by Michael Roberts
Music Director @ 91.5 FM WGRE - Greencastle, IN
As posted at thedepauw.com

The Rapture Return with Catchy, Polished Follow-Up

The Rapture’s 2002 single “House of Jealous of Lovers” is one of those rare songs that changed the face of the Rock ‘n Roll landscape, in this case by sparking the explosion of popularity for dance-punk music. The popular music world is still reeling from “House” and the Rapture’s major label debut, Echoes, released in 2003; shockwaves include the more commercial successes of bands like Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, and LCD Soundsystem.

All of this weight of influence makes The Rapture’s much-delayed follow-up album, Pieces of the People We Love, one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2006. Rock geeks from all over expect more brilliance from the New York quartet, especially after such a long absence.

And the Rapture step up to the task, albeit in a much poppier, less abrasive way. Gone are the screeching vocals and distorted guitars of Echoes; instead the Rapture use a more polished production style and catchy melodies to create a number of pop gems. To the dismay of purists, gone is the “punk” from the dance-punk that the Rapture themselves popularized, and what is left is an album that is quintessentially New Wave revival, all synths and dance hooks.

Not that the old Rapture is completely absent in this newest reincarnation, though. First track “Don Gon Do It” opens with Luke Jenner’s trademark vocal harmonizing and Vito Roccoforte’s funky aux percussion and handclaps. The chorus is much more upbeat than an older Rapture song, though, and Jenner’s vocals are kept in check, making the song infinitely catchier and more accessible than typical Rapture fare.

“The Devil” similarly incorporates elements of old Rapture with newfound pop sensibilities. In it the band takes a typical funky dance-punk groove and adds to it a synth line that would leave Soft Cell drooling. The song’s vocals, climaxing with Jenner’s orgasmic yelping throughout the bridge, are strangely reminiscent of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, another band influenced by the Rapture.

Like their New York contemporaries, the Rapture are not without hipster negativity and criticism of “the scene.” Instant dance hit “Whoo! Alright Yeah… Uh-huh” displays an ironic portrayal of music snobs during the dance refrain that can be as frustrating as it is entertaining: “People don’t dance no more / They just stand there like this / They cross their arms and stare you down and drink and moan and piss.”

The standout track of the album, though, is the leadoff single, “Get Myself into It.” Featuring punky guitars, a wicked saxophone riff, and Jenner’s best vocal performance yet, “Get Myself into It” combines the best elements of the Rapture’s old sound and newer elements. While the repetition of “Gonna get myself into it” lacks the brutal energy of “House of Jealous Lovers,” it makes up for this with sheer catchiness. The single, which features the band on roller skates in the music video, is hands-down the dance song of the season and a contender for the year-end short list.

Overall, while Pieces of the People We Love may frustrate diehard Rapture fans and certainly contains no song as powerful as “House of Jealous Lovers” or “I Need Your Love,” it is by no means a disappointment, but instead another solid outing by the New York quartet. Like any great rock band, the Rapture are evolving and experimenting with their signature sound, this time taking steps toward accessibility and catchiness. Pieces is a great introduction to the Rapture and the evolving dance-punk genre, one that should keep everyone dancing this fall.