Sunset Rubdown — Shut Up I Am Dreaming

Spencer Krug is a man of many projects, but it's a fair bet Sunset Rubdown is his favourite. While he remains appropriately leashed in Wolf Parade and isn't the focal point of Swan Lake, Krug lets loose on Shut Up I Am Dreaming, Sunset Rubdown's sophomore and full-band debut. Throughout, it feels like you're getting a looking glass view directly into his weird and wonderful brain. The tracks seethe with paranoia and intensity. Krug's peculiar organ sounds mix perfectly with the acoustic guitar atmospherics. And though it's unquestionably one of the year's best releases, you get the sense that the Montrealer is just scratching the surface of his capabilities. It's the promise of what's to come from Krug in the future that makes Shut Up I Am Dreaming truly exciting.