RF are one of the few bands with female singers that I can deal with (save your hate mail), and Hysteria does a better job than previous releases of capturing the considerable stregnth of their live shows. It features the classic twin guitar, straightforward rock sound, switching dynamics from the quick and heavy opening to the slower but (dare I say) anthemic balence of Hysteria. Cafe No Problem, the B-side, slows things down a bit, almost to the grinding, glouriously grubby level of the band, though it's more an upbeat affair.
This single is more thoughtful, pretty, folk-tinged rock from the NYC based Ruby Falls. The B-side was recorded last year on KSPC-FM in Pomona, CA. On the personnel front: Former Flower drummer Andrew Bordwin played on the single; he has since been replaced by vocalist/ guitarist Jennifer Rogers' sister, Laura. Regardless, the band still sounds as if it's going strong.
New York is a place where bands gather to create music that reflects the confinement and desperation of that particualr city. Ruby Falls is one band that falls into that catagory. Just imagine them recording "Hysteria" to the grinding, wave-like rhythm section of the city's subways and buses
I actually didn't mind this New York band's first 7" at all. It had two fairly memorable tunes performed with an actual sense of pasion. This new single comes after a few other releases (one ep at least) and finds Ruby Falls still in good, if not mind blowing, form. Side A, Hysteria, is definetly the winner on this single: vaguely the late, great Autoclave (in their quieter moments). Side B is a live radio recording which is pretty decent, but doens't quite appeal to my ears as much as the A side. I consider myself a very picky and selective fan of pop music, and i will state that this single will stay in my collection. If you haven't completely given up on the current pop/rock music yet, here's a more than decent entry.
