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If this is a somewhat more sedate effort than the hot-wired Flat Duo Jets of yore, Ruins of Berlin shows Dexter Romweber's passion and gifts are as strong as ever, and the result is a compelling album from a one of a kind talent with plenty to offer.
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It's fevered outbursts like 'Lookout' and 'Grey Skies,' where Dex unleashes his slightly sloshed voice and surfabilly guitar, that have real soul-saving potential
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The record’s oversized persona feels strange because these sounds don’t owe that much to the twang or crate-digging excavations that built Romweber’s reputation.
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Under The RadarThe duets with Cat Power, Neko Case, and Exene Cervenka are understated, yet dynamic. [Winter 2009, p.78]
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Anyone familiar with the Flat Duo Jets will tell you that Dexter Romweber is a helluva guitarist (Jack White is a proud fan club member), yet our boy Dex has always been lacking in the vocal department. So his delivery on Ruins Of Berlin sometimes sounds more like a Buster Poindexter impression of Conway Twitty.
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Though his lyrics are underwhelming, his smart choice in collaborators and inventive instrumental cuts like 'Polish Work Song' and 'Grey Skies' more than compensate, making Ruins of Berlin both a testament to Romweber's ongoing influence and a compelling record in its own right.
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Ruins of Berlin might not play at the Cabaret Voltaire, but damned if Romweber doesn’t have some fun following this new muse.