Customer Reviews

Dusk

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Before I heard this album I saw Reuben perform in New York, playing piano and singing writerly pop songs with an angelic white-soul voice. Charmed, I bought the album expecting the same, but was shocked and oddly thrilled to instead hear what sounded like the lovechild of Annie Lennox and Stevie Wonder staying up late nights with home recording equipment and lots of strong mint tea. It was the same gorgeous voice I'd heard live, but here were melodically dense pop soul songs built from crackling samples and drum loops, live instrument parts, soaring vocal harmonies and above all, a studied and singular musicality that made it all fit. Strange, familiar, beautifully imperfect, and refreshing. Like an old Motown 45rpm rolling down the sidewalks of the East Village. This album feels just lovely.

"DUSK": Rich in Emotion and Musical Talent

While listening to "DUSK", the long-awaited debut CD from Reuben Butchart, I envisioned that I was listening to Robbie Williams' younger brother. Reuben, who only goes by his first name, has heartfelt soul to spare, but he also has a quality in his voice and deliverance that evokes a hungry sense of yearning and a wide-eyed youthfulness and innocence, as if he's still looking at the world with fascination. It's a quality that many artists strive for but simply can't create. As Reuben sings on "DUSK", his voice is accented by smooth grooves, jazz-flavored rhythms, and electronic zings. He's aided by expert musicians as well; the violin segment at the end of "Justified", for example, makes for a particularly striking musical touch. The lyrics, all written by Reuben, seem to document his voyage through the mountains and the valleys of romance. Despite the vulnerability in his voice at the beginning of the CD, Reuben's not afraid to confront a possibly neglectful lover in "Do Something". A looser sound is explored in "Care of Myself". "Me and Rico", the best song on the CD, is destined to become a classic anthem for a new generation of love songs; never before has an ode to a lover sounded more refreshingly fun or real. "Service Man", in which Reuben declares, "Treat me like I am your service man... my duty is to service you" may be the most dignified nod to masochism that you're likely to hear.

Ever so subtly, the lyrics and music on "DUSK" become more alive as Reuben's personal journey towards romantic fufillment reaches its destination. The same way Reuben's voice can emote vulnerability yet retain its pride, it can emote the joys of love without becoming saccharine or giddy. By the time we reach the end of "DUSK", Reuben definitely seems to have found happiness. And now, the roles are reversed. At the beginning of the CD, it was Reuben who was yearning and searching; but when "DUSK" comes to an end, it's now the listener who's yearning... for Reuben's next CD.

Dusk is a great CD that should be in any collection. The good blend of various genres of music make this album appealing.