SUNSET RUBDOWN
Shut I Am Dreaming
Sunset Rubdown EP
Absolutely Kosher/Global Symphonic
· A grower, not a shower. Sunset Rubdown will be opening for Frog Eyes on Tuesday, May 9 at Broken City.
Before I go any further, it should perhaps be mentioned that if you don’t like Wolf Parade, you probably wouldn’t enjoy Sunset Rubdown either. Both bands are the brainchild of songwriting wunderkind Spencer Krug, which also means both follow the same pattern of highly theatrical flourishes, varied instrumentation and deceptively dense, image-heavy lyrics. In other words, if you like Wolf Parade as much as I do, you’ll definitely be all over Sunset Rubdown.
Yet, while Isaac Brock’s pet puppies display a propensity towards triumphant, fist-pumping anthems, Sunset Rubdown utilize a much more subtle presentation of both vocals and melodies. This is especially apparent on the EP’s first track, the simple guitar-and-organ driven "Three Colors," with Krug trying on his best falsetto to inquire "do you believe that you belong to someone? I can’t believe that I belong to no one." Later on, "A Day in the Graveyard" and "A Day in the Graveyard II" provide alternate takes on the same softly swirling tune, the former instrumental and the latter accented by wavering vocals and tropical percussion. Finally, "Three Colors II" revisits the tune of the opener, yet this time made much more ominous thanks to spacey electronics, Krug’s cracking delivery and the ghost-like howls underneath.
Shut Up starts similarly strong with "Stadiums and Shrines II, " a piano driven sequel to the original song from last year’s Snake’s got a Leg. A hypnotic one-note rhythm propels Krug’s tale of a boy who is "big and he’s dumb and he’s kind of scared." From here, highlights abound at every turn, such as the eerily mesmerizing "Swimming," the seven-minute mini-epic "The Men are Called Horsemen There" and the spellbinding closer and semi-title track, "Shut Up I am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers have Wings." Yet, my favourite Sunset Rubdown song to date is "The Empty Threats of Little Lord," a sparse, largely acoustic number made absolutely devastating by Krug’s delivery of lines like "If I ever hurt you, it’ll be in self defense." As the chorus swells, Krug wails that "I’m not that kind of whore, but I am a little lord" over and over again until it becomes a powerful, fanatical mantra.
So, while both the EP and LP may seem less arresting than Wolf Parade over the first few listens, let me assure you they will infect your ear-space in the best way possible once you allow them to seep in. Whether painting with vibrant splashes of colour or soft, subdued pastels, Krug has cemented his spot as a rapidly rising musical talent, one who displays stronger flashes of brilliance with each subsequent release.
EP 3/5
LP 4/5
JESSE LOCKE
|
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.