The Rapture

Few bands spawn a bidding war for their first album, but after the release of the Rapture's Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks EP on Sub Pop in 2001, that's exactly what happened. When record execs saw how New York-based Rapture was leading the charge to reexamine and recapture the sound of late-'70s/early-'80s post-punk, everyone wanted to sign on. The band's first full-length album, Echoes, channeled the post-punk influence of godfathers Gang of Four and the dancier side of the genre popularized by bands like ESG and Liquid Liquid. Butt-shaking underground anthem “House of Jealous Lovers” found its way to dance floors around the world, while angular rocked-out cuts like “Heaven” showcased just how well the group can use distortion pedals. Their sophomore effort, last year's Pieces of the People We Love, saw the band disposing of the edgy rock songs in favor of disco-influenced pop. But don't think for a minute that the boys have lost their way. They still know how to rock a party even without Echoes super producers DFA behind them.