Dream Big [CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD] [ENHANCED]

Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband, Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 6, 2005)
• Original Release Date: September 6, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Content/Copy-Protected CD, Enhanced
• Label: Liberty
• ASIN: B000AHJ82Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,810 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
OK, let's get this out front: Their name is obnoxious, and sets up low expectations of the KC and the Sunshine Band kind. But this Utah-based group, with a handful of independent albums to their credit, is comprised of real musicians who craft a hard-to-categorize, acoustic-centered approach. At their best, they circle a progressive bluegrass, Béla Fleck & the Flecktones/Nickel Creek sound, with outstanding banjo work from Craig Miner. But they dilute that ambience with tepid reggaeish numbers, bubblegum pop, and jive lyrics that aim for cool. "Dream Big," a motivational ballad that should inspire a sea of lighter flames, is the hit here, but the more interesting tunes--the tongue-in-cheek "Banjo Boy" and the rap/jazz "Simplify," which Weird Al Yankovic would love--showcase a healthy sense of humor. Mixed bag, for sure. Think of this as a musical smiley face with occasional moments of studied calm. -–Alanna Nash

Product Description
Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand are a breathtaking blast of manic musical virtuosity. Sheer joy seems to pour out of the speakers when they start playing, and it may be that they sound that way because the five members of the band--Roger Archibald (guitar, vocals), Colin Botts (bass, vocals), Craig Miner (banjo, bouzouki, guitar, mandolin and vocals), Bart Olson (drums), and Ryan Shupe (lead vocals, fiddle, mandolin and guitar) are not only extremely talented, they're having a great time. This same spirit also infuses Dream Big; it's an album that aptly captures their passion to perform.

"There's something magical about a band," says Shupe. "I really like how it morphs and grows and ebbs and flows like one entity." Drummer Olson notes, "A lot of times it's kind of an adventure to figure out how each song will end up, because nobody really knows when we start out." Guitarist Archibald adds, "We're like a really tight family, and that's important to have in a band because it's just much more fun that way. We love to play music, and we love who we're playing music with."

The five musicians share a ravenous appetite for all types of music, with the band's influences including such diverse performers as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, the Police, AC/DC and Bela Fleck. Most have dabbled with a number of different instruments, all have been playing since they were kids. Shupe, a generous frontman, writes the songs, but doesn't demand ownership of them. "I always have something in my mind that I think a song's going to be, but when I bring it to the band I try not to hold on to that too much. I love to get everybody's input because I think that the guys in the band are so amazing. The song might take a different turn than I'd originally thought, but it always turns out the way it's supposed to be."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally getting the recognition they deserve..., September 6, 2005

By	K. Smith (Nebraska) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Copy-Protected Annoying, October 30, 2005

By	AllyAnt "allyant" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great music, can't live with the copy protection, September 1, 2006

By	Terry Gold (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.