Spencer Krug is nothing if not dramatic. From his histrionic vocals to his epic compositions, there isn’t much he does that’s understated. This holds true on his fourth album with Sunset Rubdown, Dragonslayer. It’s a sprawling art rock opus, with few tracks under five minutes; yet almost all are highlights. “Idiot Heart” is a baroque yet crunchy rocker, while “Paper Lace” is even reasonably straightforward pop. Krug may not be toning down anytime soon, but he certainly is getting better with age.
--Jeff Terich [August 5, 2009]
