Right off the bat, I have to say of all the British bands to influx after Franz Ferdinand went big the Rakes were my favorite. I don’t know if it was their well written bass heavy anthems or their quirky immediacy. What I do know is that their video for “22 Grand Job” is among my favorite videos of all time. Could it be all the slim ladies wearing glasses, short black skirts and tight white blouses? Could it be the quirky antics of lead singer Alan Donohoe? Yes, yes and yes. So needless to say the boys from London have a bit to live up to with their “Ten New Messages”. This time around, the songs aren’t as brash; they are more calculated, more intimate. Not to say that you can’t gyrate wildly to songs on the album, which definitely is the case, it’s just that Alan and company are wearier from late night rendezvous and endless gigs and parties. The songs retain their catchy-ness while emoting more, which is certainly an enjoyable progression. Musically, there is a bit of experimentation too, most notably the use of chorused backing vocals, like on lead single “We Danced Together” (3). Another cool trick is when guest vocalists lay down some raps on “Suspicious Eyes” (5) about terrorism; ironically it’s great fun. Alan sounds shockingly like Chris Martin of Coldplay on the propulsive “Time to Stop Talking” (9). The album closes with a perfect example of The Rakes’ witty lyrics, “Leave the City and come Home” (10). It’s about a young woman’s plight in the city (presumably London) and what she has to endure as her stay goes on, while a certain pining someone aches for her to return. It’s absolutely sweet and funny, which is perhaps the reason I never seem to tire of the Rakes, they are pure heart.
The Rakes Myspace
Buy “Ten New Messages”
Watch The Video for “We Danced Together”
MP3- Suspicious Eyes – The Rakes
MP3- Time to Stop Talking – The Rakes
MP3- We Danced Together – The Rakes (SeBastian Remix)
