Pieces of the People We Love
The Rapture wasn't the first band to revisit the clanky dance-punk sounds of bands like P.I.L. and Gang of Four. But with its DFA-produced debut, 2003'sEchoes, and the accompanying underground hit, "House of Jealous Lovers," the Brooklyn quartet proved itself to be the most worthy. On its follow-up, the group makes a dramatic left turn with a new crew of producers (Ewan Pearson and Paul Epworth, plus a pair of tracks recorded with Danger Mouse of Gorillaz and Gnarlz Barkley fame) and a more sophisticated sound that yields pop gems like "Whoo! Alright Yeah… Uh Huh" and "The Devil." Reassuringly, the saxophones, cowbells and singer Luke Jenner's unintelligible yelps are still present, as is all the manic energy that goes along with it.--Aidin Vaziri