knowncutter's Full Review: Shut Up I Am Dreaming [Digipak] by Sunset Rubdown
Spencer Krug certainly is an ambitious little Canadian. Fresh off the heels of 2005’s ridiculously splendid debut from Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary, and with a release from Wolf Parade expected later this year, you’d think the keyboardist/vocalist would be content to wallow in the critical appraisal for a while. Fortunately for the music world, Krug decided he had far too much material to sit on and has released some of his more sprawling, intimate, ideas in the form of Sunset Rubdown’s Shut Up I Am Dreaming.
Naturally, the first LP from Sunset Rubdown is entirely composed of Krug’s desires and, perhaps more importantly, his vocals. If you found yourself more keen to Dan Boeckner’s growling on Apologies to the Queen Mary, or simply considered the alternating tag-team dichotomy enthralling, I wouldn’t let the Wolf Parade association completely convince you Sunset Rubdown will seem as remarkable. Although Krug does produce tracks here that reminisce of a certain recognizable flavor, the majority are far less accessible and direct than the likes of Modern World or Shine a Light.
Having said that, none of these tracks are overtly abrasive; they just take a great deal of patience and understanding. For the most part, the standard rock and roll blueprint, verse-interlude-chorus-verse-interlude-chorus, is thrown far out the window. Instead Krug blazes a trail of constantly changing tunes, operating entirely on his own terms.
In fact, only They Took a Vote and Said No has what most would consider a proper structure, consequently coming across as one of the more palatable tracks on the album. As one of the few songs to refrain from becoming somber, the raucous energy of Vote, with its jovial whistling beneath Krug’s “da-da-das”, sounds like a Dr. Seuss-meets-Aesop’s fables story put to dynamic indie rock. At least until the onslaught of keyboard, guitar, and drums send the song out in a fit of glory. The lyrics are especially enjoyable when witnessed in context. For example, “It’s just a kid, He wants a ride, They took his ears, They took his eyes, They said a ride, Is never free, He couldn’t hear, He couldn’t see.”
Likewise, Stadiums and Shrines 2 and Snakes Got a Leg 3 (Both of which are the respective firsts of their title on this album, despite their fancy roman numerals), attempt to avoid the downtrodden, elongation of the rest of the album. Stadiums opens with cymbals crashing and guitars soaring, although it ultimately drifts into one of the longest interludes, consisting almost entirely of two piano notes and Krug’s vocals, in the history of mankind before returning to its prior eruptives. Ironically, or perhaps purposefully, Snakes Got a Leg proceeds in almost the exact same format as Stadiums. It deceives the listener with what appears to be an actual verse, interlude, and chorus, only to meander for about a minute in a quiet flow of intimacy. In both cases the immediate reaction will be anger at Krug’s perversion of what could have otherwise been quite remarkable rock songs. If you give these tracks time though, I assure you the finite intricacies which make them original will become all too clear.
In general, the rest of Shut Up I Am Dreaming relies on an aesthetic comprised of folksy acoustic guitars, and ominous keyboards. Songs like Us Ones in Between and The Men Are Called Horsemen There make no concerted effort to reach out of their doom and gloom before Krug feels ready (which usually takes a very, very long time), but once they reach their respected climaxes, occasionally complete with female backing vocals and symphonic arrangements, their heart-wrenching power is undeniable. Over time too, once dreary, unnecessarily drawn-out verses will become beautiful and poignant in their steadfast resound to reach an ultimate destination.
Shut Up I Am Dreaming’s concluding piece, Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings, probably best sums up both what will be loved and what will be disdained on this album. The seven plus minute epic consists of two segments of very dank, emotive, acoustic wafts before twice erupting into searing guitar and simple drums that sound explosive through sheer contrast. As might be expected, the bursts of energy are in far shorter supply, yet their effect isn’t diminished in the slightest.
If you have the patience, Shut Up I Am Dreaming’s apparent inconsistencies and refusal to adhere to a manageable construction will grow on you with an unrelenting furor. The moments of grandeur will remain amazing, but the journey to them will become almost as pleasant.
Song Rankings
$= Great song worth your money
Download (essentially steal)= Good song
Skip= Average filler
Garbage= Terrible track
1. Stadiums and Shrines 2- Download
2. They Took a Vote and Said No- $
3. Us Ones In Between- Download
4. I’m Sorry I Sang on Your Hands That Have Been in the Grave- Skip
5. Snakes Got a Leg 3- Download
6. The Empty Threats of Little Lord- Download
7. Swimming- Download
8. The Men Are Called Horsemen There- Download
9. Q-Chord- Garbage
10. Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings- Download
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