The
Rapture - Echoes
Label: Universal
Records
Rating:
Half garage band, half New Order disciples,
the Rapture are another one of those “the” bands no doubt, but instead
of writing simplistic yet catchy songs in the classic rock vein, there
seems to be more of an overall dalliance between dance beats and discordance
and melancholia throughout most of the album, which is to say that one
third of the songs make me want to put on black eyeliner and shake it like
a Polaroid picture, another third make me want to sit in my room alone
and cry, and the rest are just unnecessarily jarring in that way that most
bad emo is.
The album’s best tracks are its dance tunes,
especially “Olio,” “The Coming of Spring” and “House of Jealous Lovers.”
“Olio” is the band’s welcome track, wherein the listener is greeted by
a rush of synth sounds that wouldn’t be out of place at a Yaz garage sale.
It should be noted that two of the band’s members play keyboards and all
four play percussion of some sort; meanwhile the album still credits an
additional keyboardist. It should also be noted that lead vocalist Luke
Jenner sounds like Bono falling endlessly through the abyss.
“House of Jealous Lovers” has been touted
as the band’s single, but “The Coming of Spring” catches the ear as well,
mostly for the uncanny way it recreates Love and Rockets’ “So Alive,” which
was last heard on the “Rules of Attraction” soundtrack, a disc incidentally
full of the same kind of ’80s elec-goth.
As for the jarring tracks, “Heaven” interrupts
the smooth beats of “Olio” with a sudden group chanting of “One two three
four five six seven/I’m floating in a constant Heaven,” which is both a
lame rhyme and sounds like the introduction to a song about feelings.”
Meanwhile, the title track ends with a chorus of wailing “Come Togethers”
(they actually sound like a chorus of “fuck yous”) that sounds like an
emotional breakdown just for the sake of yelling, especially considering
the mid-temponess of the following track, “Killing.”
Finally, there’s “Open up Your Heart” and
“Infatuation,” the mellow cry tracks. Both songs sounds like they’d be
at home on The White Album if nowhere else; instead here they interrupt
the black dress affair that is the rest of this party. At it’s best, it’s
an attempt at displaying variety; at it’s worst, whoever mixed this album
needs to understand how to create an emotional flow, and not to harsh on
my enjoyment of the beat.
VERDICT: There’s a lot of different kinds
of sounds running around Echoes, but the album is at it’s best when it’s
exploring its use of the simple dance track. The mellow and angry songs
are nice, but they’re thrown into the mix in a way that messes with the
album’s consistency more than it does display a wealth of range. Best for
NYC hipster guys who put on makeup before hitting the faux-goth clubs.
CD Info and Links
Tracks: Olio
Heaven
Open Up Your Heart
I Need Your Love
Coming Of Spring
House Of Jealous Lovers
Echoes
Killing
Sister Savior
Love Is All
Infatuation
Posted by Ben:
whoever wrote this review is a douche. the rapture isnt very emo sounding to me. but whatever its your lameass opinion.
Posted by maxmaxmax:
I agree with Kyle. Personally I love the Postal Service for its dancy style, but it can't compare to the Rapture's. Echoes is one big dance party and House of jealous lovers kicks errbody's ass all around the room.
Posted by kyle:
i have no idea why the postal service was brought anywhere close to the rapture. i mean, they are good, but they sound nothing like the rapture, who are WAY BETTER. the reviewer is a complete moron. echoes was the best album of the year. heaven is not a lame song - LISTEN TO IT. the title track is AMAZING! and you suck.
Posted by you2:
oh yeah, i forgot, their lyrics totally blow goat balls, like they hired retarded chimpanzees and stuck a pen in their hands
Posted by you:
rapture suck, cheap PiL ripoff and some douchebag doing kareoke to ":why can't i be you" or one of the cure's other lamer songs...and did someone say """"taint""" of the 80's"?
Posted by potentialrapturefan:
When I first heard the song, Olio, I thought, hey, this sounds pretty good. So I decided to do a bit of research, but whenever I searched for anything regarding this band (aside from their official website), no information could be provided. Lyrics to the song, Olio, for instance (if anyone has lyrics to that song or any song on the echoes album send to jadenata7@netscape.com, with 'Echoes Lyrics' as the subject title, it would be appreciated). Anyway, I wouldn't mind hearing more of what this band has to offer...it certainly is "refreshing".
Posted by andtwo:
The Rapture fuse house with punk with a little 80'sto create the best album of the year. saw them in concert.....unbelievable
Posted by enlightened:
I think that this is the best abdn since grunge, with a taint of the 80's infused with 90's bang... I can't give them more for show.. amazing all around
Posted by Hujamaflip:
I've been to see the rapture twice live now and i just can't get enough, THEY RULE !
Posted by bošnjo:
at last something refreshing in music,in this millenium
Posted by thtk:
can we all stop using the word "emo" within about 3 miles of this review, because neither the rapture, nor the postal service, should ever be put anywhere near such a made up genre. every song ever has someone's emotions in them, be it the musicians, the engineers, whoever. cut the crap. echoes is great. stop trying to classify it into something your mind will handle and instantly degrade as "emo" or whatever, and just f*cking dance to it.
Posted by electroclashskank:
The rapture make me think of disco punk for art kids,and I love it. Everybody I've talked to loves the cd, because they can dance however they want, the rapture is pure brilliance.
Posted by TEeMaster:
i think the rapture is totally awesome. if you don't like them then you don't know how to have any fun. their shows are like dance parties for art kids. so much fun. i love them *sigh*
Posted by opiniatron:
Dan, I think this review is bang on. I really want to like this album, but there is too much discontinuity and clutter. The best tracks are the stripped down, dance oriented ones.
Posted by allison. :
i think dan grote sucks too much dick. i mean come one the rapture kicks ass.
Posted by tk in flower mound:
i just bought echoes today, it kicks ass. the poastal service is just at good but i cant help but seeing them as very different bands.and serbathon, the lyrics are pretty simple, you could figure them out just by listening
Posted by sirbarthon:
The Rapture is cool, video for House Of Jealous Lovers
is very good. If somebody have lyrics for album "Echoes"
please send me:
sirbarthon@interia.pl
thanks and bye!
Posted by Nikola from Serbia:
The most amazing music I have heard, since I've discovered early Primal Scream, right after New Order. AWESOME!
Posted by mildly intelligent:
the postal service is catchy and clever at best, but doesn't have staying power, whereas the rapture, devoid of emo stereotypes, have started a new wave in music. they rock.
Posted by pattykozi:
the rapture is the best sh*t ever. I like its raw disco grunge funk thing its got going on
Posted by Montys:
Wow, who reviews these things, that review was the worst ive read. the rapture-emo? man, u suck
Posted by Davey Havok:
ofcourse no one can beat postal service, but still catchy, fun to listen to
Posted by Chombe:
I only have "Sister Saviour" It's very good combination of New Wave and dance
Posted by chodeface mcgee:
the rapture is awesome and every bit as good as the postal service. both bands are amazing.
Posted by the postal of service:
man, these guys blow. If you want a good mix of emo and dance, check out the postal service. Absolutely brilliant.
