Ruth is out of Hibernation
Posted October 29, 2008
By Nathan,
Anorak: A heavy hooded jacket. That definition is probably not the one Ruth had in mind while naming their sophomore project but it is probably a reference a person who has an unfathomable interest in something, and feels compelled to talk at length about it. But leaving the title behind good things are expected from the band who gave us the single “cross this line” and a very successful debut Secondhand Dreaming.
Modern pop/rock is a good start on the way to classify Ruth’s music but a comparison to Switchfoot is far more helpful and accurate. The opening song “Hibernation Pieces” has a light pop rock chorus which is very reminiscent of Switchfoot and lead singer Dustin Matthew Ruth’s vocals sound like a softer version of Jon Forman’s voice. Also there are songs that sound like the Afters like the melancholy “Who I Was and Who I Am” and light electric sounding pop tune “Hearts On Sleeves”. “Rolling with the punches” has a catchy tune to go along with a very infectious chorus that has a punk hint to it.
Fans of Switchfoot will love the older school light rock “pure concept” where the bridge sounds uncanny like Switchfoot while the acoustic “Miracle Photo” sounds very much like Jon Forman’s solo EPs. Nevertheless it’s originality that grabs fans to Switchfoot and the same is true about Ruth. “dead giveaway” is a nice smooth light rock tune with a great guitar and a violin; the song also changes tune to add more boost to the final track. The one epic song is “Nothing to hide”, which is a great emotional rock song.
Making a case that the album title, Anorak is about the heavy hooded jacket is the first song “hibernation” which is a longing for God (‘Oh and I've been thinking this year maybe ill be something better/Maybe I'll lose some of this selfish skin…But I don’t mind these changes that time and age might bring us/As long as it brings me closer to you’) and along the same lines "Who I Was And Who I Am" has lyrics about the putting off the old man for the new in Ephesians 4:22-24.
Of course on the other end of the spectrum is “back to five” which the singer spends all of its time lamenting the decision to take his career for God ‘Now I'm stuck here in the Midwest./Try and remember all the things I love/And I'm thinking bout a girl back home/But I know I'm not our here alone’. In “pure concept” the singer’s journey to be pure results in his asking God to ‘Please search my heart make it new’. Ruth does not spend all of their time singing about God as their themes vary from wanting to remember the good things "Miracle Photo" to wanting to love their significant other the right way.
While the light rock tunes are enjoyable and, in a way, original, they are not terribly complex. Throwing in the fact that some of the tune are short some fans may be disappointed and want more. However, very fun lyrics and positive messages propels Ruth, leaving Anorak a great way to enjoy a lazy afternoon.
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