There's something about listening to Jason Rubero that gives you a real picture of what indie music should be about. Based in Moscow, Idaho, Rubero is one of the few indie artists I've had the chance to review who actually keeps improving his sound, album for album, and the attention he's put into his third independent album, "Plug In To The Real" is a testament to how good his meticulously crafted songs sound.
Take the harmonies of the Beatles and mix in the ear catching grace of a Coldplay melody, and you have a good picture of what a Jason Rubero track sounds like. Then consider that he plays well over a dozen instruments throughout the album's length, and through layering and experimenting, Rubero creates songs that actually rival the bands he cites as influences.
Songs like "The Radio Girl" would be perfect on just about any radio station these days, though it sounds like very little that is being played. The chorus, built with layer upon layer of vocal tracks, sticks in your head and will make you think he's channeling the vocals of John Lennon with every line. And as the album progresses, Rubero builds on these influences . . . crafting his melodies with the obsessive grace of Rufus Wainwright, while holding his own well enough to make every song sound distinctively his.
The album has many standout tracks, though I personally feel it all sounds the best when the songs are all heard in succession. "She's A Flier" is yet another ear catching radio friendly number, while "Wonder Bread" develops its melodic structure from the use of middle eastern instruments, making it one of the album's best individual tracks. Then toward the end of the album, "Sparkle While You Fade" features a shuffling beat and a melody that gently pulls you along as Rubero sings, offhand, "Loud, the world's so loud but I'm not listening ... no, I don't hear a thing." Much like the rest of the album, it sounds like the songs Rubero creates simply develop naturally. Feeling no need to follow trends of the day, Rubero is a confident studio performer, letting his well crafted songs speak for themselves.
Trust me, folks, I've been reviewing the best -- and the worst -- music on the Internet for well over three years now, and there was no more enjoyable accident than when I stumbled upon the early work of this fine artist. From the bare elements of 1999's "Mercywheel", which is unfortunately out of print now, to the stunningly evocative melody's of his 2001 release "Skyhouse and Scarlet", Rubero has continued to hone his studio skills while creating indie pop that most signed artists would kill to record. With his third indie release, the songs are all honed to perfection, and one can't help but wonder why no one's snapping their fingers and handing him a record contract.
Though between you and me, it's almost nicer to know we've got ourselves a well kept secret. When you hear "Plug In To The Real", you're getting a glimpse of the best indie artist that no one's listening to, hands down.
Rating: ****
For more info or to order the album, visit Jason's Web site: http://jason_rubero.tripod.com/real/
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