Product Description

Sunset Rubdown was once the moniker under which Spencer Krug released lo-fi solo recordings. The project has long since evolved into a full band, and "Dragonslayer" is the third full-length. The musicianship is unassisted by studio magic, and the songs are left to justify for themselves their own screwy pop-rock existence. Double LP contains digital download coupon for free MP3s of the full album.

Track Listing

1. Silver Moons
2. Idiot Heart
3. Apollo And The Buffalo And Anna Anna Anaa Oh!
4. Black Swan
5. Paper Lace
6. You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)
7. Nightingale / December Song
8. Dragon's Lair

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15149 in Music
• Brand: Sunset
• Released on: 2009-06-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .13 pounds

Review
"Charming, dizzying pop that's as sinewy as it is cerebral" --Av Club

Review
"Powerful and overwhelming" --Fader

Review
"Spencer Krug's marquee band isn't Wolf Parade anymore" --Xlr8

Customer Reviews

So darn good!
What an album! I loved Sunset Rubdown's first two albums and couldn't wait to see what they would do next. Almost all the songs here are more accessible than the songs on the first two albums (and easier to appreciate on the first listen), and Krug's crazed yelp has become much more akin to what people traditionally expect from a rock singer. And the production is much more hi-fi, the sound more full and spacious. A lot of times these changes (more accessible, more polished surface) are a misstep. But not here. This album is neither better nor worse than the first two. All three are great, and all three are quite different.

Ambitious art rock delivers
Spencer Krug (he of Wolf Parade) formed Sunset Rubdown in 2004 as a side project, and immediately created indie-buzz with the strangely appealing but most certainly 'left-of-center' approach to the band's music (think sophisticated art rock). This is the band's 3rd full-fledged album.

"Dragonslayer" (8 tracks; 49 min.) opens up with the beautiful and sweeping "Silver Moons", a fantastic opener. "Idiot Heart" is a more ambitious track, but it grabs you as well. After those first two songs, though, the album definitely takes a turn for the more dramatic and complex stuff. The 7 min. "Black Swan" goes all over the place, from soft to loud back to soft (and I don't mean in the emo-type of way, but more like having several songs into one). "You Go on Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II) is another highlight, although the opening riff reminded me immediately of David Bowie's "Modern Love" (in fact, there seems to be a very strong influence of Bowie in a lot of these songs). "Nightingale/December Song" has a great drum/percussion undercurrent. It all leads up to the monster closing track, the 10+ min. "Dragon's Lair", which brings it all home, and is the perfect summary of the album: ambitious, challenging, but very engaging.

In all this is quite the album. I haven't had a chance yet to see these guys in concert, and I can only hope that they'll go on the road again in support of this album. Finally, if you wonder where you can hear these guys, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country, bar none. Meanwhile, if you like art rock, pick up "Dragonslayer", you won't be disappointed.

More accessible than previous albums.
Got to see this band twice this year during their 50 city tour around the world. Talented and creative band and solid album. Look forward to more CDs from these guys and gal. If you like Wolf Parade then you're in luck--Spencer is in both bands.