METAL BUBBLE TRIO - Cucumber
2025 • SELF-RELEASED • INDIE/JAZZ/BOSSANOVA
79/100
Andrew Dost is Michigan through and through. He got his start in the baroque folk band Anathallo but left just as they were picking up steam, moving from Mt. Pleasant to Chicago. Later, as he joined fun., he left the comforts of pure Michigan for New Jersey. After years of Grammy wins, world tours, and mainstream success, Dost is back right where he feels most at home: Michigan.
These days, he’s taking his time, settling in, and even teaching music at a local community arts center. His latest focus? A bigger, locally rooted collective (not quite a trio) called Metal Bubble Trio. When he joined Indie Basketball back in May 2022, he mentioned working on what he called a bossanova project. Now, with the release of Cucumber, that idea has fully come to life.
The album kicks off with “Sour Cherry, Dandelion,” a dreamy opener with an enchanting guitar line. It’s not quite bossanova, but paired with Dost’s soothing vocals, it brings to mind early 2010s indie pop gems like STRFKR and Coconut Records. Then, about halfway through, things shift—jazzy light drums come in, the woodwinds start swirling, and the vocals get some extra effects. It’s a full transformation, setting the stage for the next 36 minutes.
As Cucumber unfolds, the influences start jumping out. It lays down a foundation of mellow, downtempo sounds before “99” flips the vibe with distorted, autotuned hyperpop energy. “Love, Please Don’t Be Long” brings things back to a breezy, beachy feel—its single artwork featuring a crisp basketball only adds to the connection. Then there’s “Holding Onto,” which features Chicago rapper and producer theMIND—known for his work with Chance the Rapper and Noname—bringing a hip-hop flair into the mix.
The final and title track, “Cucumber,” arrives with one of the album’s most alluring guitar leads, creating a sense of ease and familiarity. It’s warm, unhurried, and reflective mood calms the hell out of you. The song captures the feeling of being drawn back to something familiar, specifically Michigan, and its lyrics quietly tracing the connection between place, memory, and home.
While Cucumber thrives on variety, it sometimes feels like it’s pulling in different directions. The constant shifts in style keep things interesting, but they also make it harder to pin down exactly what kind of album it wants to be.
One thing’s for sure: Cucumber refuses to be boxed in (or boxed out). It’s not a corner-three specialist or a defensive stopper. While many songs feel like they belong together, the album never settles into a clear identity. But at its core, Metal Bubble Trio is about collaboration—and in that way, Cucumber feels right at home.
PLAYER COMP: TAYSHAUN PRINCE
