Reubens Accomplice – The Bull, The Balloon And The Famil

On vinyl for the first time! Limited edition colored vinyl. Includes download code. “If the desperate, chord-crunching “Big Apple, Small Heart” launches The Bull, the Balloon, and the Family with a bit of Guided By Voices-derived abandon, it’s an exercise in deception. The music of the Phoenix-reared principals in Reubens Accomplice is far closer to the dusty achievements of the Meat Puppets and Giant Sand on glistening, Americana balladry like “Lost Sun” (replete with xylophone) and the pensive “Leave the City.” But the buoyant, autobiographical “Underneath the Golden Grain” and the shit-talking, locals-only feel of “This Town” are where you’ll find Chris Corak and Jeff Bufano really hitting their stride. Even when they drift off into some sluggish abyss early into “It Is What It Is,” they soon sucker punch you with an undeniable, sun-baked chorus. The Bull was produced with emo-peddler Jim Adkins (who co-owns the band’s label, Western Tread) and while Corak and Bufano are light years away from Jimmy Eat World, this outing proves they are just as reliable. Perhaps they should consider altering their handle to Reubens Accomplished.” – ROLLING STONE