Ten New Messages

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Jerky, irreverent and quasi-intellectual – thanks to right place/right time positioning, a frontman with all the behavioural anti-style of a skinny David Brent and everyday themes that were all too easy to relate to, The Rakes quickly received plaudits by the bundle and a lot of shouting ensued about them being an indie The Streets, or similar. Of course they weren't as clever as that, nor were they as brash as Franz Ferdinand, as intense as Bloc Party, as literate as Maximo Park, as chaotic as The Libertines or as slick as Razorlight, meaning that when the hype settled they were little more than that stale taste in the back of your throat from last night.

The general turnaround on Ten New Messages is as unexpected then as it is gratifying, with the stunted punk instancy of old traded in for a complex mesh of tight rhythms, creeping criss-cross melodic patch-working and a more mature palette of influences all round. The band are on leaner form, no doubt, but it's the front of house work by Alan Donahue that's likely to pull in the silverware. His vocals themselves are more assured but it's the focussed narratives – tracking someone down in the immediate aftermath of the 7/7 bombings (the anxious, touching "When Tom Cruise Cries") and the racism that inevitably followed that day (the inspired, multi-protagonist "Suspicious Eyes") for instance – where he simmers tensions and tone with a skill that the frivolity of their debut just couldn't manage. Discard all old messages. Save new. --James Berry

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Customer reviews

review by: Juli date: 2007-11-13 rating:
London Calling!
This is an album I listen to frequently.I hadn't heard any of the Rakes previous to a friend giving me a CD of this,so I was instantly converted on hearing it.This London band are very talented and have a Dickensian charm about their leadman Alan Donohoe's voice.
Fave tracks include: The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect,When Tom Cruise Cries,On A Mission,but they're all very good songs.The production is faultless,the musicianship top class,and the tunes very singable.
One of those albums to listen to again and again in years to come.

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review by: date: 2007-09-20 rating:
A change of sound, but arguably a good one.
Much like Maximo Park earlier this year, the Rakes have followed a critically acclaimed album that underwhelmed me with a second album that may not get the same fevered response from a lot of critics but is a record that I prefer.

The brashness and punk ethic that encapsulated the likes of 22 Grand Job has pretty much disappeared, to be replaced by reflective, but utterly melodic, tunes.

At it's best it's brilliant. The likes of Down With Moonlight are sublime and there are a few tracks, like We Danced Together, that get better every time you hear them again.

The only real places when it gets a little too misplaced is on the likes of Suspicious Eyes, a game attempt to write a song relevant for these terrorist influenced times but one that falls flat. It's neither sharp enough lyrically, or memorable enough musically to convince. Similarly When Tom Cruise Cries is a game effort, but just not a very memorable song (seemingly exactly the same all the way through it's near five minute running time) and whilst the idea of song largely concerned with mobile phone signals being crap may sound interesting, Mike Skinner has already given us much wittier examples of how to do it properly.

So it's not a perfect record, and I can well imagine fans of their first album being very suspicious when they first hear it. Still, it is a good record which does improve with repeat listens.

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review by: student date: 2007-04-24 rating:
Middle of the road.
I actually agree in large parts, with the scathing review below...
This is a distinctly average album - it's not bad but it's not good either. Having seen them live last night, the general ambivalence of the record translates to the live show. Needless to say, the tracks from the first album carried the show in their punchy wake.

Avoiding a track by track analysis, there are a couple of strongish tracks, namely The World was a Mess But His Hair was Perfect and When Tom Cruise Cries. I find the first single, We Danced Together, a tad repetitive and uninspiring, although, that said, I still can't help but sing the chorus. Little Superstitions is just plain rubbish - how it manages to gain the exalted status of 2nd track on the album is beyond me.

I do want to take issue with the comments below that the album lacks enthusiasm. At face value, this is true. But I think this confuses irreverent style, one of the most appealing aspects of the first album, with apathy. The monotone, as I hear it, relays the protagonist's outlook on life - stale and staid.

It's not all bad however, it's an enjoyable enough way to spend 40 minutes. Perhaps the most alarming aspect, however, is that it sets a strong precedent for dodgy 2nd albums from second tier indie bands, a trend that's compounded by Maximo Park (who's first offering I loved). We shall have to see if this carries on to the current batch of indie favourites, The Holloways and Good Shoes being pertinent examples...

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review by: Baxy date: 2007-04-17 rating:
Wow !!!! British album of the year ?
Fantastic effort. After all the brilliant albums from across the pond this year (Kings of Leon and Arcade Fire), this is where the UK strikes back.

Forget the overhyped Arctic Monkeys (great lyrics, no tunes), this is a superb album. Here is what I think of each song;

1 - The World was a mess..... Just a superb song. Brilliant "english" lyrics and driving bass. Wonderful opener. Deserves to be a massive hit and is leagues on from the Arctic Monkeys

2 - Little Superstitions. Another excellent tune with a lovely guitar hook over it. Superb chorus. Again, deserves to be a massive hit

3 - We danced together - The first single and takes awhile to get going. However 2/3rds of the way in when the drums and bass combine with the snarled words "we didnt give a s*** about....." is brilliant.

4 - Trouble. Brilliant dirty guitar intro and then the pounding bass kicks in. Sit still to this, I dare ya !! Sounds English and Punky. Brilliant !!

5 - Suspicios Eyes. This is a massive song. Showing the two sides of life in London today. Rapping sections from both sides of the fence. White flight and a brown guy with a bag. The band have taken a big risk with this song as it could have been so cheesy. But this works and is a masterpiece. Says it all about London today.

6 - On a mission. Argeuably the weakest song here. Still good though and no filler.

7 - Down with the Moonlight. Brilliant. Bet this is smoking live. Sounds edgy and prowling. Great song.

8 - When Tom Cruise Cries. My least favourite on the album. Cant get into it. Reading the reviews though, everyone else loves it.

9 - Time to stop talking. My favourite song. Brilliant bassline and superb chorus. Wonderful track !!

10 - Leave the City and Come Home. Just magic. Slighty slower and wonderul lyrics. Love it and great end to the album.

Buy this album. Its an absolute cracker.


review by: simplygregguk date: 2007-03-27 rating:
What an album!
This album has been unjustly critisiced by many of the music press (NME) but luckily people with taste should enjoy this fine album. From start to finish it shows that the Rakes have grown in stature and maturity, it needs to be heard.

Tracks:

The world was a mess but his hair was perfect: Great name and a great tune. A really snappy intro that is just like the ld rakes, fast paced and packed with sneer.

Little Superstitions: A song of great maturity, a good song that has a really catchy beat.

We danced together: The lead single from the album, and what a cracker! Everything about this song is immense.

Trouble: A fast paced song. A really strong chorus that will be a live favourite.

Suspicios Eyes: What a tune! With a bit of rapping to boot! A fascinating song abut racism post 7/7. Needs to be heard!

On A Mission: This is where the album slows down in quality songs, it shouldn't be on this album. A good try though.

Down With Moonlight: A good pickup from the previous song, but again, not the best rakes song.

When Tom Cruise Cries: What a great title and what a great song! A brilliant take on our clebrity obsessed culture.

Time To Stop Talking: One of the highlights of the album. Needs to be heard!

Leave the city and come home: An average end to a great album. Could have been better.


Overall: A great second album, great for people into Bloc Party. The Rakes deserved far better media coverage for this album. It is far better than their frst and gives the band a platform to do even better things!

Buy it now!

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