I'm not sure if "OH MY GOD, IT'S THE RAKES!!!" holds up as a chant as well as the fanatic screaming for the Beatles or The Backstreet Boys. But with the record Capture/Release from the London based quartet The Rakes deserves all the cheering their brittle little ear drums can take. Having begun the band three years ago, singer/songwriter Alan Donohoe and bassist Jamie Hornsmith met in college and soon recruited drummer Lasse Petersen and guitarist Matthew Swinnerton to round out the band to four skinny white blokes raising hell and heaven all over this little compact disk.



The similarities and influences can be heard right to the very core of The Rake's sound. When listening, you can place the likes of The Streets, Joy Division, The Clash, Interpol, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and even Hot Hot Heat to The Rake's essence. But it's not any of these either, the sound is strictly The Rakes'. The guitar of Matthew Swinnerton is pristine and crystal clear when it pierces like a stabbing...rake, and at other times it can be fuzzy and dismembered, echoing the cavernous sounds of an apocalyptic climate. The drums are equally catastrophic, laying out tick-tock rhythms and then beating open a curving sky of crashes and snares. The bass is thick and tangible; as if you were sitting on one of those grocery store quarter-rides and it malfunctioned. Then there is the characteristic voice of Donohoe; part Ian Curtis, part Mike Skinner, often witty, always intriguing.



When the album opens with "Strasobourg" it seems we're in for nothing more than another post-punk band belting out odes and paying tribute to the punk martyrs of the past but through just the one song the climate changes enough to make you think otherwise. The song is urgent and edging on frantic but Donohoe is the string binding the entire book together. The lyrics need not be mentioned anymore than this: they are as exciting as a conversation with a good friend. Donohoe jokes around, tells stories, even surprises with thoughtful insight such as "Tears can change a government/ They never listen to our arguments/ On TV our friends smash cement/ Bulldoze the bastards' monuments". Following this is "Retreat" a catchy full fledged power-pop-punk lament. The hopelessness of Donohoe is relayed well in the burning flames of the guitar and the band smashes out a powerful mixture of pop and punk.



Tracks such as "Open Book" display the band's need for diversity. Once again capitalizing on the hopeless and bored infliction of today's society, the band spins a desperate plea of love. The song widens the band's palette; swinging gently for the verses letting Donohoe draw his voice to it's thick rumbling stream. The song builds and then explodes into a controlled flurry of atmospheric rock and roll for the finale.



Immediately following, the band displays a humorous song devoted to waking up in The Street's-esque "The Guilt".



Following this is their most spine tingling song, "Binary Love". With the use of more 'electronic' methods the band creates a gentle world which is both catchy and sorrowful. Swinnerton's guitar nearly speaks on the song and the Donohoe's voice breaks up like the circuits of his binary heart. After a few more tunes comes "Work, Work, Work (Pub Club Sleep)" a Autobahn roving song describing a frustrating workplace and mundane existence. The band creates one unit, where each member fuses into one another and everything seems pulled right from the heart of their music. The song's chorus floats in your mind and the whole song breathes thoroughly, exciting most every vein in the brain.



Finally, the new single "All Too Human" displays the maturity that I initially yearned for when hearing them for the first time. Donohoe's voice finally sings out harmoniously and his inflections are more controlled and situated in the meaning of the song. The band is more confident and assure of themselves, and rightfully so.



The Rakes are one to watch out for. Although their debut is full of catchy songs and unified craftsmanship, there isn't enough substance in their music to be held in esteem above the likes of Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes; yet. With a new album coming out in 2007 with more focus on concept and design it seems The Rakes will be around for a lot longer than a Sunday Afternoon.



Track Listing

1 Strasbourg

2 Retreat

3 22 Grand Job

4 Open Book

5 The Guilt

6 Binary Love

7 We ARe All Animals

8 Violent

9 T Bone

10 Terror!

11 Work, Work, Work (Pub Club Sleep)

12 All Too Human