Song Recommendation: "Candles" by Sunset Rubdown (2024)

Spencer Krug has long been one of indie rock’s most enigmatic and prickly lyricists and songwriters. So much of his recent solo work (many of which he releases in a near-constant stream on his Patreon) is more like inward-spiraling poems, recursively looping around minimal instrumentation and allowing the listener to focus on the words. And the words are beautiful. Krug has a way with both storytelling in general and finding specific magical turns of phrase that stick with you. What’s also interesting is that Krug has a deep catalog of work that also proves he’s an immaculate pop songwriter as well—at least, when he puts his mind to it. That said, it does seem that without other collaborators to rein him in (like his work in Wolf Parade, or, and we are getting to it, Sunset Rubdown), he usually works in his more formless poetic mode. Now, don’t get me wrong, that work is extremely listenable and valuable, but so much of it is also challenging in a way his more straightforward rockers aren’t, and I can find myself missing when he can demonstrate those sides of his talents. Which is why I was really excited to hear about the reuniting and new album from his once stalled-out side band, Sunset Rubdown. Now, 14 years after Dragonslayer (which, for the record, is one of my favorite albums of the ’00s), they’ve returned with Always Happy to Explode, which, despite its bombastic title, is very much a “once-raucous band returns with more introspective and world-weary songs” kind of record. Not to say it’s not a worthy follow-up, but its vibe is much more low-key than its decade-old predecessors. That said, there are some moments of pop clarity and exuberance that floor me like it was 15 years ago. Most notably, I’ll single out “Candles,” the third track, as the song that most catches my attention. It roils with upbeat synths and relatable but still sometimes magical lyrics (“Call me if you need me, I’m still here, I’m in the last place that you found me,” contrasts delightfully with “lighting candles in a room already filled with light”). I don’t know what this record (and just-started tour, which, unfortunately, doesn’t pass through where I live) signals for the future of this particular iteration of the band, but, for now, I’m very thankful for what we've been given here.