Sometimes it's a writer's job to be the bad guy.
I don't like to do it; but on occasion I am sent an album, am excited to hear it, and am a little let down by what I hear. So to help clear my conscience a little, I thought I would get it off my chest from the start: I wanted to like this album more than I did.
Lujo Records has been very good about releasing quality records on a consistent basis. In the past I have enjoyed some of their releases very much. So a few weeks ago when I pulled New Ruins out of the mail, I was somewhat anxious to hear what they have been up to recently.
The first thing that struck me was the artwork: it is relatively simplistic, but it is also interesting and intriguing. Ironically, the music was almost the opposite. The layers of complex and intricate guitar riffs over the steady, precise drumming were anything but simplistic. And yet, it all sounded familiar - like I had heard the songs before. The sound was sort of a medley of Further Seems Forever mixed with Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral. The problem is there are quite a few other bands trying to pull off similar sounds right now, which takes away from the potential impact that the Kidcrash could make and does not make repeated listening all that interesting or intriguing.
Aside from being somewhat derivative, the album as a whole is not too bad. The production (compliments of Ed Rose) is wonderful and brings a real professional sound to the band's debut. And while the songs begin to blend together after awhile and start sounding the same, in a vacuum, each song is pretty decent.
If you are a fan of artists like Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral then New Ruins is about as good (if not a little better) than most of the bands going for a similar sound. For a debut, this is a decent release, but I think this band has the ability and potential to do better.
2/4
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Brian A. SmithThe Kidcrash is equal parts rock, emo, punk, and math rock. In this case, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, though, as the meshing of styles largely succeeds, incorporating a rock/punk sound without burying or covering up the vocals. Seemingly a concept album for a movie shot out of sequence (lyrics are portrayed in a different chronology than the tracklisting), New Ruins is borne…Similar sounding releases
2004Ace TroubleshooterIt's Never Enough
2004AnadivineZoo
2000ElliottFalse Cathedrals
2004The Beautiful MistakeThis Is Who You Are
2003Further Seems ForeverHow to Start a Fire
2003A Small VictoryThe Pieces We Keep
