The first thing that came to my mind as this album started to play in my stereo was that this band sounds an awful lot like early Jacob's Trouble. The second thing that came to mind was that it wasn't fair to pre-judge a band on the first 15 seconds of their first song. So, having listened all the way through the album, I'd have to say that my initial suspicions were, on the whole, confirmed.
However, dismissing Rich Young Ruler as just another guitar-pop band that seems to be stuck in a permanent time warp would be grossly unfair. There is that element to their music-the band seems to welcome comparisons to early "Jesus Music" bands like Love Song and Mustard Seed Faith. There is also a certain modern edge to their pop, though, as they grab from that era a lot of song structure and performance style, while retaining a '90s edge to their lyrics.
While extremely positive in tone, the lyrical content doesn't always go for the easy, formula answer. "Magic Nowheres (Run Around)" is a song of questioning, which begins:
Too many magic nowheres, Here I know I don't belong. Is there a magic somewhere I can go And know that I can call my home?
And while the song does point out "I know you'll set me free," the singer still finds himself running "around and around."
Perhaps the best thing about this album is the vocal harmonies. Maybe it's my own vocal training, but I'm a sucker for decent harmonies. As far as sunny, pop harmonies go, this band is right up there with The Byrds, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and PFR.
Maybe the only thing I didn't like about this album is the lack of variety within the songs on the album. I'm not trying to say that every song has to sound completely different from every other song; just that there's no real stylistic change from song to song. On a 14-song album, that can become rather tiresome.
As a first album (or at least their first widely available album), Rich Young Ruler has done an admirable job of capturing honesty, vitality, and joy on tape. A fine disc, which I'd recommend to just about anyone for summertime cruising music.
Other coverage for this album
7ball #17Reviewed by Dan MacIntoshFor their debut, Rich Young Ruler richly demonstrates the sounds which dominated the airwaves back when groups like The Beach Boys, America, and The Byrds ruled the music world. There probably hasn't been a "magical" album like this since Randy Stonehill's Wonderama (which makes sense, when you consider that both albums were produced by Terry Taylor). And the only magical land where one can both…Similar sounding releases
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