Twelve Short Stories - Ruby Cruiser

Often I write about less well-known bands on Ciao. It's not than I only like the obscure bands - there are plenty of better-known artists in my collection, I've written reviews of Nirvana and Foo Fighters for example - but I always find it easier to justify writing a first review of a lesser-known band than the 50th of whatever's in the chart at the moment.

I say this, not to change other people's writing/reading habits, but merely ...
...Ruby Cruiser. They're from Abergavenny and they released this - to my knowledge their only album - in 2000. I'd heard one song on a Rock Sound CD which stuck with me, so one day I got the album off Amazon (£8.99). I still play it occasionally, but sadly I've never heard any more of the band.

The band aren't particularly original. Being Welsh, they're bound to get compared to Stereophonics. I suppose there is some similarity with their ... more

Often I write about less well-known bands on Ciao. It's not than I only like the obscure bands - there are plenty of better-known artists in my collection, I've written reviews of Nirvana and Foo Fighters for example - but I always find it easier to justify writing a first review of a lesser-known band than the 50th of whatever's in the chart at the moment.

I say this, not to change other people's writing/reading habits, but merely as a preface to admitting I know almost nothing about Ruby Cruiser. They're from Abergavenny and they released this - to my knowledge their only album - in 2000. I'd heard one song on a Rock Sound CD which stuck with me, so one day I got the album off Amazon (£8.99). I still play it occasionally, but sadly I've never heard any more of the band.

The band aren't particularly original. Being Welsh, they're bound to get compared to Stereophonics. I suppose there is some similarity with their earlier albums, though Ruby Cruiser aren't as gravely - they're a bit more upbeat and bouncy. Certainly the general sound or 'feel' of the music is fairly happy, even if the subjects aren't always - rather like Lit, though I generally find them depressing. I think they probably listened to quite a few Beach Boys records too, though the West Coast pop influence is certainly well-buried under the shoutier bits! Perhaps I could also name check the likes of Terrorvision or Weezer; I can't think of anyone quite like Ruby Cruiser, but if you're a broad-minded fan of most rock/pop (including the aforementioned) then let me describe the album for you.

It's a concept album in a way - as the title puts it 'Twelve Short Stories', and that's exactly what it is. The back cover explains further "The year is 1999 and it's mid summer. In the small town where the following stories take place. You will here of many individuals and their different ways of life."

The review on Amazon actually describes this album as portraying the "more hysterical" side of Welsh village life, compared to the Stereophonics' "darker side of life", but that's not entirely true. A lot of the album actually focuses on the boredom of a small town. It's the life of a group of youngsters, with not much to do but work and drink. It's something that seems to be quite 'in' at the moment, as in The Ordinary Boys, Hard-Fi, etc.

'Wow, How Cool Is Joe's New Car', for example, is not about some great sportscar - rather it's about Joe getting a beat-up old banger that allows the guys to finally escape their dead-end life for a bit. (The booklet doesn't give lyrics, but it does give some pointers to what songs are about, if you can't follow it yourself). Still, whatever the content, it has a goodtime feel to it (like Stereophonics' 'Have A Nice Day' - also not as innocent as it sounds) and would, of course, make a great driving soundtrack.

I certainly wouldn't want to suggest everything is darkness hidden under a chirpy rock/pop exterior, however. Songs like 'Everybody Wants To Be Cool', 'Kinda Hope I Die Dancing' and 'A Little Indulgence Is Good For The Soul' are bouncy party songs with infectious shout-along choruses. They're not exactly Offspring or A, but they may be just slightly too punky and energetic for those whose idea of rock is, say, Matchbox 20.

On the other hand, the band do have a softer side, with slower and more sedate songs like 'That Fine Day Beth Found Life' and 'Took My Wheels To Santa Luna', but these are generally in the minority on the album. Normally calmer moments are only to heighten the contrast to another power-pop chorus, as in 'I'll Take No. 42, No. 11, And May I Have Some Sympathy Please Sarah' (as you can see, some titles!)

One feature that's worth commenting on is that, since these are stories involving a cast of fictitious small-town characters, several of the songs make use of multiple voices, as if two characters were talking to each other. Sometimes it's simply like two vocalists, but the band also make regular use of voiceovers - like samples - which is pretty unusual in this sort of music (as opposed to industrial/dance music).

As I said, it's a bit of a different twist on a simple rock/pop formula. While the basic pattern isn't unusual, most bands write about themselves, not many bands would try to lure you into a whole world of other characters (Nathan, Jade Thompson, Debbie, etc) - yet I'm sure many can share the frustrations and drudgery of life in a quiet town (if not a mountain one), and maybe a few can even relate to those who get away (like Nicky - who got a job on an airplane…)

It won't change your life. It's not an album I'm telling everyone to rush out and buy. But, if just perhaps you're a consumer reading this - someone who for whatever reason is already contemplating buying the album (perhaps like me you heard something somewhere once) - then I'll say it's still only £8.99 (or from £2.49 used) on Amazon. Go ahead, it's fun.
 

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