Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review



The Rubyz
The Rubyz



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 35 minutes, 00 seconds
Street Date: April 1, 2008


Since the departure of Christian pop group Jump5, pureNRG and the newest addition, The Rubyz, have come to fill the void. The Rubyz are a 3-piece girl group consisting of Marissa, Alexis, and Cammie, who are 13, 14, and 17 years old, respectively.

Although there is no new musical ground broken or anything too particularly unique or special brought to the pop music table, the girls have established a fun record, which was really its whole purpose. The thing that most separates them from their many counterparts are their vocal qualities. All three girls have strong vocals that make the music more enjoyable to listen to.

The weakest point of the album is the lyrics. At times, they can feel a little cheesy and juvenile. For example, in the opening track, "Staring At The Sun," Cammie sings, "Hey, Alexis/ Hey, Marissa/ It's Cammie up on the phone/ I was wondering if ya/ Wanted to hang..." Tracks like "Staring At The Sun," "Outrageous," and "Time Of My Life" are peppy, upbeat, summer tunes. Some spirituality appears in the mellow pop song "In My Life," the ballad "Thirteen," and "We Shine." The latter is a pop anthem, declaring, "We are the redeemed/ We are the ones who are free/ And we belong to Jesus." "Baila Chiquita" is a catchy, fun, girly pop song with a mild Latin flare. I was caught off guard with the R&B influenced sounds of "Just Like You," a song that appreciates a friend who isn't afraid to be themselves around others.

The album has two covers on it-- The Go-Gos' "We Got The Beat," and Rihanna's "Umbrella." The rendition of "We Got The Beat" is pure fun, with a rock-inspired, infectious pop tune. The cover of Rihanna's smash hit, "Umbrella," is beautiful, slowing the tempo down and adding a more organic feel to it.

In conclusion, The Rubyz provide a fun pop record with their self-titled debut. The vocals are amazing, the hooks are catchy, and the lyrics are pure fun with a touch of spirituality added in for good measure. They are a worthy Christian-based alternative to the "tween" crowd who spends their time obsessing over High School Musical or Hannah Montana.

- Review date: 3/21/08, written by Matthew Watson of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

JFH Staff's Second Opinion



With the recent disbanding of Jump5, I had high hopes that the irksome tween pop fad in Christian music was starting to fade. Then came The Rubyz. The problem I have with The Rubyz is not necessarily the songs themselves. The sound and production is clean and professional, and the beats are mostly catchy. The thing that bothers me about this group is how manufactured they are. Any young girl with a pretty face and stylish clothes could be in The Rubyz. The music and lyrics are like something made by assembly line workers looking to make a fast-selling product with no regards to quality. The cover songs do not fare much better. The first one, "We Shine," takes worship leader Steve Fee's already slightly irritating song to an even higher level of annoyance. The Go-Go's "We Got the Beat" is slightly better, although nothing new is brought to the familiar song. The third cover and final song of the album is Rhianna's smash hit, "Umbrella." The original is near the top of my list of most horrible songs of all time, and The Rubyz' version bumps it up a few notches. Throughout the album, the girls' voices are so intertwined with autotune that they are probably more machine than human. Now granted, an English teacher in her mid-twenties with an affinity for early punk music like myself is not the kind of person The Rubyz' music is made for. However, just because one is young does not mean he or she will only like shallow, generic music. It is up to those of us who are older and wiser to stop giving them throwaway music sprinkled with Christian catch phrases and start showing them the value of art.
- Laura Nunnery of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

 

. Record Label: Advocate / iShine Music
. Album length: 10 tracks: 35 minutes, 00 seconds
. Street Date: April 1, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Staring At The Sun
  2. Outrageous
  3. Time Of My Life
  4. In My Life (I Don't Wanna)
  5. Thirteen
  6. We Shine
  7. Baila Chiquita
  8. We Got Da Beat
  9. Just Like You
  10. Umbrella
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SINGLES
Mat Kearney Certainty - Single (independent)

This Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ALBUMS
1K Phew Let Go Let God: The EP [Reach]

SINGLES
Drew & Ellie Holcomb High Seas - Single [Magnolia]
Sleeping At Last Let It Snow - Single (independent)

This Thursday, November 21, 2024
ALBUMS
The Choir Translucent (independent)

SINGLES
Wilder Woods Curioso [Dualtone]

This Friday, November 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Coqui I'll Still Have Christmas Day - EP [DREAM]
for KING & COUNTRY A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) [Curb]
Hope Through Grace John 20 EP [Southwest Hardcore]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Kresher The Adventures of Sylas Spin EP (independent)
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
mewithoutYou Live (Vol. One) (independent)
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
nobigdyl. nobigdyl. Unplugged, Vol. 1 [indie tribe]
Josiah Queen The Prodigal (Deluxe Edition) (independent)
R.kitect Vicious Circles - EP (independent)
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Since The Death His Heart Hates - EP [The Charon Collective]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]
Various Artists Sunshine Acres Benefit Compilation, Vol. 1 [Thumper Punk Records]
Various Artists Sunshine Acres Benefit Compilation, Vol. 2 [Thumper Punk Records]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down I Speak Jesus - Single [BEC]
99 APEX Find A Way Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Cory Asbury You're Still The One - Single [BEC]
Ashes Remain Lost Light - Single [BEC]
Paul Baloche Angels We Have Heard On High/Glorious (feat. Sarah Kroger) - Single [Integrity]
Paul Demer Let All Things Now Living - Single (independent)
Elan Brio Sun Rays - Single (independent)
ELEVATION RHYTHM At the Altar (Acoustic) - Single [Elevation]
Happy Powers Garden Song - Single (independent)
Sam Hauge Fame You Can Buy - Single (independent)
Hollyn & Weathrman Trees - Single (independent)
Amy Jay And So It Goes - Single (independent)
Jericko Holy Ground - Single [Syntax]
Reece Lache' Energy - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Presha - Single [Syntax]
Memphis May Fire Shapeshifter - Single [Rise Records]
MŌRIAH Winter Wonderland - Single (independent)
The Myriad Time - Single (independent)
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Katy Nichole When I Fall - Single [Centricity]
Makenzie Phipps O Holy Night - Single (independent)
Procyse, Dave A. You’re Not Free - Single [Polished Arrow]
Ravenhill The Shakes - Single [Honey Gold Records]
River Valley Worship This is Our Jesus (feat. Moriah Christian) - Single [BEC]
Scapegoat Solace (feat. MajesticGhost) - Single (independent)
Seph Schlueter Stay (Gonna Be Okay) - Single [Provident]
Jordan Smith How Great Thou Art - Single [Gaither]
TKE3 Found (feat. Leya) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship Royal Son - Single [Integrity]

VINYL
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]

Next Thursday, November 28, 2024
VINYL
Van Zant Always Look Up Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, November 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) [Flatiron]
Thrive Worship Christmas, Vol. 2 - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
ICF Worship Light of the World - Single [Integrity]
Selah Glory Hallelujah (feat. Mike Weaver) - Single [Integrity]
Slow Salvation The Ghost of Christmas Past - Single [Velvet Blue]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship Medley of Hymns - Single [DREAM]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) Vinyl (Record Store Day Exclusive!) [Flatiron]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images