The Raconteurs will release their second album, ‘Consolers Of The Lonely’, in every country across the world on March 25th.

The follow-up to 2006’s ‘Broken Boy Soldiers’ will be released immediately in every format, including, full length vinyl, CD and digital formats.

In a announcement on their website, the band said that reasons for the surprise release, which bypasses the usual press lead time, was “to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised.”

“We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the exact same time so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding its availability, reception or perception.”

The band said that the record was finished earlier this month and that March 25th was the first date it could be released in every format.

Fans will be able to download the album as individual tracks but the group’s statement said that this would only continue until companies such as iTunes allow band’s to lock albums.

“The Raconteurs feel very strongly that music has worth and should be treated as such,” they explained.

The Raconteurs are the latest band to experiment with new ways to release and promote an album.

Last October, Radiohead released ‘In Rainbows’ with ten days notice and allowed fans to name what price they paid for it.

Nine Inch Nails, meanwhile, confirmed last week that their latest album, ‘Ghosts I-IV’, has made $1.6million since it was released without any notice on March 2nd.

(by Jason Gregory)