It was the late Kurt Cobain (with some help from labelmates Sonic Youth)
that initiated Geffen's reissue of the Raincoats' catalog. And listening
to Odyshape, it's easy to see why Cobain loved them so. There's an emotional
directness about these songs that hooks you from the start. Mostly you
hear about emotions and situations, sometimes indirectly, almost as if
you are eavesdropping on a conversation. Then it hits you: it's almost
like you're talking to old friends. That's the way the Raincoats' music
worked: it's deceptively simple, but extremely complicated. Also, as on
this record, it makes demands of the listener. But songs like "Red
Shoes" and "Dancing in My Head" say this far more eloquently.
Reissued by Geffen with extra tracks in 1995.
(by John Dougan, All
Music Guide)
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