[kj] RE: DARKNESS/Rapture

[Alex Smith]

Just dropped the wife off at the office, and as is my ritual, I popped into
Tower Records, which is only a couple of doors down. I spotted the new
Darkness album on the new release racks. I've never heard them, but they
just seem like a re-re-re-re-re-hashed Spinal Tap gag. Geddit? Ironic
hair-metal. Yawn. Haven't we been there a bajillion times by this point? 

Am I wrong in this assumption?

Personally speaking, being that it finally seems that there are some
interesting goings-on in music again (not just because the Joke is back on
active duty), why waste time with Whitesnake tribute bands like the
Darkness?

One new band that I've embraced is The Rapture.

I'd really decided that I hated the Rapture. There'd been the initial hype
and all the comparisons to Gang of Four and the Pop Group and all these
other bands I quite dig. Then, I picked up their e.p., OUT OF THE RACES &
ONTO THE TRACKS and after a few spins, decided I was underwhelmed, and put
off by Luke Jenner's somewhat cloying vocals. That's it, I thought, it's
decided. I don't like the Rapture. Cross them off the list.

So, I'm scouring Manhattan last week, searching for an old Foetus
compilation from about `89 that I had on vinyl, but never had picked up on
disc (I no longer have a turntable, nor a plan of getting 
one anytime soon, so I effectively cannot play any of my vinyl). In any
event, I'd been feeling a serious need to hear "Bedrock" by Foetus, so
figured I'd go pick it up in any number of likely shops (to no avail,..I've
since had to order it online, which is such less fun!) ANYWAY, while in
fuckin' the Virgin Megastore in Times Square (of all places), I'm perusing
through the import bins, and I hear this really captivating racket eminating
from the 'electronica' section (and it's music that doesn't sound electronic
in the slightest). After a couple of tracks, I ask the gent behind the
counter who it was. "The new Rapture disc," he says. DAMMIT! I hate it when
that happens. I bought 
it.

In any event, while I'm still kinda cool on Jenner's screechy warble, this
is a really charged sounding record. Favorite bit by far is the bass-amp
overload segueway between "The Coming of Spring" and "House of Jealous
Lovers." Yes, it's all very backwards-looking in a neo-post-punk sorta way
(while he generally apes G04's John King to eyebrow-raising degrees,
Jenner's really pushing for Lydon/PiL vibe on the title track), but I think
it sounds pretty fresh (and I don't mean that in a 
dated hip hop slang sorta way). 

At certain points, there's a really frantic sound to the proceedings, as if
they might spiral messily off course at any second, which is pretty
endearing. I imagine their live shows are pretty sweaty affairs. The guitars
also have a great CLANGY sound to them, all disjointed and crackly. 

Anyway, me likey.

Alex in NYC





----------
>From: Rob's Arse <joker@Z6.com>
>To: gathering@misera.net
>Subject: Re: [kj] RE: DARKNESS before dawn (OT)
>Date: Tue, Sep 30, 2003, 3:04 AM
>

>Amy, stop it. You're upsetting me. I would like to make it my personal 
>quest to rid the world of the Darkness, but I can't cos I'm a cripple. If 
>they are still mystifyingly popular when I am better (unlikely) then 
>perhaps a series of Spinal Tap style accidents might befall the wretched 
>beasts.  If I am successful, I will gladly sort of the Sugarbabes and 
>Cheeky Girls for you!
> 
>
>--- amyr@jump.net (Amy Moseley Rupp) wrote:
>> well said that arse, I'm listening to Change-Peel session as I type
>> this, and the thought of EVER having to listen to
>> a second of the Dorkness chills me to the bone
>
>They are quite good live, especially for the ladies ;-)
>(ahem, or perhaps not-too-ladylike)
>
>See, *I* don't get Sugababes or Cheeky Girls or any of
>THAT complete and total shite.  Enterainment?   Gentlemen's
>entertainment, and I don't think they are nearly as
>musically talented as The Darkness.
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