More music for your weekend!
Written for We♥Music by Gus
vox // e-mail // last.fm
Okay, I couldn't resist doing one more. It's my day off today, and have been going through my music building the ultimate summer weekend playlists. I've been perusing thousands of songs on my computer, trying to find the music that would best fit a summery theme. There is, without a shadow of a doubt, plenty of Belle & Sebastian (a la "Dirty Dream Number 2") and Beck (because the man practically oozes summer music magic). But probably the most unsuspecting sound of the summer comes from self-proclaimed alt-goth country rockers New Ruins (Hidden Agenda/Parasol, 2007).
Fronted by Illinois natives Elzie Sexton and J. Caleb Means, New Ruins has a crossroad sound that only the midwest can define -- it is a juncture of old and new sounds. Their debut album is full of indie rock power, replete with upbeat tempos and down-trodden vocals, heady guitars and magnetic riffs; this is not an album for casual listeners. From the very moment the first chords of "Ships" comes blasting out of your speakers (and it has to be blasted, trust me), you'll know you're in for a wild ride.
The duo trade vocals throughout the album, lending a nice change of pace. The magic of The Sound They Make comes from the contrast from song to song. There's an obvious midwestern country feeling to some of them ("I'll Sleep In Your House" comes to mind immediately), but they maintain the atmospheric splendor of a rock outfit. And this band really nails atmosphere down. There are the obligatory acoustic guitars (they couldn't be alt-goth country without them), but there are layers and layers of bells, keyboards, and God-knows-what-else strewn in there to give it a dreamscape depth.
While the album does have a few slow spots ("Outside," specifically), I can't really hold it against them. This band was, after all, a project in long distance record making. Both Sexton and Means transferred recorded bits of music on tape cassette while away at different colleges before compiling all their songs into the album we have before us. And for a debut album, it's a fantastic first step into the world from a promising band.
Their single, "Ships," is available as a free download from Parasol Records (clicking initiates download). Give it a shot: roll down the windows, turn up the speakers, and head west.
Fronted by Illinois natives Elzie Sexton and J. Caleb Means, New Ruins has a crossroad sound that only the midwest can define -- it is a juncture of old and new sounds. Their debut album is full of indie rock power, replete with upbeat tempos and down-trodden vocals, heady guitars and magnetic riffs; this is not an album for casual listeners. From the very moment the first chords of "Ships" comes blasting out of your speakers (and it has to be blasted, trust me), you'll know you're in for a wild ride.
The duo trade vocals throughout the album, lending a nice change of pace. The magic of The Sound They Make comes from the contrast from song to song. There's an obvious midwestern country feeling to some of them ("I'll Sleep In Your House" comes to mind immediately), but they maintain the atmospheric splendor of a rock outfit. And this band really nails atmosphere down. There are the obligatory acoustic guitars (they couldn't be alt-goth country without them), but there are layers and layers of bells, keyboards, and God-knows-what-else strewn in there to give it a dreamscape depth.
While the album does have a few slow spots ("Outside," specifically), I can't really hold it against them. This band was, after all, a project in long distance record making. Both Sexton and Means transferred recorded bits of music on tape cassette while away at different colleges before compiling all their songs into the album we have before us. And for a debut album, it's a fantastic first step into the world from a promising band.
Their single, "Ships," is available as a free download from Parasol Records (clicking initiates download). Give it a shot: roll down the windows, turn up the speakers, and head west.
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