Review: Rubblebucket — ‘Survival Sounds’

By Nestor Vasquez
Music Reviewer

Artist: Rubblebucket
Album: Survival Sounds
Released: Aug. 26, 2014
Label: Communion Records
Website: http://rubblebucket.com/

Brooklyn based indie-dance ensemble, Rubblebucket, which boasts eight members, has released their fourth full-length album titled “Survival Sounds.”

They’re obviously no rookies to the game, as they generated this well-crafted album that can only be done with much needed experience. “Survival Sounds” comes jam packed with a horn section that saturates the album with a folky texture, vibrant vocal tracks laid down by Kalmia Traver and a variety of cosmic electronic chorus melodies that give a pseudo-’80s pop vibe to it.

Listening to this album I felt I needed it to accompany me on a cross-country road trip with friends, gleefully exploring new frontier not touched by civilization.

The opening track, “On The Ground,” opens with a melodic sounding of trumpets. You’re not sure what to expect, and then Traver’s gentle, low voice comes in, cradling you and buckling you for a wild ride. Then, the chorus contains an explosion of horns and the skeleton of the melody driven by a rumbled bassline that is harmonized with Traver’s begging to “not shake me around.”

One of my favorites off the album, “The Middle,” opens with a solo drum beat followed by Traver’s hypnotizing voice drawing you into the verse. The chorus then jumps into a wistful jeer of “We’re in the middle / holding on to what I love / we’re in the middle.” The horns are dancing in the background, guiding the direction of the melody, happily tying all the loose knots together. Other favorites include “Rewind,” “My Life” and the ever heart-thumping “Origami.”

Rubblebucket is touring “Surviving Sounds” as this album review is being written. If you get the chance to see a performance of their new album do it. It sounds like a festival all packed into eight members, ringing out every last drop of their talent into this album.

I highly recommend this album to be a part of your everyday life, whether it’s to make getting ready for work a bit easier with its upbeat feel or to accompany you on that getaway trip you’ve been putting off all this time.