Ruins
by First Aid Kit
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Jan 19, 2018
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 42
  3. Negative: 2 out of 42
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  1. taylorgc
    Feb 8, 2018
    10
    Phenomenal album from the Soderberg sisters. They tap even further into the classic country influences that have always permeated their records. This sound that is "more country" than their previous albums is the perfect backdrop for the heartbreaking lyrics of Ruins. Ruins is an album about being crumbled to pieces in the wake of the end of a long-term relationship. This album almostPhenomenal album from the Soderberg sisters. They tap even further into the classic country influences that have always permeated their records. This sound that is "more country" than their previous albums is the perfect backdrop for the heartbreaking lyrics of Ruins. Ruins is an album about being crumbled to pieces in the wake of the end of a long-term relationship. This album almost takes you through the "stages of grief" with songs like "Fireworks" that highlights longing and reminiscing and songs like "Hem of Her Dress" that offers an angrier point of view as to why and how a relationship might crumble.

    With Ruins, First Aid Kit built a tragic album that, though it may be a bit depressing at times, sounds amazing and taps into all of the emotions that surround the end of something you thought would last longer than it did.    … Expand
  2. justachair
    Jan 20, 2018
    6
    Being a First Aid Kit record, "Ruins" has, as expected, gorgeous vocals throughout, and a general pleasant easy-listening quality to it. However, as an album, it is easily their most inconsistent yet.
    The first half is pretty great. "Rebel Heart" is a really good start to the album as it showcases the vocal ability of the Söderberg sisters on the forefront, with minimal instrumentation    Being a First Aid Kit record, "Ruins" has, as expected, gorgeous vocals throughout, and a general pleasant easy-listening quality to it. However, as an album, it is easily their most inconsistent yet.
    The first half is pretty great. "Rebel Heart" is a really good start to the album as it showcases the vocal ability of the Söderberg sisters on the forefront, with minimal instrumentation except for a great instrumental break towards the end. Then we get the three amazing singles "It's A Shame", "Fireworks" and "Postcard", all of them which are great and catchy for their own reasons (Especially "Fireworks", possibly one of the best ballads the duo ever produced). Closing the first half, we find the grower "To Live a Life", a devastating song about learning to live alone and the hopes of solitude being just a dream, it starts off unassuming and bursts into full catharsis towards the end.
    But then the second half kicks in, and it just flies by leaving no impression whatsoever. The most memorable song on this side of the record, "Hem of Her Dress", is easily the worst son on the album, playing off like an unfinished song that was added a cheesy and very annoying "LALALA" chant at the end to give it closure. It's also important to mention that this song follows the very quiet title track, so the transition is very awkward. The closing track, "Nothing Has to Be True" is very sleepy, and for some reason, it has a cacophonous drone at the end so as to trick the listener to think FAK is trying new things and experimenting, but it just comes out as obvious.
    Overall, this project is fine, with great songs to elevate some okay ones. FAK has made another album with the kind of music everyone can enjoy passively.    … Expand
  3. abrah
    Feb 5, 2018
    0
    big trash..................................................................
  4. RafaelSeixas
    Apr 22, 2018
    8
    "Ruins" é um álbum convincentemente bom! Novamente, uma arte que mostra o melhor lado das irmãs "First Aid Kit", porém, comparando-o com os dois últimos e fabulosos álbuns ("The Lions Roar" e "Stay Gold"), seria uma heresia muito grande colocar "Ruins" no mesmo patamar que os outros, o que é uma pena. As mudanças de estilo, mesmo que sutis, levam as irmãs uma nova fase da carreira, porém,"Ruins" é um álbum convincentemente bom! Novamente, uma arte que mostra o melhor lado das irmãs "First Aid Kit", porém, comparando-o com os dois últimos e fabulosos álbuns ("The Lions Roar" e "Stay Gold"), seria uma heresia muito grande colocar "Ruins" no mesmo patamar que os outros, o que é uma pena. As mudanças de estilo, mesmo que sutis, levam as irmãs uma nova fase da carreira, porém, é nítida a falta de imponência nas faixas. Algumas, como "To Live a Life" e "Hem of Her Dress", ilustram bem esta ausência de peso - tão marcante nos trabalhos anteriores de FAK. Porém, ainda assim, é um grande e belo trabalho.… Expand
  5. fwtll636
    May 13, 2018
    9
    First Aid Kit released 'Ruins', a confident collection of indie-pop songs that call upon the girl's beautiful song-writing abilities without drowning in their influences.
  6. jbs51
    May 5, 2018
    7
    This is the first album of theirs that I personally thought was worth buying. These two girls have incredibly beautiful voices but musically are not going to blow you away. Their past albums have had one or two incredibly good songs on them with the rest kind of beings duds. "Ruins" is their first where this is not the case. The album may not have any high points as incredible asThis is the first album of theirs that I personally thought was worth buying. These two girls have incredibly beautiful voices but musically are not going to blow you away. Their past albums have had one or two incredibly good songs on them with the rest kind of beings duds. "Ruins" is their first where this is not the case. The album may not have any high points as incredible as "Emmylou," but it really doesn't have any real low points either. Every song is consistent and lyrically pretty nice. Listen to "Postcard," "Rebel Heart," and "Hem of Her Dress." If you like those then I would recommend this album for you. These girls could be really great if they got a solid band behind them that could produce an inspired sound. Otherwise, we'll make due with their amazing harmonies and pretty lyrics.… Expand
  7. Sardine3
    Jun 4, 2019
    9
    This album shows great songwriting maturity,this combined with a fuller more adventurous production has resulted in a minor classic ,Bravo ladies.

Awards & Rankings

60
#60 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Magnet
    Apr 17, 2018
    80
    When they open up and truly let go, they achieve states of near euphoria and joyous magnificence. [No. 150, p.56]
  2. No Ripcord
    Feb 14, 2018
    60
    Ruins is an affecting, comforting listen, but not one that will imprint itself too vividly in the memory.
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  3. Record Collector
    Feb 1, 2018
    80
    Wherever you listen, Ruins pairs tough truths and tender melodies with tremendous expressive punch, from the piercing self-investigations of the title-track to Hem Of Her Dress, where heartache and rage merge with raucous honesty. Meanwhile, Nothing Has To Be True hews beauty from transformative circumstance.
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