Customer Reviews

Dream Big

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I've been listening to Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband since around the time their previous CD "Simplify" came out in 2000. I remember thinking that, while I loved their music, it would be difficult for them to appeal to a wide enough audience to ever get a big record deal because their music is not exactly traditional bluegrass or country. Luckily for us, we've had several other non-traditional country performers becoming successful such as Keith Urban and the recent Nickel Creek. Country music is finally ready for Ryan Shupe. I can't emphasize how pleased I am to see that this band is finally getting much-deserved wider exposure with this national CD release and their videos on CMT and the like.

I really enjoy all of the songs on this CD and think that it is easily worth the price. Of course, I may be biased since I'm already used to their style. Their songs just have so much variety. One song will have a harder/heavier feel to it. Another will have a reggae-tinge. Yet another will have a latin-influence. The amazing thing is that it's all still completely country at heart. All of the songs are completely different from each other (a rare feat these days) but completely enjoyable in its own style. While a few of the songs are re-releases from their older limited-release CDs (e.g., "Banjo Boy," "Dream Big," "Simplify," and "New Emotion") even these songs have been updated a bit (I still miss the opening banjo riff as well as the yell during the solo at the end of the original "Banjo Boy"). There are several songs from their other CDs that I wish could have made it onto this CD, but I guess their absence will provide incentive for you to go buy those CDs instead.

Buy this CD and support this band. You won't regret it!


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As a post script of sorts, I would like to write a little bit about the "copy protection" on this CD, just so that you're not surprised when you buy the CD. In order to listen to the CD from a computer, you have to let it install its own Macromedia Flash player. They say you are only allowed to install to a single computer, but I don't know if that's just a threat (as I'm not sure how that would be enforced). If you want to burn a copy of the CD, you have to use software that the CD will install itself. If you just try to straight up copy the CD, your burned copy will sound messy (like the CD is fast forwarding/skipping) basically rendering your burned disc into a coaster. The software allows you to make up to three copies of the CD. Also, I haven't tried it yet, but the digital version of the songs are apparently in wma format, so if your mp3 player doesn't support wma, too bad.

I hope this doesn't discourage you from purchasing the CD though, because the music is more than worth the cost.

I saw Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband twice when they opened for Trisha Yearwood (the finest country female vocalist) and liked them so much that I decided to get their CD. The CD is upbeat and they are excellent musicians! (Their live show is a refreshing act).

A few words about copy-protection. I will NEVER buy a copy-protected CD again. I use public transportation to go to work and am not in my car nearly as much as I once was (which is where I listened to the majority of my music) and I own an iPod. I cannot download it onto my iPod and I have been unable to burn the 3 copies I am allowed (the burning program will not install on my computer), so basically this CD is useless to me! Just because I own an iPod I'm not allowed access to the music I paid for?! I had to spend another 10 bucks to purchase this digitally so that I could put it on my iPod and burn a hard copy. All I ask is that I have access to the product I PAID GOOD MONEY for and be able to listen to a darn CD without having to jump through hoops! Copy-protection is a scam. I would have given this CD 5 stars, except for the copy-protection. It's HUGELY annoying.

I've been listening to Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband on the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour podcast and I was ready to buy all their CD's. That is until I saw the review here that mentioned the copy protection. I'm not planning on stealing their music, I just want to rip it to the device of my choosing and it appears that I can't do that. After the problems with Sony and their rootkit, I'm not letting anyone install software to my computer just to listen to music. Sorry guys, you sound great and I'd like to support you through the purchase of your music, but I can't do it given your label's approach to copy protection.

The music sounds great on the radio, and after laying down my hard earned money for this drink coaster, I was looking forward to put it on my Creative Zen. I opened up the "CD", put it in my computer, and, WTF, it wanted me to download a special program just to play it! I can't put the music on my MP3 player, and I can't make WMA files for my collection.

Well, I did some searching on the web and it seems there is a program called Limewire you can use to find the songs on the internet. So I guess I have to go do that now to get the music I already payed for. This is the last Ryan Shupe CD or EMI label CD I will buy. I guess I will start doing what everyone else is doing and get my music over the internet.

BTW, it won't play in my car CD player either.

There is honestly no other band on planet earth that can compare this band to. Stylistically, musically, and on a sheer entertainment level, Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband are wholly their own.

Each song has a fantastic lead guitarline that fits the the other instruments like a glove. Violins, banjos and mandolins are smothered everywhere on this record, and the band honestly can outplay a huge bulk of most country, rock or pop artists that get lots of radio rotation; the focus is not a perfect hummable hook (though this record has got that in spades); the quality of the music and the musicianship as a whole flowing entity is what fuels the greatness of this group.

Many of these songs have excellent, thick and jumpy bass beats, melding a blend of styles together to create a dazzling listen. Honesty, if you listen to the the banjo solo in "Simplify," you'd swear you were listening to Pearl Jam's Mike McCready unplugged! Amazing stuff!

Ryan's vocals are completely different from what you'd typically hear from ANYONE; it sort of like he's speaking or shouting the lyrics in a melodic way... but it's very smooth and it truly sounds great on this record! His lyrics are often playful and 'feel-good,' but they can truly be very comforting at times (see "Rain Falls Down").

My favorite song would have to be "Even Superman," simply because it's sort of soft and quiet, but it's so exciting and bouncy at the same time. Again the musicianship is remarkable, and I honestly think anyone could appreciate this type of music if they'd give it a shot!

"Banjo Boy" has long been a RS&RB fan favorite, and it seems very fitting to be placed on the tip of their major label debut. Songs like "Would You Love Me" and "Dream Big" are lush and beautful, and Ryan's voice seems to gleam brightly with even more intensity then the his alarmingly bald head!

Before I depart, I must tell that if Ryan and the Boys are passing through your town, YOU WOULD BE THE BIGGEST IDIOT IN THE WORLD TO MISS THEM!!!! They are an INSANE live band! The songs are all at least 3 minutes longer due to extensive and INTENSE jams, recalling the stage presence of bands like Phish or Dave Matthew's Band.

Some songs go on for 9 or 10 minutes with NEVER A DULL MOMENT... at the last show of theirs I went to, they were about 5 minutes into one of their older songs and then they broke out into the main riff of AC/DC's classic "Back in Black!!" I tell ya, you haven't lived until you've heard that song on vilons and freaking MANDOLINS!! Insane as it sounds, it rocked just as hard and purely as AC/DC could've ever done it.

These guys are just so INTO their music, and what makes that so cool is that it doesn't seem like any popular groups right now are really FEELING it, you know? Instead of trying to build the next generic pop/country/rock hit, these guys go to town on their intruments and have FUN. For that alone, "Dream Big" is worth your money.

5 STARS!!!!!

The music is pretty good. I'd give it 3.5 stars... But, like many others, here I am displeased with the content use restrictions. I have a great CD player on which to play this CD. However, I would also like to have the freedom to listen to the tunes when I am working on my computer at home, at work, out on a jog, etc. I was hoping to use one of the songs in slide show I am compiling for a famliy function. All of these are legal, personal uses. But, no way! This is the most NON-user friendly album I have ever owned (I wish I could take it back). I will never buy another Ryan Shupe/Rubberband product. I understand wanting to protect your work, but the heavy restrictions on the way one may use the CD are nonsense.

My wife bought this music album (it's not technically a CD, as they do not conform to Philips' standards) so she could play it on her MP3 player, which is not an iPod and can play WMA files. She did not realize it's content protected until it was too late - you can't return it once it's open, even if the incredibly mindless and highly restrictive content protection software is defective or poorly designed. In this case, the content protection software is just that - very poorly designed and doesn't allow for help if it has errors. I cannot do anything I am legally entitled to do except play the disc in one of my computers. I cannot get the WMA export to work nor the backup disc burning due to a license installation error with a fancy hex number attached. No help is provided so we're out of luck.

Do not under any circumstances buy content protected discs if you want the music industry to stop punishing those daring enough to actually PAY for a CD intending to use it in ways that are currently defined as legal and fair use.

Aside from the hugely inconvenient DRM on this disc, the music is awesome and definitely worth owning. I'd advise seeking it from other sources, perhaps a legal download site.

Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband certainly "Dream Big." They believe in their music, and perseverance and hard work will allow them to fulfill their dream that is as big as the ocean blue. Originally from Utah, Ryan Shupe sings with an engaging and distinctive appeal. Acoustic country is taking Nashville by storm, and Ryan's groove fits the scene. With more of a country grass flavor, these guys are on the bandwagon. "Simplify" could be the start of a new genre, funkgrass or rapgrass. You're sure to grin like a Cheshire cat when "Banjo Boy" spins. It's a frolicking, fun-filled, funky song about a banjo-player who wants to be a star. A real contradiction there! Besides lead vocals, Ryan's instruments of choice are guitar, fiddle and mandolin. The other elastic musicians are Colin Botts (bass, vocals), Roger Archibald (guitar, vocals), Craig Miner (banjo, bouzouki, guitar, mandolin, vocals), and Bart Olson (drums). This band is very hip. They may be best categorized as Americana, or just as rugged musicians with considerable individualism. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

to me this CD shows that the blend of bluegrass, country, and pop/rock can all work on one album. This album is not for someone with hardcore country, or hardcore bluegrass expectations, but for those of us always looking for something a little different that takes music in that direction, this album does it incredibly well. I think Bela Fleck & the Flecktones and NickelCreek both tried to do what this album actually accomplishes... making this musical blend work. Great job guys!

Some of the most unique music in the Universe... I have been listening to Ryan Shupe since well before he was picked up by Capitol Records, and am glad this has finally happened. RS and the RB is sort of a cross between country and hiphop (sometimes), combined with very thoughtful lyrics that make you not only enjoy yourself but see the world differently. Sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, always something new.

If you like Banjo Boy on Dream Big, you may also like Freeway and Go To Hell (funny, not vulgar) on CD Simplify. I also recommend Love You 'Til I Die on If I Were A Bird as a good love song.

Ryan used to play and sing with Peter Breinholt (Heartland), who I also recommend.

What else can I say? I recommend this CD!