Getting To The Heart Of Great Tunes
Cornish singer Ruarri Joseph has been receiving plenty of compliments, with likenesses drawn to Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens already, perhaps it's because of Joseph's stormy, soulful voice, or maybe his penchant for writing gritty tunes.
The first two tunes instantly whisk you into the raw guitar-based style that Ruarri masters, with a sparkle in his shoegazing lyrics, "If you want the stars I'll give you the sky" and the constantly striving rippling guitars.
Most like the classic American singer/songwriters, 'Blankets' slick couplets meet with sighing backing vocals and accordion in contrast to the insistent drum pace; it's almost the perfect searching composition with a driving tune and hollow, melancholy vocals that speak of tired roadtrips and late nights.
Meanwhile 'Cuddles Are The Best Thing' is a gorgeous textured tune with a loping, bluesy rhythm and gallic flair from the accordion and quirky vocal harmonies. This is what Rufus Wainwright would sound like if he wasn't always dragging a whole orchestra into the studio with him. There's more smooth bluesy tunes in the form of, 'Faces, Movements and Cheats', with vocals that lilt dramatically above the jaunty piano work and sleek guitarwork
Title track, 'Tales Of Grime And Grit' is a stomper with a grinding intro featuring catchy percussion and snippets of brash guitar, it's a bit like KT Tunstall's more impassioned folk fair, but from the other end of the British Isles.
Ok, there are some tunes for those who like the cheesier side of life, like 'Infant Eyes' which sings about, "If toys could talk, I bet they'd say they never felt so loved", perhaps that's what having kids does to you, and though I can't think of a more fascinating dad, it's a bit much for a young fan to stomach. By, 'More Rock n Roll' Ruarri already admits that, "I may look the part but I know in my heart that I'd rather be home with the wife" and, "I wish I was more rock n'roll"; aww come on Ruarri! Still, at least he's not pretending to be something that he's not, which is certainly refreshing.