New Ruins

May 11, 2009

I consider Champaign/Urbana, IL to be a second home of sorts for me, primarily because it’s the only place that I can drive to in an hour or so that frequently has good live music.  So I always get excited when a Champaign band puts out  great album and such is the case with New Ruins‘ sophomore effort, We Make Our Own Bad Luck. I saw New Ruins open for José Gonzalez as a two-man band a couple years back, and I can say that this full band suits their rustic Americana sound much better (plus now there’s a couple more beards to look at).  The ringing guitars, rootsy steel pedal, and delicate string flourishes provide wonderful atmospherics for the Elzie Sexton’s formidable baritone. Their sound is brooding and melancholic but not in an overly bleak way but moreso thoughtful and reflective.

“Lake” is the first song I heard from the album and still my favorite.  It’s a strongly affecting track about nostalgia that puts  focus on the good times and the bad times. A droning electric guitar plays the main riff while densely-layered acoustic instrumentation gives the song a grand-scale chamber folk feel.  Sexton’s vocals are wistful and poignant and draw you into the bittersweet world the band has created.  “As Far As We Know” is another highlight of the album continuing the band’s foray into the melodramatic and making skilled use of a bellowing cello during the inspired bridge.

MP3 Lake
MP3 As Far As We Know

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I’m surprised that Matchbox 20 are not getting a lot of votes in the latest “Who’s Worse?” poll.  There’s gotta be some people at there who hate the band. If you’re one of them, go voice your opinion.  “Disease” and “If You’re Gone” are really bad songs if you need somewhere to start.

Posted by Taylor in Artist Spotlight