Ruby Red

Named after the recording studio from which it was produced, the album fluctuates between dark and Gothic, with a Southern feel and country tones. Occasionally, it feels as if the songwriter pulled from Nick Cave or Trent Reznor in both the music and tone. Suzanne Santos is one-half of a country band called honeyhoney, and their hiatus leading to this debut solo venture is time well spent. It is about raw emotions, the euphoria, rage, and despair from relationships current and past, and there is no holding back. I do not know if it’s alternative country, but it’s intense, sensual, and a future purchase.

BEST – 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9

01. Handshake – 9 – Ghostly and echoing, with an epic tone and electronica touches.
02. Ghost in My Bed - 8
03. The Wrong Man – 9 – The chorus of “I’ve got blood on my hands” works with this angry, harsh, rocking country song.
04. Best out of Me - 7.5 – This was more of traditional country song.
05. Regrets – 7.5
06. Yours or Mine - 7.5 – The last three are not bad, but I cannot place them into a position of a favorite.
07. Love Fucked Up – 8 - The beginning reminds me of the Peter Gunn opening theme.
08. Blood on My Knees – 9.5 - Opening line: “I started out on the end of the road.” Also liked, “I choked on the ruthlessness inside of me.” The song goes all-out by the end.
09. Bullets – 8.5 - A slower track taking about removing the bullets from her gun so she doesn’t hurt someone; possible references to suicide. There is also a mention of her knees “all bloody and torn;” a callback to her previous song.
10. Better Than That – 7.5
11. Regrets – Acoustic – 7.5 – No more impressed with the acoustic over the original. I often find that when a song is reprised, remixed, or performed acoustic on the last track, it is never one that I liked much in the first place.

COVER – 8 – A great photo, well shot, unlike many albums. A simple image in a lush yellow-orange light.