What with the glossies currently running nauseating spreads on ‘festival chic’ (the ultimate oxymoron, surely?) and Kate Moss until very recently insisting on draping herself around stinky ol’ Pete, the grubby world of indie rock ‘n’ roll has never had it so fashionable. Enter, then, The Rakes – a dapper indie foursome if ever there was one – with their new single, a radio-friendly edit of their 18-minute soundtrack to a Dior Homme fashion show.
Yep, you heard. It doesn’t necessarily sound like typical catwalk fodder, though, in so far as it stands up perfectly well in its own right. Well, you’d hope so, since they’re putting it out as a single. It’s a suitably elegant slab of art rock, with mumbling frontman Alan Donohoe complementing his style with substance, having his well-coiffured hero slag off the USA before indulging in Budweiser and Marlboro Lights. Simultaneously attacking and celebrating the ludicrousness of fashion slavery, it’s a well-executed and enjoyable affair, despite its undoubted one-dimensionality.
great video.
what's the bside like?
I prefer the 18 minute version
Especially the bit where he says his hair is like Ted Danson's.
I like the rakes.
always did. they're like a blueprint for the hordes of shit indie imitators that followed. this one is a good tune, melodic but still rough.
That's a pretty good pop song
Anybody got a link to the 18min version?
RstJ
really?
they came first?
People still listen to The Rakes?
really?
Shame
...this is only one of about two memorable tunes on the album.
True
That
argh
Bad song, based around an average riff.
Great band
Best band at describing what it's like to be upper working/lower middle class in contemporary urban Britain.
The album is fantastic, the best of 2007 so far IMO.
yeah but...
it's still great. the 18 min version that i have secretly hidden away on vinyl (yes folks, vinyl - yum)is still played by me to anybody that has time for a cuppa' at my office.
"...how much?" classic rakes.
good song, shame about
the radio friendly version..do they have to blank out swear words etc etc...who gives a fuck...
"slag off the USA before indulging in Budweiser and Marlboro Lights."
Well done Rakes frontman for completely missing the point.
meybe
he was being ironic