Ruins
by First Aid Kit
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Jan 19, 2018
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
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  1. No Ripcord
    Feb 14, 2018
    60
    Ruins is an affecting, comforting listen, but not one that will imprint itself too vividly in the memory.
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Jan 22, 2018
    60
    The album’s second half glides hazily by, never actually disappointing, but maintaining a mid-tempo pensiveness that is a little too comforting for comfort.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    Jan 19, 2018
    60
    Ruins is a thoroughly pretty piece of work, lovingly presented. The question hanging over it, though, is how long First Aid Kit can get away with making revisions to the original model before the law of diminishing returns begins to kick in hard.
  5. The Independent (UK)
    Jan 17, 2018
    60
    It’s tough stuff, tempered by the Soderbergs’ instinctive harmonies, which remain as sweet as ever, and the inventive folk-rock arrangements textured with typical empathy by producer Tucker Martine, involving members of R.E.M., Midlake and Wilco.
  6. Pretty Much Amazing
    Jan 26, 2018
    50
    Ruins isn’t a bad record, or a weak one, it’s a boring one.

Awards & Rankings

60
#60 Most Shared Album of 2018

User Reviews

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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
  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 theirPhenomenal 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.    … Full Review »
  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.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.    … Full Review »
  3. 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.
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