- Band Members: Gabriel Andruzzi, Matt Safer, Luke Jenner, Vito Roccoforte, The DFA
- Genre: Dance & Electronic
- Influenced by: Public Image Ltd., A Certain Ratio, Television, Gang of Four, The Cure, Shellac, Fugazi, Sonic Youth, Happy Mondays, The Jesus Lizard, Chrome
- Followed By: Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger!, White Rose Movement
- Similar Artists: Polvo, The Dismemberment Plan, Radio 4, Life Without Buildings, !!!, Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, Out Hud, Zongamin, Point Line Plane, Measles Mumps Rubella, The Glass, The Dead 60s
The Rapture was formed in early 1998 by drummer Vito Roccoforte and guitarist/vocalist Luke Jenner. The whimsical indie group had extensive touring behind them by the time they recorded 1999's Mirror for Gravity. More touring ensued -- with the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate and Nuzzle -- and the band eventually relocated to New York City. They lost their original bassist and found a new one in Matt Safer, who had recently moved from Washington, D.C. After some more touring, the band recorded the six-song Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks EP and had it released by Sub Pop in 2001. Thanks to their sloppy brand of scratchy post-post-punk, the Rapture was hailed as a forerunner of the post-punk revival that was taking place in the early 2000s. Their profile increased significantly with 2002's "House of Jealous Lovers" 12"; that same year, they added multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Andruzzi to the fold. The full-length Echoes followed for Gary Gersh's Strummer label in late 2003. The follow-up, Pieces of the People We Love, was released three years later by Mercury. Tapes, a wide-ranging mix album, came out through !K7 in 2008. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide