For my final haphazard catalogue of 2011, I offer Rubblebucket. I don’t know much about them, except that they used to go by Rubblebucket Orchestra, and that they’ve always been funky. Music ranging from alternative to pop, some indie and eclecticism, the band is hard to pin down. I’ve gotten lost listening to Rubblebucket. Intensely upbeat to ghostly visceral, all within the same song. Trumpets and sweety synths call to mind Triangular Daisies, right nextdoor there’sa turbulent Landing laying siege to your feeet! but it all ends up alright, as they end the album with a downhome Hommage.
Rubblebucket’s 2011 album Omega La La is, admittedly, not as swanky as the band’s past creations (i.e. the three in the prior paragraph). In context with the rest of the year’s music scene, however, it’s frigin intriguing. Omega La La is comprised of three remakes — Triangular Daisies, L’Homme, and Came Out of a Lady — from prior albums, and offers some of its own joys. Light renderings like Raining and Silly Fathers are sure to please, and when the party’s over you can curl up to Lifted/Weak Arms or a Pile of Rage. The headlining song, Rescue Ranger, is an adventure of its very own.
When the song pops, Kalmia Traver’s vocals both lead and trail the drum rolling steady to a bubbling bass line, heavy saxophone saturating your dance space. Excellently paced and sure to get a lift from your face, I think it’s because they play their instruments, rather than have a cpu crank em out, that makes Rubblebucket so visceral. Although, f’sho, they’re prettily “produced by Eric Broucek (LCD Soundsystem, !!!, Holy Ghost) & mastered by Joe Lambert (Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, Herbie Hancock)” – thanks wiki. And thanks for your time. Espero te disfrute! More to come! I take requests!
