There are many bands who have scored big hits on top 40 stations across the U.S. after scoring big with "modern rock" stations, or in some cases, "alternative rock" stations. Too many, in fact. Ruby Red is a good fix for alternative fans who have grown weary of the many mundane grunge/alternative rock bands bordering on pop status.
Dambuilders front-man Dave Derby, guitarist Eric Masunaga, violinist Joan Wasser, and drummer Kevin March met in Hawaii. They formed the band in their garage, moved to Boston, and recorded their debut, Encendedor, which sold moderately in the U.S. due to the success of the single "Shrine". Yet most of Ruby Red is more depressing, more urgent, and more invigorating than the first album.
Ruby Red "suggests a more rustic version of the Pixies", according to Rolling Stone. However, the album really depicts the new Dambuilders as an enticing melange of Smiths-style pessimism (on a more personal level), a bit of X's vocal style, punky cranked guitars, energetic percussion, and a spectacular fiddle.
Derby's vocals are not the band's strong point, but the music itself is enough to allow the listener to forget this, more or less. Wasser's violin work such as that present on "Bending Machine" is absolutely mesmerizing. Lyrics are exceptionally witty on "Teenage Loser Anthem" ("Teenage Loser USA / Not much to lose but even less to say") and the discordant "Lazy Eye" ("You're right -- I'm an idiot / And I'm a joke, but you're not getting it"), more free-style on "Rocket To the Moon", and leave something to be desired on "Smooth Control" and "Cosmonaut".
Generally speaking, theDambuilders have succeeded in making an album that rejects the current standard in alternative rock of writing songs that go nowhere musically or lyrically, in addition to maintaining a dignified uniqueness throught the new release. It's easy to see how they got invited to play on Lollapalooza's second stage for two weeks this time 'round, isn't it?
