You might have seen the signs for Ruby Falls painted on the side of a barn or along the highway in rural Tennessee. Though we have never stoped to see the tourist attraction, we'd bet money that whatever Ruby Falls are, they are not as intense as the band of the same name. This NYC quartet pushes the limits on What She Does, six songs teaming booming rhythms and strong guitars with the angry growls of main vocalist Cynthia Nelson. These heavy rock songs rely on head-pounding rhythms, but the true driving force is her vehement poetic screams. This six-sided gem is cohesive, priming listers for a full-legnth that will likely cut any durable surface. Fierce rock lullabies: "Dying on the Vine", "Steal" and "Freewheelin' Johnnie".
Ruby Falls mines the territory of boldness and subtley, beautiful noise, and verge-of-meltdown emo-rock. A NYC four-piece with dual girl vocals, the band provide raging examples of the fine line between Scrawl (good) and "slick" emotionless singing. The dominant feeling on What She Does is panic-striken, yet comfortingly heartfelt. "Evangeline Falls" hosts a welcome sense of urgency and immediacy; "She doesn't know what it means, but she knows what it means to need." Dark epiphonies like "Dying on the Vine" stick to the ribs, while ball buster "Freewheelin' Johnnie" rocks with utnmost conviction, and could serve as a call to arms for those who still feel the pinch of the double standard in 1996
The razor sharp guitar sounds provided by Letha Rodman and vocalist Jennifer Rogers cut nerves, off-kilter, neck to neck with the by-turns maniacal and graceful drumming of newcomer Laura Rogers. Next to the vibrant vocals of bassist Cynthia Nelson (who is also in Retsin), Crazy Horse-ish solos mix with post-punk time signatures, gorgeous harmonies, and bold accents.
Given the response Ruby Falls have recieved to date from their singles and compilation tracks, What She Does should prove a welcome 26 minutes of blister. The only problem? You might want to hear more.
