The 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 of urban desperation, possibly of a post-apocalyptic emotional nature. "Until the Light Kills the Film" speaks of drinking to produce words that will cause great damage, and the bruised soul that results.
"New Ruins" carries that theme one step further, positing that the relationship may have been predestined for failure. "The Afterburn of Being Born" suggests that life and death co-exist to the point of one causing the other, and of no afterlife, other than "haunt [ing] where you walk."
"Scalpel Cuts Concrete" is from the viewpoint of someone who has done something horrible to a city, possibly a terrorist or bombs from a plane. It is poignant in its honesty, yet chilling in its ardor, especially if viewed in the wake of 9/11.
The emo crowd will love this album. Influences here include Jimmy Eat World and Sunny Day Real Estate, but the mixture of sound here does more than replicate either of those bands. New Ruins may be the most commercially viable album I've heard from Lujo thus far.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis February 2005Reviewed by Phil NicholsSometimes 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.…Similar sounding releases
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2000ElliottFalse Cathedrals
2004The Beautiful MistakeThis Is Who You Are
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