#398 of 500
· Rolling Stone
“Past 300, every pick is an argument worth having. The Raincoats's The Raincoats (1979) is punk/hardcore that transcends its genre tag. The original pressing is the one to find — the kind of record that stops you mid-flip at the store.”
The Raincoats were a British post-punk band formed in London in 1978, consisting of Ana da Silva (vocals, guitar) and Gina Birch (bass, vocals), later joined by drummer Palmolive. The band released their debut self-titled album in 1979, which showcased an experimental approach to punk, featuring unconventional song structures, atonal guitar work, and avant-garde production. Their 1980 follow-up 'Odyshape' expanded on these explorations before the band disbanded in 1982. The Raincoats reunited in 2006 and released new material, including 'Beyond' in 2017, proving their creative vitality had endured. Their influence on alternative and indie rock remained significant throughout their absence.
Style
The Raincoats pioneered a distinctly experimental post-punk sound that rejected conventional verse-chorus structures in favor of atonal guitar textures, deadpan vocal delivery, and innovative bass playing. Their music combined punk's DIY ethos with avant-garde and no-wave sensibilities, creating an abrasive yet artistic aesthetic.
Significance
The Raincoats are essential to vinyl collectors interested in post-punk, experimental music, and feminist contributions to rock. Their early work is considered highly influential in the development of no-wave and alternative rock, and their original 1979 debut has become a cult classic and landmark record in punk's artistic evolution.
Pink Flag
Wire
Shares the same post-punk minimalism and angular guitar work with experimental song structures that define innovative late-70s punk.
Cut
The Slits
Pioneering punk album with atonal guitars and tribal rhythms that shares The Raincoats' fearless deconstruction of traditional song forms.
Entertainment!
Gang of Four
Post-punk classic featuring jittery, syncopated rhythms and angular instrumentation that parallels The Raincoats' unconventional approach to punk.
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