Capture / Release [Original recording remastered]

The Rakes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: V2 North America
• Run Time: 37 minutes
• ASIN: B000EQ4754
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,464 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Everyone in music is an amalgam of their influences. For the Rakes, this means they're a lot like a meeting where Wire and Gang of Four get together and play melodies that less are less astringent and angular and more, well, melodic. Luckily, they exceed the shadows of the past exuberantly. It's tight art-punk, tense and a little furious. Then, though, the backing vocals on "Open Book," bending "aws" and "ohs," are just fantastic, measured pop set against minimal guitar jangles that propel the song effortlessly and simply. Elsewhere, on "Binary Love" for example, there's an insistent, classic vocal choppines that's so 1977-78 – with choked guitar tones that fully jar the memory. "Violent" is a perfect past-and-present brew, with dub bass lines and old school guitar riffs that ultimately burst into a completely "now" throwdown, shaking off the obvious Entertainment-era Dave Allen nod. So these guys don't just genuflect to forbears: They know enough to mete out pop hooks and singable choruses and not just blast "12XU." Would that be such a bad thing, though? --Andrew Bartlett

Product Description

One of the most exciting and significant London bands to emerge in recent years. Their debut highlights the lyrical and musical eloquence of which most other hyped London groups are bereft."...Four London art-punk kids with the perfect fusion of David Bowie and The Buzzcocks...Why can't all bands be this fun?" - Rolling Stone

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wake people this is cool!!!, June 10, 2006

By 

alexander laurence (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Capture / Release (Audio CD)

The Rakes are one of the best recent British bands. They blitzed into LA late last year and took the city by storm. They have brilliant songs like "Strasbourg" and "22 Grand Job." Their songs are about everyday and ordinary things. One of the best songs here is "Retreat." The remix is amazing too. There are some intense songs like "Open Book" and "The Guilt." They have some more dub reggae moments like in "Violent." The Rakes are hard to pin down. The mix all the best genres of music and create their own deal. This record has been released in England a while ago. They have conquered Europe. They are one of the bands ready to take over in America. This new American release includes the new song "All Too Human."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Sweet!, January 3, 2007

By 

Sebastian Verde "I Zimbra" (Here, I'm Now) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Capture / Release (Audio CD)

(This gets five stars compared to contemporary tunes. The music gods get extra stars)

I just listened to the cd, about five times in a row. They have some really good stuff here. The lyrics are fresh and smart, the sound is their own and infectious.

Here are some songs evaluated randomly in no particular order.
22 Grand Job repeates "22 Grand Job, in the city that's alright" over and over, a low point for me.
Strasbourg is sweet! Spy's in germany, vodka, fast rocking guitar, powerfull lyrics, I think there spies anyway... maybe revolutionaries. Have to give it more listens.
Terror! is funny and unerving.
We Are All Animals, Pub Club Sleep, and Open Book are songs that I listen to obsessively... I downloaded them months ago.
The Guilt is funny stuff, but by the end it has morphed into something else.

The personas the lead singer takes on can be funny, profound, icy, vulnerable, anxious, depressed, fun, helpless, jaded, any combination of those things, and other stuff too.

The album is about modern life. It's like the report from the street (by a really smart guy), not the view from a ivory tower. Moreover you get to spend some time in the really smart guy's life. It feels like you are *there*. Alan Donohue writes the words, and sings. They all sing actully.

I'm not going to attempt to describe the music. It's pretty clean and minimalist, I guess. I leave further description to people who are better qualified.

I like these guys about as much as Arcade Fire- don't know if that means anything, but there it is.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of 2006's Better New Releases, January 22, 2007

By 

Adam Francis "Franchise" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capture / Release (Audio CD)

If you're looking for a great album from start to finish, look no further than the Rakes' Capture/Release. One of the albums to be in constant rotation on my 06 playlist, Capture/Release is pure rock'n roll. From the ridiculous guitar riff on "22 Grand Job" to the Clash-esque chorus of "Violent," the Rakes will have you pounding off solos on the ol' air guitar and wondering why all debuts can't be this much fun.