Ruth - Second Hand Dreaming

Producer:  Aaron Sprinkle
Record Label:  Tooth & Nail Records
Website:  http://ruthrock.com

Dustin Ruth went to California after high school to pursue that ultimate dream of most artists – a career making music.  After very little success he went back home to Portland.  It was there that he started to hang out with other musicians and played in a few bands and soon found himself living a life he didn’t want to live.  After a close friend introduced him to Jesus, he started a band with some other guys who had the same beliefs and desires, and that is how Ruth was formed.  Ruth is not just Dustin’s last name, but it’s also an acronym for Return Us To Him.

Produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Jeremy Camp, Anberlin, MxPx), Second Hand Dreaming is a 12-song album full of the declarations of a new born-again Christian.  This is an album that most young adults can relate to.  Either as a new Christian or a seasoned veteran who struggles with trying to be successful but not sacrificing their morals or salvation.  It starts out with the track “One Foot In, One Foot Out”, and Dustin makes it clear from the start that he is tired of riding the fence and the torment that it causes.  There’s almost a personal awakening in the title track “Second Hand Dreaming” where you start to realize that all your dreams of fame and worldly things seemed second to what God desires for you. In “Here to New York”, Dustin sings, “I am yours always and forever, take this heart and make it clean again. Where you lead me, I will follow.  Got no bags to pack, just my guitar and the shirt on my back.” This is the theme throughout the whole album.  It’s full of a newfound optimism in a present and future filled with Christ.  The last four tracks on the album could easily be classified as praise and worship songs as they are personal and heartfelt love letters to God. 

Musically, this album is pretty simple.  It’s very melodic and has a laid back sound to it.  I would call it surf music. They don’t change it up much.  I did like the added strings and harmonica on “Figured You Out”.  It was a nice touch.  One thing I found funny was the song “Love Me Like You Do”, because it sounds like a tribute to “That Thing You Do” from the movie of the same name.  Who doesn’t like that song?  You can definitely hear the influences of Switchfoot, Anberlin, or The Normals here – which makes the album enjoyable, but not really memorable. Most of these songs you can hear getting played on college radio.  The song writing is very simple and accessible which is good for a band starting out.  I look forward to seeing if this band matures and can bring something new to the table on future releases.

Purchase Secondhand Dreaming.

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