The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
______________________________________________________
RollingStone.com
Reubens Accomplice The Bull, the Balloon, and the Family (Western Tread)
If the desperate, chord-crunching "Big Apple, Small Heart" launches The Bull, the Balloon, and the Family with a bit of Guided By Voices-derived abandon, it's an exercise in deception. The music of the Phoenix-reared principals in Reubens Accomplice is far closer to the dusty achievements of the Meat Puppets and Giant Sand on glistening, Americana balladry like "Lost Sun" (replete with xylophone) and the pensive "Leave the City." But the buoyant, autobiographical "Underneath the Golden Grain" and the shit-talking, locals-only feel of "This Town" are where you'll find Chris Corak and Jeff Bufano really hitting their stride. Even when they drift off into some sluggish abyss early into "It Is What It Is," they soon sucker punch you with an undeniable, sun-baked chorus. The Bull was produced with emo-peddler Jim Adkins (who co-owns the band's label, Western Tread) and while Corak and Bufano are light years away from Jimmy Eat World, this outing proves they are just as reliable. Perhaps they should consider altering their handle to Reubens Accomplished. (JOHN D. LUERSSEN)
______________________________________________________
AMPLIFIER MAGAZINE
Reubens Accomplice
Reubens Accomplice is the moniker of Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak, a duo that has been doing their thing for some time now. With The Bull, the Balloon and the Family, the guys team up with fellow Phoenix native and Jimmy Eat World front man Jim Adkins, who helps run the Western Tread label. Adkins not only contributed vocals and guitar, but he also produced the album, and after listening it, it is easy to see why he was so eager to get involved. There are layers of strings, pedal steel, xylophone, banjo and assorted other instruments stacked on top of the drums, bass and numerous guitars both acoustic and electric. All of this leads to a lush and lovely style of melodic rock that hints at influences from folk to country to pop. The songs are complex yet remarkably easy to delve into, and once you're there you are quickly engulfed by the sort of warm pop that is perfect for either sitting back and enjoying with the headphones on or turning up in the background as you go about your business. Reubens Accomplice built a cult following with their 2001 debut, I Blame the Scenery, but they could very well be onto something much bigger this time around.
______________________________________________________
Rock Sound UK
Considering that Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak live in Arizona’s arid landscape, Reubens Accomplice’s music is remarkable fluid, twinkling with freshness, vitality and inviting warmth. This is their second full-length, the follow-up to ‘I Blame The Scenery’, which helped them to cult popularity and support slots with Jimmy Eat World. Indeed, that band’s Jim Adkins has been behind the desk for ‘The Bull, The Balloon, And The Family’, shaping an accomplished album of measured indie rock. At turns reminiscent of elegiac Death Cab For Cutie moments (‘Lost Sun’) and plaintive Bright Eyes melodies (‘Big Apple, Small Heart’), this album is packed with sensitive hooks, from the mood-shifting melancholia of “It Is What It Is’ to the male/female vocal embellishment on ‘Act On (Feeling Alone)’. A mesmerizing collection of songs, fashioned from well-wrung-out emotions and bucket-loads of intelligence.
______________________________________________________
Slendid Magazine Reubens Accomplice come at you with sounds you've heard before, and while none of them are awful enough to make you sick, they're not interesting enough to make you sit up and take notice, either. The Bull, the Balloon, and the Family neither thrills nor infuriates; it's the sort of thing you'd put on if you weren't in the mood to be challenged. Seven tracks in, the male/female vocal harmonies in "It is What It Is" will grab your ear, offering dramatic contrast from the preceding blandness. The song plumbs a depressing range of emotions, but at least it engenders some sort of response. Also take note of "Tonight We Drink", which concludes with a dramatic rock theatre vibe. It's a complete change in mood, and its climbing piano is the album's most notable moment. The likable "America You Look Good" is upbeat radio rock fodder in the vein of Starship's "We Built This City" and Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping". These songs don't sound much alike, but each is an example of product masquerading as music -- and hiding a marketing effort designed to position this very commercial-sounding band as "indie". The whole thing will leave a bad taste in your mouth. 1 Shaun McCormack
______________________________________________________
Big Cheese UK
Reubens Accomplice
As well as signing Reubens Accomplice to his Western Tread imprint, Jimmy Eat World mainman Jim Adkins also produced this, the sophomore effort from the Arizona mob. And it’s easy to see why a man held in such high esteem in indie-rock circles was so eager to take RA under his wings. Combining a deft appreciation of traditional folk, country and Americana with more sly references to contemporary indie and pop, ‘The Bull…’ graciously glides between alt-country and indie-rock without staying in one place for too long. While the odd reference to JEW can be heard (‘Tonight We Drink’ sounds uncannily like JEW’s ‘Ten’) RA don’t cover the same ground as their mentors, instead concentrating on eccentric instrumentation and traditionalist music values to ensnare the listener. Not quite as immediate as debut ‘I Blame The Scenery’, and lacking the directness of songs like ‘We’re Not As Big As We Feel’ or ‘Looking Forward’, epics like ‘Lost Sun’ and ‘Underneath The Golden Grain’ are nevertheless beautifully camptivating lestens. Arguably the most accomplished album of the year so far, in a perfect world Reubens Accomplice would be huge.
______________________________________________________
Big Cheese UK
“YEAH, PEOPLE can write us off as a whiny emo band before they’ve even heard us – but there’s not a lot we can do about that. You just have to have a sense of humour about it.” While Jim Bufano, one half of Arizona’s Reubens Accomplice (Chris Corak completes the full-time line-up), may want to distance himself from the ‘e’ word, there’s no denying RA are steeped in emo cool. With two albums helped along by Jimmy Eat World’s Jim Adkins, and guest appearances by the likes of Pedro The Lion’s Dave Bazan, RA are certainly keeping good company – even if their style of music is not the typical indie-rock/emo fare. “We try to add a little bit of South-Eastern country vibe to the music”, comments Bufano. In fact, instruments like banjos can be found throughout their recent masterpiece ‘The Bull, The Balloon and The Family’, as well as debut ‘I Blame The Scenery’. But do RA have what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Arizona’s other titans, the Gin Blossoms and JEW? “I have no idea,” laughs Bufano. “It all comes down to luck. If we get lucky, who knows?”
‘The Bull, The Balloon And The Family’ is out now on Western Tread
LIKE THIS?
The Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience - Rob Mair
______________________________________________________
Record Collector UK
Reubens Accomplice
When Reubens Accomplice released I Blame the Scenery back in 2001, it announced the arrival of a guitar band with intelligence and soul. Since then, founding members Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak have lost their original rhythm section, but this second album proves their melodic sensibilities remain intact.
Written as a reaction to the Hicksville attitudes of their native Arizona, The Bull, The Balloon, And The Family is a kaleidoscope of different influences. It starts with the fractious chording of Big Apple, Small Heart and ends with the folk-infused slide guitar of What You Want Gets You. Between the two, Bufano and Corak dabble in everything from banjo-tinged pop to primal rock’n’roll. It’s a cock-eyed vision, but one that’s glued together by the pair’s distinctive harmonies – constant throughout – and glassy production from Jim Adkins.
If Reubens Accomplice have a failing, it’s a refusal to truly nail their colours to the mast. They’re a tricky band to categorise, and therefore hard to fall in love with, but their straddling of straddling of genres is convincing. That’ll do – for now.
______________________________________________________
Next Month Music With: Jim Adkins, Charles Levy (Western Tread Records) , Chris Corak (Reubens Accomplice) This is a story for the small-town folk, a story about quality music, being appreciated at a grassroots, local level. It is clear that the music industry is dominated by the big fish; corporate monsters are controlling the airwaves, conducting interest group surveys to determine the next ‘big thing’, seeing music for the dollars, and not the sound. It’s depressing and pathetic to find ClearChannel Inc. dominating the airwaves with their monopolistic sludge and identical play lists. But don’t despair just yet, for there are still some ‘good guys’ out there. Local music scenes still thrive, and sometimes, people take notice. Take for example, Western Tread Records, which is operating off the regional talent of the southwest, specifically Arizona. Founded, and propelled by Jimmy Eat World front man, Jim Adkins and longtime friend/promoter Charles Levy, Western Tread has been working towards a noble cause. As Jim puts it, they are just trying to, “help promote good songs. We are using our own capitol to create and release records because we believe in the songs”. Charlie adds, “We felt like there were a lot of really good bands in the area. Hopefully, we can help them get some exposure.” Frankly, Arizona is better known for its dusty landscape than its musical delights, but Western Tread seems to have no problem finding innovative local bands. Currently, the label consists of only two bands, The Format, and Reubens Accomplice. However, this distinction is more a reflection of Western Tread’s desire to produce high-quality records than anything else. As Jim puts it, “You won't find us releasing something we wouldn't listen to all the time ourselves.” Charlie adds, “We are always looking, but we probably aren't going to release anything else until the fall. I really want to concentrate on promoting Reubens Accomplice record right now.” This is the great thing about Western Tread; they focus on producing exceptional records, even if they have to sacrifice the numbers of bands they can work with. Charlie’s plan for the short term echoes this sentiment, “Keep it small for now, but you never know”. So let’s take a look at one branch of this cozy Western Tread family
Reubens Accomplice
The Record
______________________________________________________
PunkNews.org
Reubens Accomplice - The Bull, The Balloon, and The Family
A few years ago, Reubens Accomplice was poised to break. With their debut record I Blame The Scenery out on Better Looking, an infectious sound reminiscent of The Promise Ring had they grown up in the Southwest, and an opening slot on Jimmy Eat World's first tour in support of Bleed American, Reubens Accomplice's puzzle pieces were all connecting.
Then half the damn band quit, leaving front men Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak to try and rebuild. Whoops. It's no surprise then, that on their new album The Bull, The Balloon, and The Family, the songwriting has taken a bit of an edgier stance. Opening track "Big Apple, Small Heart" is a kindred spirit to some of the rockier stuff off Pedro The Lion's Control [and actually features guest vocals from Pedro himself, David Bazan]. This frustration creeps up in a few other tracks when various f-bombs and the like are dropped, although it never seems too out of place.
But aside from the guitar crunch of the first song, the rest of the album falls back into more familiar territory that the band had already mined on I Blame The Scenery. From the banjo accentuating "Underneath The Golden Grain" to the steel guitar that shows up on about half the album, the vibe is that of a fun, laid-back stroll through the streets of Arizona. Bufano's sweet, almost falsetto tenor voice sounds so, so good behind the crunchy pop of "All Chorus," a five-minute mini-epic that ends more like a Flaming Lips song than anything else. Jimmy Eat World front man Jim Adkins is responsible for the production aspect of the disc, and does a remarkably admirable job in making the album sound lush and full, never letting any of the extra instrumentation get buried in the back. The whole album just has a nice luster to it, but it most certainly is not too polished. Some of that can also be attributed to handyman extraordinaire Chris Fudurich, responsible for the mixing of the disc. He always seems to know just the right knobs to tweak. Adkins also contributes some vocals on the disc, turning a few of the songs [most notably "This Town" and the album's wonderful hidden track] into Jimmy Eat World-minis. It's just enough variation to keep the album fresh. Reubens Accomplice has taken their formula - again, that being the southwestern version of the Promise Ring - and has delved deeper into their collective psyche, ending up with an overall deeper album in both words and music. Absolutely enjoyable.
______________________________________________________
The Rep
“The Bull, The Balloon, and The Family”
The release of the second album by Tempe’s Reubens Accomplice shows why Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World counts himself among the band’s biggest fans. Adkins co-produced this wide-randing disc, the brain-child of talented singer-song-writers Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak, and released it on his Valley-based Western Tread Recordings label. While Reubens Accomplice showed lots of potential on its rougher-edged 2001 debut, “I Blame the Scenery”, Adkins’ guidance and a bigger recording budget pay off on “The Bull”. Bufano and Corak are low-key guys with a twinkle in their eyes, and they’ve quietly created an appealing, hummable collection of songs, Sharing vocal duties, the pair nail virtually every note and syllable, sounding as if they were born to harmonize with each other. Vivid imagery and poppy melodies enliven such tracks as “Act On (Feeling Alone)”, “Lost Sun” and “Big Apple, Small Heart”. Other tunes are built on layers of guitars and vocals and divided into several sections that flow seamlessly. “All Chorus” starts with fragile signing, then travels over drum rolls to radio-ready refrain before building to aa soft-rocking anthem, complete with violins. It all literally screeches to a halt as the pair seem to say, “We almost went too far, didn’t we?” Bufano and Corak seem to wisely share the approach evident in Jimmy Eat World’s work: Complex writing and catchy melodies needn’t be mutually exclusive.
______________________________________________________
Alegro Music
Reubens Accomplice
Born amongst the overheated, culturally devoid suburban sprawl that is North Phoenix, desert dwellers Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak found themselves searching for something more—and so, Reubens Accomplice was born. The much-beloved Arizona combo has made a name for itself touring with the likes of Jimmy Eat World, The Promise Ring, The Weakerthans and No Knife, building a dedicated fan base throughout the U.S.
Last year, Reubens Accomplice entered the studio with Jimmy Eat World main man Jim Adkins to record their second full length, The Bull, The Balloon, And The Family. The disc is an aptly titled affair, as the band enlists several members of its extended "family" to aid in this impressive 12-song effort. Guests include producer Adkins, Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) David Bazan (Pedro The Lion), Jon Rauhouse (Neko Case, Old 97s) and a talented crew of West Coast luminaries (Matt Maher, Ryan Kennedy, John O'Reilly Jr. and Jamal Ruhe). Mixed by Chris Fudurich (Nada Surf, Matthew Sweet), the album combines fluid guitar work and the yearning, almost genetic harmonies of its two singers. From urgent rock and bouncy pop to fantastically infectious anthems and haltingly emotive balladry, Reubens Accomplice fiercely resists genre tags. Their new album is a perfect example of the kind of graceful musical alchemy that will guarantee a wide range of devoted followers—an album that fans of everything from indie rock to alt country will enthusiastically embrace.
______________________________________________________
Vanity Project UK
Its an auspicious opening, 'Big Apple, Small Heart' pounding at the temples, before 'Lost Sun' tweaks a little country sorrow out of the alternative end of infectious AM radio rock. Its not the last of the anthems on this superbly crafted long-player, the chorus of 'Act On (feeling alone)' taking a melody related to Sabbath's 'Changes' and delivering it with Bright Eyes gravitas, and 'Tonight We Drink' following the Death Cab For Cutie route to pathos.
______________________________________________________
Phoenix New Times
Jimmy Eat World doesn’t have to go it alone in the national spotlight now that Reubens Accomplice is riding high on its excellent second album, The Bull, The Balloon, and The Family, Produced by J.E.W.’s Jim Adkins and released on Western Tread – the fledgling label owned by Adkins and Valley promoter Charlie Levy – this album has the satisfying pop hooks, catchy melodies and emo sincerity to make it an indie-rock classic. A major bonus is that these rising stars still play gigs at intimate local venues, so you can see them live for the full effect.
______________________________________________________
AZ Republic
The dynamic musical duo that drives Tempe's Reubens Accomplice has known Jim Adkins and his bandmates in Jimmy Eat World since high school. In fact, Adkins made Reubens Accomplice's new album, The Bull, the Balloon and the Family, the first full-length CD release on Western Tread Recordings, the label he recently launched with local music impresario Charlie Levy. (The CD, produced by Adkins, goes on sale Tuesday in the United States, Europe and Japan.) Adkins, who put his stamp on edgy pop to sell a million albums with Jimmy Eat World, admires how Bufano and Corak have taken their rich harmonies and pop sensibilities in several directions. He predicts that The Bull will sound "special to a lot of people" but adds that promoting it on a small-label budget will be a challenge. "A Reubens Accomplice song could be anything," Adkins says. "It could be really stripped down, like acoustic guitars and vocals with creepy keyboard stuff in the background, or it could be superheavy, dissonant rock, or it could be anywhere in between. They're an exciting band because you're never going to be able to figure them out." The pair's smart writing style, which layers vocals and multiple guitars while breaking songs into minimovements, appealed to Levy, also a concert promoter with Stateside Presents. "It's hard to find bands whose music is complex and deep but at the same time poppy and easy and fun to listen to. In today's music, there are a lot of bands that are easy and fun, but there's no second or third layer to it," says Levy, who champions indie-rock acts at smaller venues. From the lonesome vocal introduction to the melange of cello, banjo and guitars that brings the album closer, What You Want Gets You, to a climax, The Bull is full of surprises. Howe Gelb of Tucson's Giant Sand and David Bazan of Seattle's Pedro the Lion are among the guest artists lending support. The flawless harmonies and rhythmic poetry of Bufano and Corak, who split songwriting and lead-vocal duties, form the foundation of Reubens Accomplice, which has evolved from a band to a twosome, with musicians added for recording and touring. Having met at Thunderbird High School in north Phoenix, the soft-spoken Bufano, 26, and the slightly more animated Corak, 27, have become best friends who would rather make music at home than frequent Mill Avenue bars. "We don't really go out; we don't do much," Corak says with a high-pitched laugh. "We hang around with our group of five or six friends. We're pretty content doing nothing." Adkins met the pair when the newly created Jimmy Eat World performed at a battle of the bands at Central High School in the early '90s. "We talked to Jim that night and thought the band was great. We started going to Jimmy Eat World shows," Bufano recalls. In 1994, they launched Reubens Accomplice, with support and encouragement from Adkins. Using a heavier dose of punk in their early mix, Bufano and Corak moved to the East Valley to share concert bills with Jimmy Eat World and other acts in a growing rock scene. Once Jimmy hit it big, Adkins tried to promote the Valley scene by bringing Reubens and other bands on tour as openers. Adkins is taking the same approach with the Bull album: "We plan on doing everything we physically and monetarily can do to break the record. Some of it's going to come down to non-traditional marketing," such as the Internet and word of mouth. "I feel there are a lot of people who would really like (the album), but the trick is letting them know it exists," Adkins adds. Adkins, Bufano and Corak all hope college radio will play the CD but agree it will be difficult to gain the support of larger modern-rock stations. "Our music doesn't meet some of the basic requirements like a lot of radio songs do," says Corak, described by his partner as "a true singer-songwriter." (Bufano, in contrast, says he aims for musical hooks that can be expanded upon.) "It's not that the music is so different that we don't think people could grasp it. It just doesn't have a chorus that plays four times in a row." But with infectious melodies and an abundance of crisp lines, such as, "I could waste away the day trying to push the envelope, but I'd rather deliver it" (Big Apple, Small Heart), the album is a welcome break from mainstream pop. Having Adkins as an advocate will take Reubens Accomplice only so far. It's time for the pair to persuade concert audiences to buy the CD, their second, in a national tour that's in the early planning stages. (In the meantime, they'll play shows at Tempe's Marquee Theatre on April 2 and Tucson's Plush on March 31.) Adkins jokes, "I've got this side thing going on (Jimmy Eat World) that keeps me busy."
______________________________________________________
MetroTimes
Reubens Accomplice
REASONS TO BE cheerful, Pts. 819 through 821: The Good Ship Emo, before taking on major label and “Nick At Nite” water, jettisoned a handful of refugees, among them Reubens Accomplice; “growing up” means no longer feeling compelled to whine out lyrics cribbed from your big sister’s diary; and brainy, well-crafted pop remains timeless irrespective of year of locale (in this instance, the musical sinkhole known as Phoenix). The band, in fact, cuts ties right from the git-go on opener “Big Apple, Small Heart,” a noisily anthemic ditty in a Pixies-Sugar vein but with sweeter vocals and without overdoing the soft-loud dynamics thing. Thus hooked, the listener is summarily dunked in a creamy vat of pop nougat: “Lost Sun” sports a compelling sing-songy melody, the kinetic “All Chorus” is a gay, er, merry wedding of XTC and Superchunk, and the electro-fizz of “Act On (Feeling Alone)” channels, swear to god, The Buggles – as leavened by chiming, power-poppish guitars. RA, formerly a quartet but, for its second full-length, pared down to the duo of Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak, displays audacity in the arrangements, deploying non-rock instruments like strings, xylophone, banjo and pedal steel and bringing in such guest players as Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb, David Bazan (aka Pedro The Lion), Jon Rauhouse (from Neko Case’s band) and album producer Jim Adkins (Jimmy Eat World). This deliberate stretching-of-wings may prompt a backlash among early supporters, as emo fans are notorious for being unable to let go. And among some reviewers the “damned if you do/don’t” angle has already kicked in’ one curmudgeon blasted the “maturity level of (the band’s) intended audiences” then turned around to complain about “insipid” lyrics and “oversimplified” music. But to ears more finely attuned to the so-called entirety of rock’s rich tapestry, this album, which touches upon everything from ‘60s pop to vintage college rock to classic alterna-nation fare, makes for one of the year’s most improbably addictive listens.
- Fred Mills
______________________________________________________
Get Out With their latest release, Reubens Accomplice have created a stunning slice of pop that raises the bar for pop bands everywhere. Perhaps taking a cue from “Sgt. Pepper” or XTC’s mid-80s masterpiece “Skylarking,” several of the songs blend outros with intros, making the tune transitions seamless. With top-notch production by Jimmy Eat World frontman Jim Adkins, Reubens Accomplice honchos Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak have penned a pastiche of alternately thoughtful ballads such as the beautiful “Lost Sun,” with its acoustic guitar and xylophone intro, and up-tempo rockers like “All Chorus.” With elements of banjo, pedal steel, strings, piano, organ and Bufano and Corak’s incomparable vocal harmonies, each song contains complex layers that add up to this being the finest local pop release in recent memory. A
— by Chris Holly
______________________________________________________
Get Out (Western Tread Revue)
Local indie rockers join up for acoustic set “It's going to be one big set instead of three independent sets,” says Reubens Accomplice singer/guitarist Chris Corak. “It won't be any bands in a particular order, everything's going to be jumbled in — a lot of the people will be onstage at the same time playing each other's songs.” The genesis of the idea came about in November when, due to another group's cancellation, a similar amalgam of musician friends was put together on one day's notice to acoustically open a show for Death Cab for Cutie. Instead of the typical club setting where their bands usually perform, the musicians decided to stage the show at Celebrity Theatre. “The Celebrity feels kind of special. It's not really a run of the mill show, so we thought it would be fun to do it someplace different,” Corak says. Western Tread Recordings is another connecting thread that unites the show's participants. The new independent label was started by Adkins and local promoter Charlie Levy and its first releases were a vinyl version of Jimmy Eat World's self-titled CD and a national re-release of The Format's debut “EP.” Adkins also produced a new disc for Reubens Accomplice that the label will release in March. “We've been friends with Charlie and Jim for a long time,” Corak says. “When they were starting their label, they said, ‘We should do your next record.’ And that sounded good to us. It's always fun to work with friends.” Because they're playing with national acts, Corak and bandmates — singer/guitarist Jeff Bufano, bassist Ryan Kennedy and drummer John O’Reilly, Jr. — understand their ground. “We're very aware that most of the people coming to the show will be there predominately to see Jim and The Format,” Corak says. “But it's a really good opportunity for us.”
______________________________________________________
Kill Your Scene While this is Rebuens Accomplice’s sophomore album, they are still virtually an unheard of band. But, with the appetizing melodies and special guest appearances, this album will for sure be the stepping stone to a brighter future for Phoenix, Arizona natives Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak. Jimmy Eat World’s front man Jim Adkins produced The Bull, The Balloon, and the Family while still managing to sing and play guitar on the album, and releasing it on his label Western Tread which he shares with Charles Levy. To throw out another name, David Bazan from Pedro the Lion also appeared on the disc, plus many other notable musicians. Reubens Accomplice manages to bring out the pop sensation that has become the latest trend in their newest release, while still adding unique flavors of country-rock and pure beauty. The vocals have an innocent touch to them, encompassing the picking guitars that never lose the traditional style after the opening track. Highlights on the disc include “All Chorus,” “Act On (Feeling Alone),” and my personal favorite “Lost Sun”. Combining guitar driven ballads with sing-a-long anthems, this is one release that fans of The Postal Service cannot pass up. My only complaint is that every song sounds way too similar and become almost indistinguishable after awhile; or maybe it’s just the fact that I have the album on repeat and I’m hearing the same songs over and over.
Added: April 16th 2004
______________________________________________________
Eugene Weekly
5-27-04 Looking ahead to June 2nd, the WOW Hall hosts Phoenix,'s Reuben's Accomplice and San Luis Obispo's Watashi Wa. Accomplice's latest CD, The Bull, The Balloon and The Family, is released on Western Tread Recordings, a start-up imprint run by Jimmy Eat World's singer Jim Adkins. It features guest vocals and piano by Giant Sand's Howe Gelb, vocals and guitar by Adkins, steel guitar and banjo by Jon Rauhouse (Neko Case, Old 97's) and vocals by Pedro the Lion's David Bazan. Arizona natives Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak, the core of Reuben's Accomplice, debuted in 2001 with I Blame The Scenery. After splitting with their rhythm section, they enlisted their "extended family" to help them record the follow up. The Bull's urgent energy and catchy melodies are softened by a wistful tone, especially on "Tonight We Drink," which features Gelb's fantastic, sun-baked voice. Each song starts out with an infectious energy and pulls the listener through with pulsating bass lines and distinctive melodies. Adkins' production gives the guitars a razor-sharp rock edge but allows an overall shambling, plaintive mood to shine through. This CD is destined to become one of my favorites.
______________________________________________________ Sandiegopunk.com
The Promise Ring, the Weakerthans, and Reuben's Accomplice Openers for the night were Better Looking Record's very own Reuben's Accomplice. Although I’ve never heard of the band, they were not to be overlooked. Coming out of Phoenix, Arizona they showed the crowd some of their talent. The guitar work was amazing, with the two guitarists playing simultaneously with great harmony. It was an enjoyable set just to stand there relaxing and soaking my senses with some good, quality emo music. Next up: The Weakerthans. These guys were amazing—you will never see a live show quite like it. The Canadian quartet played a low-key, mellow set with little talk; they simply let the music do the talking. The Weakerthans are not for everyone however—this band is as emo as it gets. The soft-spoken singer (John Sampson) would show his appreciation by meekly laughing and uttering the words, “Thank You” after every song to which the calm audience was more than happy to show their appreciation. The Weakerthans have quite an ensemble of instruments. Believe it or not they find a way to incorporate what they call a whirly-wind (an orange plastic tube which the guitarist waves around his head at varying distances from the microphone in order to get different sounds) into their music among other odd instruments including, a lap steel, a glockenspiel, musical saw, and of course, a switchblade. Although they didn’t play most of these instruments the crowd was pleading for it, screaming “We want the switchblade!” and "Bring out the saw." With all the instruments combined creating this unique sound, you feel like you’re going through some sort of “magical” journey. It was like watching a young Bob Dylan perform onstage. The vocals, lyrics, slide-guitar, and the overall feel made you think you were listening to Highway 61 Revisited. Who knows when these guys will be back in town, but if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind band, check out the Weakerthans, preferably in concert. When the Weakerthans finished, it was the time everyone was waiting for—The Promise Ring. The hard working band out of Milwaukee is on a national tour supporting their latest album Wood/Water. This band is definitely emo, but with plenty of pop, having a lot of “bop’s” and “ooo-eee-ooo’s” in their music. With the lead singer wearing a Johnny Cash shirt and the Marshall logo being replaced by the word “love” on the amp, right off you knew this was one of those “sensitive” bands. They opened with “Size of Your Life,” the first track of their newest release. It was a moving start to their copious set. One warning: Do not bad-mouth their hometown. After hearing a remark along the lines of “Milwaukee Sucks!” from the crowd, the lead singer fought back calling San Diegans “stoned surfers who go to Mexico to get drunk.” He continued to say, “San Diego is just LA’s little bitch!” It was a true comic moment. The Promise Ring made up for their insults by providing us a phenomenal set. Make sure to check them out next time they're in town.
|
Reubens Accomplice
Reubens Accomplice
|
Home | Reviews | News | Media | Biography | Downloads | Shop | Tour | Discography | Contact
Reubens Accomplice © 2005