Wicked, Wicked Press

Getting Ahead in the Music Business -- by Matt Garman
 
"The vocals are distinct. It's like Jesse's songs are the balls and Aaron's are the cock. Or Jesse is the crotch and Aaron is the brain.

This album reminds me a lot of The Flame and the Fury over the other 2. It's a heavy meal, something best appreciated upon multiple listens.  For the uninitiated it may overwhelm them at first. For those familiar with their work, it may require a second listen to get it on its own merits, rather than compare it to the last release.

I think in general it's safe to say that the Ruby Doe has always been a band that hits you like a mountain side, a lahar of mud and lava that suffocates you in heat and merciless power.

 When you are in the same room as this band you must give yourself over. No half assed listening. You are in their world of darkness. It's like being led through an evil forest by a guide who knows the way by feel, but also does not really care about getting dirty or injured. In that sense, the band has always been a lot to take at once.

In that way it is entirely consistent with their past work by being uncompromising and dominating. It commands and demands your attention. However, this album has its own personality, separate from the others. Like children, all the albums bear a similarity, but none are the same."

"If you're looking for a relentless yet melodic assault on the ears in the vein of Karp or Mule, then The Ruby Doe is your band. The Flame And The Fury is full of explosive guitars and pounding rhythms. The vocals are guttural and aggressive while the lyrics are showy in a police-crime-scene kind of way. "KFC" is a prime example of the band's sardonic humor: "two heads and one lung sinking teeth into vein/deviate circulate replicate/they can't call you chicken anymore. "The music has elements of early nineties grunge, evidenced by the thick, plodding pace of "The Out Crowd", but, for the most part, The Ruby Doe blasts through its songs with West Coast punk ferociousness. The Ruby Doe's wound up energy showcases itself in controlled bursts. "Integument" introduces a refined sense of the loud/soft dynamic perfected by the Pixies well over a decade ago, but the Ruby Doe takes it to the next level. The bass tone is similar to that of Unsane's early stuff, but The Ruby Doe connects on a more intimate level than Unsane's detached madness. The trio incorporates tape loops and keyboards into its tribal attack, which works well and adds a modern edge. Over the course of the record the punk influence slowly shifts into a noise-rock cacophony, a direction to which the band seems more suited. Some songs are even anthematic: "Greasy-Like Ribbon" features a shout along chorus, complete with rolling 'r's and a southern fried guitar riff. Don't mistake the band's sense of humor for irony- this is not a pose; these guys know exactly what they're doing."
Eric G., drawerb.com

"Well, it seems I actually like every CD I'm reviewing this month - how embarrassing! Something's gotta suck sooner or later, but it ain't The Ruby Doe. These are local guys, apparently, who've been hiding themselves pretty well so far, at least from me. Their sound is churning, jarring, very intense, sort of arty, sort of metalliac, but also...catchy. They can probably walk and chew gum at the same time, too. Shit, where have you guy's been?"
Samantha Zinn, Backfire Magazine

"My biological party clock is still set to New York time, which meant that I didn't make it to the Breakroom until 11pm, completely missing the opening band, Medulla Piñata, and catching only the last few songs of The Ruby Doe, whose tight and heavy noise rock sound whetted my appetite as I berated myself for not showing up on time. Twisting bass lines that wrapped around scattered guitar chords, this three-piece sculpted dense sounds that subtly switched both time changes and moods several times during the course of one song. It's a place and sound that Fugazi might have found themselves in had they set their music compasses towards heavy instead of towards avant jazz--and that's certainly meant as no disrespect to the mighty 'Gazi. From my brief encounter with the band, The Ruby Doe are something I'm going to keep my ears peeled towards, as well should you."
Craig Young, earpollution.com

"And now, the birth announcements: We've got two new kids in town--even if the first one's just a figure of speech and the second one just a figure of syndication. The first? Well, let's just say wave good-bye to math rock, kids, and bid a fond adieu to emo while you're at it. There's a fresh sound in town, and it's harder than Tortoise, a tad more calculated than Trail of Dead. Heavier, more complicated genre, we christen you Long Division. Bands like Texas Instrument, Ruby Doe, and the latest incarnation of Juno are making the new math look easy. If you'd like to try this at home, just take some screwed-up time signatures, attach some amelodic lyrics and a churning, tumbling guitar (just one, please; long division bands are, for the most part, three-piece outfits), and hit the mean streets. Or at least Graceland."
Leah Greenblatt, Seattle Weekly

"The members of the Ruby Doe obviously grew up huge fans of the Who (circa '70s) and Cheap Trick, and are totally into playing rock and roll like it courses through their every vein."
Kathleen Wilson, The Stranger

"It takes a special kinda indie-rock band to follow-up the Cee-lo mayhem and our pre-set imaginary onstage banter while filling the minutes before the set {How many pirate jokes can one expectant crowd take? Ugh, we don't wanna talk about it...}. The ever-sonorous Ruby Doe had the dubious distinction of "sharpest-transition-of-musical-styles-of-the-weekend" and pulled it off with great aplomb. The Ruby Doe pummeled us with their "Helmet-ized" no-nonsense rock for a good 50 minutes without pausing for a breath of air between songs. They seamlessly glided from one dense rock song to the next — with an effortless melding of harmony and testosterone, they nailed all the high hit points from their "Dream Engine Blue" release (hint: all the points are high ones on this release!). They ended the set with their immaculate signature cover of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades." I am ashamed to admit, The Ruby Doe had me singing the "Ace of Spades" for the remainder of the day. I finally stopped fighting it, gave in and proceeded to pull everyone down with me by getting it stuck in their heads too. In fact, as I'm typing this, it's reinfecting my head."
threeimaginarygirls.com

February 19, 2004
"I'd seen The Ruby Doe open for The Burning Brides, so I knew the riffs were driving and their vocals were ferocious. I was aware the Red Letters EP kicked as much ass in three songs as many a band can do in twelve, and that they delivered their Fugazi/Pixies/Helmet stew in a tight, precise fashion. I was not, however, aware that they would close out their set with a cover of Motorhead's "Ace of Spades." (Note: Covering "Ace of Spades" is very dangerous, because if you suck at it, everyone will know you're just a bunch of pussies trying to fool us into rocking out with you. Second Note: The Ruby Doe fucking nailed it. The most jaded metalheads were pumping their fists. That cover was the rock cherry on top of the um, rock ice cream sundae which I ate with a rock spoon. . . okay, that metaphor is dead.)"
Graham Isaac, Nadamucho.com

"Math rock’s elusive definition alludes at least to the calculated reshaping of progressive influences like Rush and Yes in combination with punk energy that threatens to spin things out of control. Such a label offers more than enough latitude to adequately describe the songs of this tremendously creative, addictive band. On Dream Engine Blue, Seattle’s The Ruby Doe slam through musical barricades with undeniable energy. The opening track, “Steely Mind,” grabs your attention instantly then barrels along with barely-contained passion. “Mechalepsy” provides the album’s best single example of the genre – dissonant vocals and piercing lead guitar alternate with a pleasantly rolling rhythm guitar line. The title track’s powerful drumming and ethereal melody line propel its insightful, slightly askew lyrics. At times you’ll hear Fugazi, Arcwelder, Jawbox, and Volta Do Mar as well as Cheap Trick and The Ramones, but ultimately The Ruby Doe come up with their own answers and they definitely show their work. The Ruby Doe will appear with Captured! By Robots and Bent til Broken at the Cowboy Monkey on October 30 at 10 p.m. Don’t forget your calculator."
 Don Elmore, thepaperthewebsite.com

The Ruby Doe - Dream Engine Blue (Hometown Tragedy)
"The second album from this Seattle trio is an excellent concept album about sleep and dreams. They dig deep into punk/aggressive indie-rock and see what they can do with it. They're able to do a lot."
John Richards, kexp.org