Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review



Out Of Ruin
What I Can't See



Album length: 12 tracks: 44 minutes, 6 seconds
Street Date: April 29, 2008


Newly signed to Vertical Shift Records, Out Of Ruin is a new rock band founded by brothers Gram and Ben Messer. Their Vertical debut, What I Can't See, is merely a rehashing of the band's indie album, Mosaic Soul, with only a slight change in track listing.

The album starts off on a high note with four excellent tracks. "This is We" and "Lifting Me" are midtempo pop-rockers with catchy tunes and nice lyrics. "Broken Pieces" is probably the hardest track of the album, musically speaking, with its crunching guitars, and upbeat feel. Especially impressive is its use of metaphors---God picking up your broken pieces and reforming them into a "mosaic soul." "What I Can't See" is a lighter rock track. While it doesn't quite fall into ballad territory, the song has a slower pace. The middle of the album mostly runs together. A few of the songs are catchy at best, but nothing particularly memorable or special. For the most part, Out Of Ruin's style sounds too similar to fellow pop-rockers Jars Of Clay to produce anything unique. Besides a few certain moments (like "Broken Pieces"), the lyrics seem to fall into typical Christian territory. The songs rarely venture into anything more than typical clichés.

The album picks up again on the last few tracks, but is disappointingly not enough to redeem the whole album. "Alimente El Corazon" is the album's only instrumental song. With a latin-influenced feel, this song gives listeners a break from their now-tired pop-rock style. The other standout, "Only Half," is a catchy ballad that closes the album and is Out of Ruin at its finest.

All in all, Out of Ruin has a good thing going for them, but this album fails to show it. As a whole, the album has been done before, and gets boring after the first few songs. What I Can't See is likable at best, but Out of Ruin does little to develop their own sound, much less, a place in the music industry.

- Review date: 6/6/08, written by Matthew Watson



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

. Record Label: Vertical Shift Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 44 minutes, 6 seconds
. Street Date: April 29, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Broken Pieces
  2. Lifting Me
  3. What I Can't See
  4. This is We
  5. Spirit
  6. Step On Faith
  7. Man To Be
  8. Pictures
  9. Numb
  10. Alimente El Corazon
  11. Stand For Something
  12. Only Half
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
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 Friday, February 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Gather Worship Hear The World That You So Love Sing Back To You [Integrity]
Grace Graber The Breakthrough Live - EP [Wings]
Andy Hunter UR♥D (independent)
Mat Kearney Mat Kearney (still drowning in nostalgia) [Deluxe] [Middle Kid]
Natalie Layne All Joy [Centricity]
David Leonard Just Jesus [Provident]
Passion Call On Heaven (Come, Lord Jesus) - Live [Sixsteps]
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal [Gaither]

SINGLES
John Chisum Firm Foundation - Single [NCS]
Riley Clemmons Runs Deep - Single [Capitol CMG]
Coqui only Idol - Single [DREAM]
Adriel Cruz Joy Comes in the Morning - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS" Remember Christ - Single [Provident]
Colton Dixon Up + Up (Live) [Atlantic]
Noah Paul Harrison Elohim (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Leslie Jordan Athensville - Single (independent)
Kashh Kade ALIVE - Single [Syntax]
Will Kellum Burning Idols - Single [Syntax]
Keyodis Nasty - Single [Charon Collective]
Vic Lucas Closer - Single [Syntax]
Melody Noel Closer Than I Know - Single (independent)
Pastor Mike Jr. Proof - Single [Capitol CMG]
R.kitect Intent to Distribute - Single (independent)
SEU Worship Day To Day - Single [Provident]
Switchfoot x Buddy Guy Last Man Standing - Single
Tedashii safe to be me (feat. Jordin Sparks) - Single [Reach]
Luke Wareham x Neon Tigers Set Me Apart (feat. Millie Ferguson) [Remix] - Single (independent)
Madison Watkins Goodbye - Single [Provident]
WHATUPRG Z99 - Single [Reach]
Phil Wickham The King is in the Room - Single [Fair Trade]

Next Thursday, February 27, 2025
ALBUMS
Various Artists House of David: Season One (Music inspired by the Prime Video Original Series) [Capitol CMG]

Next Friday, February 28, 2025
ALBUMS
The Belonging Co Eden (Live) [Capitol CMG]
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir I Will Not Be Moved: Live with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir [StowTown]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Call Your Name - Single [Curb]
Disciple Sound the Alarm - Single [Tooth & Nail]
Faith Worship Arts Good 2 Me (Live) - Single [DREAM Worship]
PEABOD Head First (from Gabriel and the Guardians) - Single (independent)



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images