Out of Ruin - What I Can’t See
Producer: Information not provided
Out of Ruin hasn’t always been the acoustic/pop duo of brothers Gram and Ben Messer. The brothers had an impressive following and strong four piece outfit in the late nineties before physical problems and straying band members left the group at a crossroads. The brothers decided to pick things back up and continue - mostly as an acoustic duo - but also at times as a full-fledged band with additional members. What I Can’t See is the duo’s label debut with Vertical Shift Records (home to buzz makers like Ever Stays Red and Re:Zound). The listener can tell that Out of Ruin has honed their craft and are comfortable in their own skin as musician and songwriters. What I Can’t See is as strong a debut as anything else you’ve heard this year - recalling the likes of pop hit makers like the Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox 20, Jars of Clay, and more. The group knows how to create a creative melody and pop sound - as seen in highlight tracks like “Stand For Something”, “This Is We”, and album opener “Broken Pieces”. There’s a lot to like here - but unfortunately nothing that really finds the band fitting into anything currently at radio. It’s smart, accessible pop/rock - but it’s not quite smart enough to separate them from the pack. Lyrically, the band is also ahead of the curve here with more introspective moments like “Spirit” and “Numb” helping to keep the band grounded as a serious artist and not just a fun pop/rock band. All of that said, there’s a lot to like with this record and in Out of Ruin - unfortunately it’s just not enough to set the band apart right now. They’re going to need a more identifiable sound to keep them in front of new listeners. Until then, they’ve got to compete with everyone else out there.
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