Substantive pop ballads are timid, elusive creatures swimming in cavernous seas of creativity that most bands simply cannot dive deep enough to find. But, for those bands that embrace the challenge and intentionally seek new depths, the journey can yield the great treasure of success.
For instance, John Mayer’s premiere single, “No Such Thing,” artfully resonates with almost every skittish high school teen while subconsciously instructing peaceful defiance of their parents and teachers. Also, The Fray’s “Over My Head (Cable Car)” hooked the nation with a light-hearted, piano-pop lure, drawing us in with youthful exaggerations that propel our memories backward to our first head-over-heels rapport.
Unfortunately, these creative seas have been teeming with dismal releases of late, overborne by the latest Soulja Boy single or yet another fruitless attempt by Britney Spears.
That is until this critic’s wax-filled ears were sanitized by the unadulterated innocence and unobtrusive Christian overtones of Ruth, the nom-de-tune of Dustin Ruth’s cutesy yet dynamic Christian-pop outfit. The band consists of Dustin Matthew Ruth (vocals and guitar) and long time friends and musicians, Nicholas Ace Wiinikka (guitar), Brett Van Liew (bass) and Ryan Wesley Peterson (drums).
The band’s first full-length release, “Secondhand Dreaming,” is Christ-driven purity in pop form. Despite a failed independent release in 2006, Ruth manages to mix the timeless qualities of what was ’90s power-pop with elements of present day indie to produce a seamless, generous mix of Christian ballads that speak to even the most pompous, hard-hearted music critics.
Frontman Dustin Ruth’s vocals are well-produced and always euphonious, mirroring the sounds of Third Eye Blind, Radiohead and Nirvana without the negative undertones and ambivalent hints of self-destruction.
“I am not afraid of the things that come my way/ I just fold my hands and pray.” As seen in his lush delivery of resonant phrases, poetry derived from piety, poise and commitment sum up Christian singer-songwriter Dustin Ruth.
Despite the album’s light-hearted Christian appeal, “Secondhand Dreaming” proves to be pensive and questioning at times (“Mr. Turner”), allowing Dustin to find his muse by way of religious devotion, an art that rarely trickles through to the mainstream.
“Work It Out” emulates the straightforward construct of Third Eye Blind’s power-pop jangle and subtly defiant lyricism. The song is an ode to perseverance and the pursuit of one’s dreams, and an angst-driven scream fills the final moments of the song’s already lustrous aura.
Thus, the search for an urbane, modest musical gem is over. “Secondhand Dreaming” is in a word substantive, piecing together the exact meld of fine musicianship and worthwhile lyricism this critic’s rusty, old heartstrings needed.
