Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer Review
Sunset Rubdown is noted for being weird, even more so with their last album Random Spirit Lover (which I regard as an amazing album). One recurring theme I see to find is that Sunset Rubdown has chose a more “accessible” path with their latest album, Dragonslayer . Some of my favourite albums are ones that polarized others. Things that are called universally good, tend to be a little bit more average to appease everyone it seems. Spencer Krug and Co. have amped up the expectations with solid release after release despite Krug’s many side projects.
Sunset Rubdown’s past two albums – Shut Up I am Dreaming and Random Spirit Lover will probably end up in my top ten favourite albums ever, so it put it mildly – I’ve become a huge Sunset Rubdown fan. So while, the band has more a more accessible record with less annoying wailing from Krug (he doesn’t change it much though, just downplays it a tad), less psychedelic progressive rock and even less lyricism, they have still made a really good record. It’s not – OMFG it’s the best fucking album ever – which I will keep saying about RSL but alas it will appease more people and I guess I can accept that to some extent.
The album wasn’t hard to get into right away so while I am a month late with this review, it wasn’t like RSL when I said I “get it” around 4 months later. The album is also filled with excellent tracks my favourite being Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh which is reminiscent of their regular style. I think there are a few small misses, perhaps on Black Swan which takes far too long in its progression that I feel the need to skip the track on a few occasions before the epic conclusion.
However, Dragonslayer marks another great album by a great band. It again might not be for everyone but Sunset Rubdown keep opening your eyes in amazement. They are a band that could do anything it seems and do it well. Whether it’s more simpler then their previous album or not, it’s still good. I would like them to try crazier and wilder things but that’s just me, either way I’m still satisfied.
Rating: 4.75 out of 5
Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh by Sunset Rubdown
You Go On Ahead by Sunset Rubdown
Tags: album
I think I agree with you (as I do about RSL and its brilliance). And smart to wait a while before posting your thoughts, as Sunset Rubdown albums are definitely not immediate in their appeal …
My own review: http://heavysoil.blogspot.com/2009/06/review-dragonslayer-by-sunset-rubdown.html