Ruins is a more mature record. Not that it’s darker per se; their gorgeous, blood-close harmonies and the sunny streaks of pedal steel guitar keep it from ever feeling too morose. Instead, there’s a gentle weight of experience that permeates the album’s lyrics, a freshly-sharpened edge of cynicism.
The sheer musicality of Ruins is something to be in awe of, let alone the inspired messages of female empowerment and the in-depth analysis of relationship culture. It’s a classic high-quality, well-arranged and passionate album from First Aid Kit, but this time – it’s not so innocent.
Lyrically and sonically, Ruins helps First Aid Kit gives listeners a mature, realized and often heartbreaking version of this young band's oeuvre.
Drawing on a range of classic influences and captured expertly on record, ‘Ruins’ cements First Aid Kit’s place in the Americana songbook.
Ruins, First Aid Kit’s fourth album, is their best so far.
Ruins doesn't aim to re-write the indie-folk/country rule book, rather, the Söderberg sisters are just fine-tuning their craft and growing into a comfortable groove.
Fans of Stay Gold will find a familiar bright, assertive sound, with Klara and Johanna's trademark tandem vocals bringing a certain air of resiliency to an unexpectedly lively set of songs.
First Aid Kit does not reinvent the wheel on this fourth record. Ruins sticks to the well-trodden path of Americana, and does so with guns blazing.
A few more rough edges and sonic variety would shake things up, and possibly open new avenues, but for now things aren’t in Ruins, nor are they a consolation prize. Instead, this is just another good First Aid Kit album, one that suggests their peak hasn’t yet been reached.
Though a few missteps keep Ruins from being First Aid Kit's best album, it's still packed with well-written, well-performed, and well-produced folk pop songs.
Ruins is not much of a departure from their previous work, but existing fans won’t be disappointed by this record – it’s familiar, but delivered with such conviction it leaves you wanting to hear it again.
The follow-up to 2014’s major-label breakthrough Stay Gold, Ruins tweaks rather than overhauls Klara and Johanna Söderberg’s brand of pop-savvy Americana – yet the trademark harmonic couplings and rolling romantic surges can’t disguise a troubled undertow.
Parts of their fourth studio album, Ruins, demonstrate that, with experience, First Aid Kit has gotten exceedingly proficient at imitating their favorite American artists.
While not their best, Ruins certainly stands as First Aid Kit’s most cohesive album, focused on the determination of moving forward from heartbreak.
Ruins, their fourth album, continues that twangy trajectory with songs like the elegant honky-tonk number “Postcard” and “Distant Star,” which shows off rougher-hewn harmonies. Both add new twists to the duo’s sound, refining rather than redefining First Aid Kit.
The duo have the tools to capture a wider public imagination than they are doing presently, and as lovely as Ruins is without them, First Aid Kit’s lack of edge is beginning to look less like prudent risk aversion and more like self-inflicted damage.
While Ruins doesn’t quite beat out their debut album, it’s certainly the sisters’ best record since.
The Soderberg sisters’ first album in four years is aptly titled. If 2014’s Stay Gold expressed a deep desire for change, then Ruins rakes through the rubble left by those changes.
Ruins is an affecting, comforting listen, but not one that will imprint itself too vividly in the memory.
Ruins isn’t a bad record, or a weak one, it’s a boring one.
It’s also still impossible to knock the fluttering vocals between the sisters. That’s still golden ... But that can’t stop Ruins from sounding like a failed copy of previously delightful pastiche.
I had no experience with FAK prior to listening to Ruins and I'm kind of glad as this took me by complete surprise. There's a lovable simplicity to it at points and certain tracks that shake the formula up a bit hint at an act that are set to only get better.
7/10
good
Fav tracks: Rebel Heart, It's A Shame, Fireworks, To Live A Life, My Wild Sweet Love, Ruins
Despite, First Aid Kit taking a more safe approach to this record, at some aspects the folk duo crafted some well-written and pleasant indie folk tunes.
7/10
good
Fav tracks: Rebel Heart, It's A Shame, Fireworks, To Live A Life, My Wild Sweet Love, Ruins
1 | Rebel Heart 5:22 | 95 |
2 | It's A Shame 4:00 | 90 |
3 | Fireworks 4:15 | 95 |
4 | Postcard 3:47 | 85 |
5 | To Live A Life 3:13 | 85 |
6 | My Wild Sweet Love 3:55 | 81 |
7 | Distant Star 3:10 | 90 |
8 | Ruins 3:31 | 85 |
9 | Hem of Her Dress 3:23 | 80 |
10 | Nothing Has to Be True 4:58 | 90 |
#2 | / | The Wild Honey Pie |
#5 | / | Gaffa (Denmark) |
#6 | / | Gaffa (Sweden) |
#8 | / | Fopp |
#27 | / | Albumism |
/ | Esquire (UK) |