Monday, March 1st, 2010

THE RUBY SUNS – Fight Softly

reviewed by Hanna Rose

The Ruby Suns have teleported to today from a past where pop was catchy and high-spirited, but they are integrating quite well with us here in 2010. They’ve created a type of hybridized style of ’80s dance and world music that is incredibly intricate in its design. In fact, think The Smiths without any instruments of the traditional sense. It’s The Smiths with only a load of 21st Century technology and synthed-up to the point where it sounds as if it’s echoing through a piece of old pipe. That said, maybe they resemble more of The Shins?

Regardless, Fight Softly, The Ruby Sun’s second album via Sub Pop (third overall, but that’s unimportant) is definitely notable. The band is fronted by Ryan McPhun, who gets his kicks from his homeland of New Zealand. Created in 2004 after moving to Auckland from California and wrangling himself a group of Kiwis, McPhun built the unique group and six years later, has produced a new album for consumption.

Fight Softly is packed full of melody and charm. It’s got the optimism and warmth that accompanies a summer afternoon with the clever use of a beat. All in all, not a bad record. It’s enough to satisfy a soulful evening at home to take the mind abroad.

(Sub Pop Records, 2013 4th Ave., 3rd Floor, Seattle, WA 98121)