Rubyhorse - Rise Review

Posted by Freakboy on 09.15.2002

What if a band originating from Ireland traveled across the Atlantic to make Boston their new home?

Ireland and Boston are well known for their contributions to rock n' roll. Just look at bands like U2 and Aerosmith. But what if a band originating from Ireland traveled across the Atlantic to make Boston their new home? The five members of Rubyhorse hope to answer that with their debut album, Rise

First, a little bit about Rubyhorse. They formed in 1997 in Cork City, Ireland, and were heavily influenced by bands like U2, the Verve, and the Beatles, Rubyhorse . After crafting their sound in a meat factory in Cork City, they scraped together whatever money they could and traveled to Boston. It was there that they picked up a weekly gig at an Irish pub called The Burren. Their first show only drew four or five people, but after a straight 60-week run they had to get there in the middle of the afternoon just to beat the crowd. It was also these gigs that led the band to three Boston Music Awards. Rise is their debut album on Island Records.

Right away, you can hear the U2 influence in the guitars and keyboards. Actually, I really enjoyed the way they used the keyboards. They gave the songs an unique depth a fullness that most other bands these days rely on scratching a record back and forth for. Combined with the vocals, in made for a great sound that was a cross between 80's pop and today's singer-songwriters (like a John Mayer, for example) only with more of an edge.



After listening to Rise, I also wasn't surprised about making a name for themselves as a bar band. The band has this "raw" quality to them that reminds you of that one bar band you go see week after week, and hope that they make it because Lord knows the music landscape needs more quality rock acts these days. Rubyhorse is that band.



My favorite tracks off the album: "Happy in the Sunshine," "Punchdrunk," "Into the Lavender"