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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Capture / Release
by The Rakes


8.4

based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 17 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Ten New Messages

Official Artist Site

The London four-piece try to capitalize on press generated by recent support slots for the Libertines with this debut disc, produced by Paul Epworth (Bloc Party).

LABEL:	V2
RELEASE DATE:	25 April 2006
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock

NOTES: Original UK release 15 Aug 2005.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Drowned In Sound

'Capture/Release' may not be the jolliest record in the world, but perversely, it’s damn good fun and a heck of a lot more.

musicOMH.com

Not since The Strokes exploded into our consciousness in 2001 with Is This It has a band delivered such a sharp and concise debut.

New Musical Express

'Capture/Release' is fresh, unique, original even; its oh-so-contemporary reference points are revisited with such punk-rock vivacity and hell-for-charity-shop-leather vigour that they might be the first band you’d actually believe when they roll out the old "no, honestly, we were doing this long before we’d even heard of Bloc Party".

Playlouder

'Capture / Release' is an album that sounds very much like now, but it should way transcend it too.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

The Rakes' full-length debut is almost embarrassingly packed with winning singles.

All Music Guide

Equally thoughtful and energetic, Capture/Release shows that the Rakes have a smart, sharp voice that ultimately sets them apart from the rest of their scene.

Blender

[A] snarly caffeine jolt of a debut. [May 2006, p.109]

Mojo

Capture/Release's clanking guitars and shimmering melodies meld the abstract and the earthy with a Mark E Smithian panache. [Sep 2005, p.102]

Entertainment Weekly

A lively, clever look into the dull days and drunk nights of London's overeducated and underpaid. [28 Apr 2006, p.136]

Alternative Press

Riotously catchy pop songs that fall somewhere between boisterous pub anthems and artsy bursts of haphazard punk. [Jun 2006, p.190]

Dot Music

The Rakes' debut is by turns profoundly unsettling and savagely funny as each song is propelled by a seething sense of purpose.

Q Magazine

Despite [their] obsession with the everyday... The Rakes are never mundane. [Sep 2005, p.118]

Rolling Stone

Why can't all bands be this much fun? [15 Dec 2005, p.154]

cokemachineglow

File The Rakes under "serviceable art pop."

Pitchfork

Unfortunately, Capture/Release might be the victim of bad timing: It's going to sound pretty rote to American audiences who've been steeped in this stuff for the past couple years, and while it's doubtful that the Rakes are overtly ripping off any of the bands they resemble, it scans as a failure of imagination on the listener's end.

The Guardian

Donohoe's narratives are bundled up into punchy, punky three-minute bursts that win points for verve, if not originality.

Uncut

An erratic mix of mundane, London-centric Skinnerisms and out-of-focus political ire. [Sep 2005, p.100]

PopMatters

Repeated listens of Capture/Release uncover some songs to pique your interest, but the brevity and sameness of the songs weigh the album down.

The average user rating for this album is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jahar gave it a9:
I wasn't too sure about these guys after listening to their ablum for the first time. I knew "22 grand job" was great, but it took me a few listens before the tracks began to really grow on me. Now I love 'em.

John W gave it a9:
A truly great album. I find myself tempted to say that it is better than BP's Silent Alarm. With a little improvent in percussion this album would have been a 10.

Chad B gave it a10:
Incredible! The singles, Strasburg, Retreat, Work Work Work, are all brilliant. Binary Love is possibly the best album track not released as a single all year. Witty and Intelligent lyrics, check. Catchy guitar, check. Attitude to conquer the world, check. Some critics have complained that the subject matter is to myopic in that it is aimed at London young professionals. Well, I'll tell you, this album transends to young pros everywhere, especially the drinking bits. Can't wait for the next album!

oli o gave it a10:
Simply brilliant....so much fun

Gabo S gave it a10:
These guys are so catchy! There's not 1 song I hate, one of the better albums coming out this year! All their songs are short and straight to the point. Best I've heard since The Rapture's "echoes" came out. If you like Bloc Party, The Futureheads, Art Brut, or Franz Ferdinand, check these guys out!!

jesse t gave it a10:
Reggie is an idiot and pitchfork can't possibly be serious when they rate The Rakes lower than crap like Clap your hands... This CD is very very good. Imagine Art Brut and Bloc Party with a little extra attitude mixed in. Or just try it cuz it's pretty much the best I've heard in a while.

Danny B gave it an8:
Love the fact that all but one of the songs has the kind of chorus that you makes the song worth listening to multiple times, even if the lyrics and subjects of the songs seem to drag and come across as painfully un-profound. Has the kind of energy and invention that'll win a place in any record collection.

Capture / Release by The Rakes

Capture / Release
by The Rakes