her that, like a lot of young people out there, she really doesn’t know anyhing, and once she actually lives and gains experience with age then she might actually feel a lot better about herself. I don’t think it’s about any girl in particular. Just the mention of a dress in the song’s first line gives me reason to believe it’s about one. Really, it’s a message for all teenagers and the like. They don’t know shit.

Personal audio highlights from the track? I think Benson and White’s vocal performances throughout. Benson comes through with the sort of softer tones to his voice with the verses with White coming with the stinging nasal tone during those bridges. It’s a great contrast. And even with these differences in tones, the two singers blend together so well when they harmonise. I like the melodic rundown on the ‘free’s and ‘see’s that are sung in the verses. Those maybe what got me hooked on those initial listens, but again, I really can’t remember. And that repeated guitar lines before the rapid “What you gonna do” middle section are so rousing, especially alongside that organ and the bass. So yeah, look out for those. Those are my feelings on ‘Old Enough’. And I haven’t listened to ‘Salute Your Solution’ in years. Go figure.