Back in the halcyon days of the aughts, Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade had his own band, Sunset Rubdown, which fully exemplified his unusual sound. But the aughts ended, and so did Sunset after 2009’s Dragonslayer (QRO review). But we’re in full aughts revival, and Sunset rises on Always Happy To Explode.
You might not have thought the past decade-and-a-half had passed, as Krug’s warbling vocals and meandering keyboards have returned on Always. He does lean into a more resigned nature on opener “Losing Light” (that decade-and-a-half did pass, for all of us…), but then he’ll throw an art-rock curveball in the arrangement (including old school synths) on “Candles”. Single “Reappearing Rat” is the standout, catchy & pressing & you can see why it was made the single. Always could have used more of that, but this is Krug’s vision.
It’ll never be the aughts again, but your favorite art-acts from then, who never broke through into the big time like you hoped/feared they would, are coming back. Sunset Rubdown is Always Happy To Explode.
