Looks like the much bally-hooed effort of the Raconteurs to make their music available in various formats simultaneously has been foiled by the crew over at Apple’s iTunes. Folks over at The Little Room message board are reporting that they are now able to legally download the ENTIRE Consolers of the Lonely album via the iTunes digital website.
Writes one poster, “Um, so…am I in the dark about something?…cause I just downloaded the new album on itunes thinking it was a pre-order and now have the entire album on my computer…….isn’t official release tuesday?”
It’s currently available on the US and UK iTunes websites. UPDATE: Looks like Apple has at the very least disabled the US download.
It has also been rumored that some record chains in the US have already sold copies of the album to customers. Fans in the UK have been treated to auditory previews by overzealous music shop clerks who have played the album over the PA systems in stores.
In addition to that, folks are posting that the album has now made it to the illegal downloading circuit.
Will Jack and the boys be pissed at this technical snafu? Was this not a mistake, but a carefully planned “legal leak” to drum up publicity? Will Jack go on a No Country for Old Men-style rampage, killing everyone who downloaded the tracks early? You make the call… Either way, I’m kinda bummed that it’s already out there.

Tip for UK peeps: Don’t search for “raconteurs” — it won’t come up. Instead, search for “consolers” or “consoler”
PS: I haven’t downloaded it, will wait to purchase it next week in the store so I can’t say that it’s 100% true, but sounds valid. Have any of you, dear readers, been able to purchase a copy in advance?