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Reuben – Very Fast, Very Dangerous
It seems fairly evident that Reuben enjoys being the jokers of the pack. If you were going into listening to this album using the singles alone as evidence, you’d be forgiven for thinking Reuben have made a “Comedy Rock” album or whatever the appropriate term is. This is incorrect. What Reuben has actually produced on their second full length album is, one of the finest rock albums of, not only 2005, but for quite some time.
However, simply defining what “rock” is has become one major task now a-days. Write now the closest example would probably be The Darkness, but even they proved rock is long dead just by playing their songs in Dropped D tuning [/musician jargon]. What rock really is about is a heavier, guitar based adaptation of blues music. It’s a more aggressive version of blues, but the same passion and fairly simple lyrical content remains. They feature lyrics that simply tell it “like it is”. One fairly obvious example of this from the album would be ‘Good Night’ a fairly simple song about trouble getting to sleep, because your mind is racing, so in other words, not your average At the Drive-in or even Smiths song. Or take ‘Best Enemies’ which may sound like a cheesy title, but is a song to crack open and appreciate as one of Reuben’s best to date.
But that doesn’t take away the wit of this band, just because of their weird choice of singles. One of Britain’s finest exports into song writing is the ability to put subtle humour intro its lyrics. Considering only four years ago, when Reuben first emerged, they entered just as Nu-Metal started to die out, a genre fairly dominant in their early sound, but still managed to find that humour. Now, they have not only evolved and survived by being influenced by bands like Nirvana and Foo Fighters, but they’ve kept that early sound and make it even better. The first single, ‘Blamethrower’ is the perfect example of this. It is reminiscent of chugging metal riffs, a grunge sensibility, and some of the funniest lyrics you’ll hear all year. As a result, it and it’s shout a-long chorus “No I don’t, feel so ***ing good!” has become one of, if not the best anthem of the year.
What is most exciting about this album though, is the fact that Reuben are starting to experiment. Just like The Who or Led Zeppelin 35 odd years ago, they’re starting to turn fairly simple rock and pop songs into big, epic tracks. ‘Every Time a Teenager Listens to Drum & Bass a Rockstar Dies’ starts off as a mock drum n bass instrumental, into a nu-metal verse, which becomes a catchy chorus, and then suddenly a full blown orchestral ballad! All in just over 5 minutes! While ‘Alpha Signal three’ goes from a Converge hardcore scream-a-thon sound into a tribute to Green Day. Most notably though is 7 and a half minute epic, ‘Return of the Jedi’. This song actually replicates the “concept” idea that The Who loved, the experimentalism of Led Zeppelin, and even the recent Jazz influence displayed by the likes of Dillinger Escape Plan, as it tell the story of a half-fictional musician and songwriter who gets his dreams crushed and ends up having to get a “regular job”.
This isn’t a perfect album by any means though. Recent single ‘Keep it to yourself’ is one of the weakest outings the band has ever produced. Not only does it cheaply knock off the chorus of “Aneurysm” by Nirvana (one of Nirvana’s strongest yet outspoken songs) but its refrain of “Shut up, just shut up,” make’s you want to just say, “No, you shut up.” But this really can only be a sign that Reuben are only human and still improving. They’ve got a long way to go yet, but this is a HUGE step up from ‘Racecar is Racecar Backwards’ and they are starting to show some amazing potential. When you consider the fact that this album sounds like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Green Day, The Who and Led Zeppelin, it is pretty evident that this band have found a way to make themselves productive, and here’s hoping this can only continue.
Adam Turner-Heffer
| trending alt & indie albums |
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Good review, I liked this album.
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not actually heard the album but i thought blamethrower was brilliant
do u think i should pick it up?
and also who would you compare them to?This Message Edited On 09.19.05
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This album sits rights Innbetween:
Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Led Zeppelin and even The Who.
It's probably the closest thing to A great Rock album in Britain.
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i bought this a while ago and didnt really listen to it, but i saw this review and it made me wanna go have a listen and.....
.... ITS FECKIN BRILLIANT!!!
lights out is probably the best track, imo.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
This is the best reuben album as a whole although the other two are still brilliant. I saw these guys supporting Fightstar (Reuben were the only reason I went) and they blew them off stage.
Going to see them in april, I recommend anyone else does the same!!
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Album wins in so many ways. R.I.P Reuben.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Absolutely adore this record and nice review, now to dig it out again! 'Return of the Jedi' has to be the best track for me.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Kick In the Mouth is a bit of a weak opener in my opinion, but after that this is ace. I think I prefer it to Racecar.
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Nah, Kick In the Mouth is pretty good, especially the solo. It's just maybe too repetitive. Last song is pretty unnecessary.
My favorites are Every Time A Teenager Listens To Drum And Bass A Rockstar Dies, Lights Out, and Return Of The Jedi.
Reuben was all the way solid band, it's a shame that they disbanded.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
not as good as their debut but still enjoyable
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Reuben....
Is my name
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only a few songs in but this is sick so far
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
This band is awesome. Gonna have to dive into their third album soon.
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Great band, third one is the best sir
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Third one's got some of their best cuts on but also a couple of their worst. Three Hail Marys tho good fuckin lawd that song has some fangs
Honestly though they gave us three near-perfect albums and then buggered off and I've more or less accepted they're not coming back. M-more or less.
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Disagree on worst songs being on it personally. The diversity strength and odd cohesiveness of that album makes it borderline classic for me.
According to the interview I read in 2017, the guys had to make a living and weren't so they just had their day jobs and had to call it quits.
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Yeah I think I've read that one before, or heard about it at least. It's a shame, but they were always very open about how much of a struggle it actually is to be a touring band trying to make it in the 21st century.
Heh, I just don't like 'Good Luck' which I think skews my thoughts somewhat. 'Cities on Fire', 'Suffocation of the Soul' and the final three tracks are absolutely fuckin killer cuts
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I can understand that. Good Luck was definitely a unique attempt by them, but I appreciate it for that fact alone. A direct acoustic fuck you works as a good interlude type track for the album, or at least that's how i hear it.
Need to form my thoughts more on this one and the debut though. Good bump, Ecnalzen.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I was surprised these guys didn't have more attention on here. Man, I might be 4.5ing all three albums if the next one is of similar quality.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
As for the band having issues making a living, Return of the Jedi shows that in the lyrics, esp towards the end, if he is writing about it from his/the band's perspective.
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