The Rakes were one of the sharpest British indie rock bands of the 2000s, remembered for clipped guitars, wiry rhythms and songs that caught the pace of London life. This archive brings together the key music and video references listeners still look for when they revisit the band.
Key songs and videos
22 Grand Job remains one of the band’s best-known tracks, built around a direct chorus and the dry humour that made their early singles stand out. It is a natural starting point for anyone discovering The Rakes through old radio sessions, video links or indie club playlists.
Strasbourg captured the urgency of the group’s early sound: angular guitar lines, restless drums and a vocal delivery that felt both tense and conversational. Older official-site links often pointed to music and video material around this track.
Binary Love is another frequently referenced song from the band’s catalogue, valued for its guitar part and the way it sits between the rougher early singles and the fuller album recordings.
Albums and eras
The band’s debut album Capture/Release introduced the lean, nervous style that made The Rakes a regular name in mid-2000s indie coverage. Ten New Messages followed with broader production and a more expansive view of city life, technology and modern routines. Later material continued to carry the band’s clipped energy while pushing the songs into a bigger setting.
Why this archive matters
Many old references to The Rakes point to retired player pages, video embeds and official-site sections that no longer exist in their original form. This page preserves the useful context around those songs and directs visitors back into a simple, readable overview of the band’s music.
For more background on the band’s catalogue, see The Rakes: Best Ever Albums and Where Are They Now? Following the Legacy of The Rakes and Other Indie Rock Icons.