Odyshape

I can't stop listening to this album--the whole album. Haunting. Surprising. Unpredictable. Possessing. I can't think of an album that has compelled me quite like this one has. I was obsessed the moment it hit my ears. I want to live inside this album. Love.

Great

I like this album. My favorite song is Only Loved At Night, what a great song! It's not an easy listening album. It not necessarily a conventional punk album or conventional in the sense of any other kind of music. However, I think it is an interesting piece of music. I also think that it is a reflection of the spectrum of music being made in the late 1970's early 1980's of women involved with Punk and New Wave of that time. The Slits, Delta 5, Lene Lovich, and Au Pairs come to mind, but don't expect them to sound like any of the other female artists I just mentioned. The music on this album is interesting to me though. You might like it, you might not. I would recommend that you listen to this album late at night to get the full effect of the music. In my opinion, women artists made a lot of great albums in the Punk/New Wave period of rock music, after listening to this album, you may reach the conclusion that this was not a "Punk" album at all. But then again, Punk and New Wave music was not necessarily limited to certain kinds of music styles. Don't believe me Listen to Never Mind The Bullocks Here's the Sex Pistols by The Sex Pistols and 2nd Edition by Public Image Ltd. Same singer, different band, different vibe.

I bought the lp when it came out in 1981. The Raincoats were a seminal band and I'm sure influenced many past and present bands. This was their 2nd album and a huge turn from their first album that was more like punk, angry direct songs. Here, the band payed much more attention to the music and completely eschewed the verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus structure.Yes the songs are more difficult but so much more the better for the listening pleasure if you actually listen. The Raincoats' songs are big on emotion and feeling. There isn't logic nor preciseness in the way the music is played or laid out. That is why someone like Kurt Cobain loved this band -- he could relate to the feeling in it. That's why I loved the band.But when you take the journey, you will find some of the finest music to come out this period. "Shouting Out Loud" is still one of my favorite songs ever. If you don't want anything out of the ordinary, stay away. If you are willing to put the effort in, you will be richly rewarded.

I heard Only Loved @ Night on the radio & thought it was brilliant. Eventually I got the lp in an auction & whatever I spent was worth it, it's a very unique sound, plodding bass, ethnic drum rhythms, soothing vocals. What is listed here as the title track didn't have a title on the record but a little drawing, so now I know. This came out of England in the early 80s but sounds otherworldly & simultaneously domestic. It came out on the Rough Trade label which had a few things by The [excellent] Fall. Like any great band, the instruments & vocal duties are swapped around [like Sonic Youth, Beatles, R.E.M., Vocabularinist]. Highly recommended.

At first I didn't like this Raincoats album as much as their first one. The songs were so ethereal, insubstantial. Later I came to love it for just those same reasons. The music wraps around you, beautiful and airy, and pulls you along with it. You'll find yourself crying and rejoicing with these songs, and not because of the profound lyrics. The music itself seems like pure emotion- for instance, "Baby" is a tale of longing, but you don't have to listen to the lyrics to find out. It pulls you, the intensity of the longing. Listening to this album is a spiritual experience.

the best record you probably don't have. these records are out of print as far as i know, so buy what you can now, because this may be your only chance. the raincoats also have a live album called "the kitchen tapes" and are probably one of the most influential bands ever. "odyshape" is beautiful and spectacular and echoes sentiments so beautiful that you can only listen to it over and over again to understand the full effect and impact of their music.

took me ages to get into this - cant be bothered to review at such - just if you do get it, listen to it at night first.. if you've just come to the raincoats from nirvana it may be a bit of a shock, just keep trying with it - you may find it to be one of the most beautiful albums you've ever heard......or maybe not