THERE was a time when The Rubens appeared ready to become one of Australia's leading guitar bands with singles like My Gun.
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Across their subsequent albums Hoops (2016) and Lo La Ru (2018) they've taken significant steps towards pop and R'n'B. Album No.4 0202 is the completion of that transformation, and The Rubens sounds all the better for it.
Keyboardist Elliott Margin embraces a dominant role on 0202, which takes its cues from Tame Impala's synth-laded The Slow Rush and adds a dose of 2000s R'n'B and '70s soft-rock.
Frontman Sam Margin's autotuned-esque vocal can irritate on the mediocre Thank You, but elsewhere his melodies shine.
The joyful Live In Life has usurped Hoops as The Rubens best-loved single and Muddy Evil Plan, Holiday and Explosions are playful moments which toe the fine line between being experimental and maintaining an infectious melody.
0202 might be named after the most horrible year in recent memory for most people, but The Rubens have delivered an upbeat slice of pop sweetness.
4 stars
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
