"PostHeeHawFunkadelicHipHopNewGrass." That's the type of music Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband play, at least according to them; this description, though, makes it seem like the music in question has an awful lot going on. The truth is more mundane: Though one could certainly argue that the band incorporates all of these elements (except funk — they are from Utah, after all), they're watered down and refined. The result is a pleasant cross between, say, The Clumsy Lovers and Nickel Creek, minus the attractive quirkiness of either outfit. Shupe & the Rubberband's self-description also leaves out CCM (as in Christian contemporary music), the dreaded acronym that usually signals either Earnestness and Big Messages or treacly sentimentality (or both). This isn't so bad, though. I suspect this may have something to do with Dream Big being their major-label debut, but insofar as these songs are CCM at all, they fall on the inoffensively (if relentlessly) positive end of the spectrum.
There aren't any clunkers here, though the album does lead off with its strongest one-two punch: The tongue-in-cheek "Banjo Boy" has been appearing on Shupe albums and setlists since at least 1999, and makes for a perfect introduction to mainstream audiences; and "Even Superman" should be a big hit on AAA stations if Capitol does even a halfway decent job of promoting the album.
Aside from those AAA stations, though, it's hard to see much of an audience for this music. It isn't "neo" enough to appeal to folksy hipsters, and isn't "trad" enough to appeal to people who bought the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack and meant it. For newgrass, in other words, it's suspiciously light on anything new or grass. Whether this is a temporary problem or something they've struggled with all along, I'm not qualified to say — but either way, it doesn't make for an especially memorable listening experience. ED/PUB:LM
Article comments
1 - Leeza
I think that thier "lead song" DREAM BIG has a lot to say and it is relative to many people that lack the ability to find hope and maybe need a wonderful song like this to tell them "It's ok to DREAM BIG" Life can be unfair to more people than not and thank goodness these guys (whom I have seen live several times in Oregon) are the real deal - not stuck-up or pretentious, just honest guys with clean lyrics - it's about time !!!!
They deserved more air time on THREE WISHES on 9/30/05, but maybe using their theme "DREAM BIG" as a tag line on the show will gain them more credit and publicity than the 2 minutes they got on the show.....best of luck to them !
2 - Bell4523
I have watched this band numerous times in concert and know a number of people that have bought the CD Dream Big. I must say that every one of these people from older folks to young children seem to LOVE the cd... I am so sorry that you did not get that vibe from it. All I can say is that the cd does not do the band justice as far as live performances go, and I encourage everyone to see them live as this is the best way to experience RS&RB. The energy this band generates live is unbelievable, you'll find yourself laughing and dancing right along with the band! Their musicianship and talent is something that must be seen to believe. Maybe it takes seeing them in concert to find the value in their newly released CD that so many others feel.
As far as them not appealing to a "set" audience, I think that is part of the beauty of the band... they appeal to numerous people that are interested in numerous different types of music and doesn't fit into a set mold. It's a breath of fresh air to hear a band that does not seem like a "cookie-cutter" type band that is just going through the motions and trying to make money.