I Am The Crime
A Fine Mess
Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees
While hardly earth shattering, the self-titled debut by Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees is at least entertaining. Mindless electronica to bop along to – where’s the harm in that?
OK, so it does get a wee bit too repetitive at times and I can’t help but mourn the potential some of the songs have to become, you know, actual songs rather than just drawn out dance-a-thons. But I still find myself enjoying it which I assume is the main point with music like this.
Vocalist Ruby Jean is actually Rebekah Higgs (pictured), while those thoughtful little bees are Jason Vautour (guitar), Sean MacGillivray (drums) and Colin Crowell, who is the brains behind the band as he writes, arranges and produces everything. Together they have gathered quite the reputation of putting on a great live show, but that’s nothing that I personally can account for. I can however tell you that the design and artwork of the album sleeve is very nicely done.
Top tracks: “Girls You Love”, “Trustfund” and “How To Win Friends & Influence People”.
January 28, 2009 - 6:55 pm
I think if the vocals weren’t so tweaked this would be better.
February 1, 2009 - 12:33 am
thanks for writing this review.
sean – the vocals aren’t really “tweaked” that much. its pretty much live off the floor using the same fx processors we use in a live setting. no auto-tune or any of that garbage.
February 1, 2009 - 5:39 pm
Colin, I didn’t intend to sound dismissive, but I was referring to the fx. I think I’d prefer the tunes if those processors were used with moderation instead of all the time (at least in the 2 tracks I’ve heard here). Just my personal preference.