Review: Sunset Rubdown- Dragonslayer

This album can probably best be analyzed in relationship to two of leader Spencer Krug's more recent outings, 2007's last Sunset Rubdown release 'Random Spirit Lover' and Wolf Parade's 2008 'At Mount Zoomer'. Strikingly, this record comes off as much more WP than it does SR. There are many macroscopic similarities right from the get go, the number of tracks (9 vs. 8) and the ten minute closer being most apparent. Anyone who actually gave more than one listen to 'Random Spirit Lover' (bravo) is probably expecting more of the same frenetic, quirky, fantasy laden, sprawling instrumental and melodic excess of that release; especially from a record titled 'Dragonslayer'. This is hardly the case however, as the album sticks to straight ahead (albeit progressive in nature) rock songs all the way through; even offering up a bonafide pop track with "Paper Lace". Alas, there is nothing here as oddly fascinating as "The Courtesan Has Sung", or as head scratchingly compelling as "Up On Your Leopard, Upon The End of Your Feral Days". Throw in a little of Boeckner's edge to temper Krug's fantasy and we would have another grade A WP release on our hands here.

The album begins with possibly the two most straightforward songs from anywhere in Krug's catalog with "Silver Moons" and "Idiot Heart". While both are flawlessly executed and enjoyable listens, I still find myself wishing that they had some of that flair and eccentricity to make them more distuingashably Krug. "Black Swan" anchors the albums middle in much the way "California Dreamer" did on 'AMZ', slow burning with powerful bursts of energy erupting throughout. From there we a find a curiousity on "Paper Lace", a track found on the 2009 release 'Enemy Mine' from another amongst Krug's myriad musical projects, Swan Lake. On the SL record the track was done acoustically, with a tentative, probing feel, providing a breath of fresh air amidst often challenging experimentation. Here, again it is a breath of fresh air, but instead in the sense that it is a synth heavy pop tune amidst a batch of much more serious progressive rockers (again recalling 'AMZ', "The Grey Estates"). The grand finale, the ten minute twenty seven second title track-ish "Dragon's Lair" (ala "Kissing The Beehive", also originally meant as a title track...), is one of the only true dings I give this album. It carries a solid melody, makes nice use of female harmony, and acheives the difficult feat of not boring the listener over such a long period. However, as much as I do in fact like this song, after the hard hitting album that 'Dragonslayer' is, you just come to expect more punch from the supposedly epic finale. It boasts some fine guitar playing and a semi-build up towards the end, but never quite erupts in the way you are hoping it will.

All in all, 'Dragonslayer' is consistently terrific. I can't help but feel however that they were holding something back, playing it safe if you will for this release. Krug found a near perfect formula with 'AMZ', and apparently he's sticking with it. The fact is though that this is Sunset Rubdown, not Wolf Parade, and its fans have come to expect and love the 'everything and the kitchen sink' mentality that have graced there previous releases. Still, how can you really complain about an album as great as 'Dragonslayer'? Though in my heart I'll be waiting for more of the random spirit loving music I know these guys are cabaple of, on my face the smile will be just as wide as long as the quality remains this good.

Rating: 8.5/10
Best Tracks: "Black Swan", "Paper Lace", "You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)"