The Rapture Return!

If I was to say to you, "Hey did you hear about the rapture?" The odds are that this year, you'd automatically assume I was talking about the crazy cult who posted billboards telling the world to prepare for the actual ascension of worthy souls. The actual rapture I would be referring to would be the dance-rock outfit releasing their third album and the first since their debut for dance label DFA. The Rapture have always had the punk rock side to their music and when done correctly have had killer results. Tracks like Sister Savior, Whoo! Alright-Yeah...Uh Huh, and the classic House of Jealous Lovers sound like punk songs dismantled and rebuilt for the dance floor. Now, The Rapture have come back with an unapologetic dance record that has obvious influences from the Chicago House scene and have nearly removed all rock/punk tendencies from the songs.

This isn't a bad attempt to reinvent a sound that seemed to run it's course in the mid 2000's when we last heard from The Rapture. Lead-off track Sail Away is the perfect starting point for the new form of The Rapture. The shimmering synths, the steady propulsive drumming, and even the psychedelic instrumental ending all work. The best songs on In The Grace of Your Love are all when The Rapture put down their guitars and build layered melodies from other instruments. Songs like Come Back to Me, Never Die Again, and lead single How Deep is your Love? highlight the best of the album.

The album isn't without it's problems however. The overly sensitive and well, downright embarrassing Children slow the album down and damper the albums energy. Another problem is as good and mature The Rapture sound on this they still don't have the songwriting chops of contemporaries Cut Copy or label mates LCD Soundsystem. Comparing them to these two acts may seem unfair but all three burst on to the scene around the same time and hidden deep in all of The Rapture's songs they are still trying to re-write House of Jealous Lovers.

Overall I found In the Grace of Your Love an engaging listen that benefits from listening straight through and not just the singles. Perhaps the best allure of the record is that The Rapture have grown and are writing some of the best songs of their career. I know I'll be interested in seeing just how high they can go in the future.

The Rapture - In the Grace of Your Love

September 6th, 2011- B-

Listen to Lead Single How Deep is Your Love Here!