Nabuma Rubberband
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CRITIC REVIEWS
90
The writing, playing, and production is predominantly the work of the group on their own, with two collaborators playing small but significant roles ... Subtract those contributions and this would still be the group's most accomplished work.
80
Though the overarching restraint and precision might render Nabuma Rubberband too glassy and impersonal for some tastes, numerous others will find themselves transfixed.
80
‘Nabuma Rubberband’ is a consummate masterpiece: dramatic, relentlessly innovative, brilliantly understated, impeccably produced and often head-spinningly sexy.
80
The band have never been ones to sing about birthday cakes and ecstasy, but a much more sombre, sinister mood drifts throughout this record.
70
Little Dragon effortlessly churn out magnificent anthems of sorrow here, ones that listeners can still dance to.
70
‘Nabuma Rubberband’ isn’t quite the home run it should have been, chiefly because the songwriting can’t always keep pace with the band’s vaulting ambition.
68
It’s great the band was able to find a throughline between the comfortable and the experimental this time around, but on Nabuma Rubberband they let go of a little too much of themselves in the process.
60
Sometimes though, it all meanders a bit too much, sacrificing melody for mood with the result that the album doesn’t hang together as well as it should.
58
Little Dragon have matured by enhancing the meaning behind sounds and voice; on Nabuma, the intense electronic experimentation is replaced by a stronger focus on Nagano, equipped with a heightened emotionality and moroseness.
50
Most of the time, Nabuma Rubberband sounds well put-together but empty, all style and no content, the kind of album that won’t offend you while you’re listening to it but which you’d be hard-pressed to remember any of once closer “Let Go” comes to an end.
I'm finding agreement in what the review from Pretty Much Amazing states, but in a different context. There is substantial style demonstrated throughout this release, but, for this writer, it is memorable. Not classic, but, enough so that it sits in the continual rotation slot of my memory begging to spun again and again. And spun again it shall remain.
This album is completely consuming. Its like being at an orchestra. Some tracks admittedly are hard to listen to, "Only One", each song has radio value and easily reflects some sort of future genre. Little Dragon is something all her own- and proves to be a visionary musician on the level of Prince.
Starts off very strong with two songs I really loved, but doesn't hit that level again. It's a good album.
Aside from Klapp Klapp, Its a slow burning fire. But it is well worth a listen across the entire length of the album.
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Year End Lists
| #5 | / | Rough Trade |
| #5 | / | Time Out London |
| #11 | / | Pigeons & Planes |
| #25 | / | Amazon |
| #47 | / | Gigwise |
| #65 | / | Crack Magazine |
| / | AllMusic |
Decade Lists
| / | Albumism (2010s) |
MISC LISTS
| #9 | / | Complex (First Half) |
| #9 | / | Pigeons & Planes (First Half) |
Track List
- Mirror
- Klapp Klapp
- Pretty Girls
- Underbart
- Cat Rider
- Paris
- Lurad
- Nabuma Rubberband
- Only One
- Killing Me
- Pink Cloud
- Let Go
In Library (8)
stereogum.com
New Track: Little Dragon – “Tongue Kissing” backseatmafia.com
New Track: Little Dragon – Sway Daisy 
Added on: February 13, 2014
