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JFH Music Review



Out Of Ruin
What I Can't See



Album length: 12 tracks: 44 minutes, 6 seconds
Street Date: April 29, 2008


Newly signed to Vertical Shift Records, Out Of Ruin is a new rock band founded by brothers Gram and Ben Messer. Their Vertical debut, What I Can't See, is merely a rehashing of the band's indie album, Mosaic Soul, with only a slight change in track listing.

The album starts off on a high note with four excellent tracks. "This is We" and "Lifting Me" are midtempo pop-rockers with catchy tunes and nice lyrics. "Broken Pieces" is probably the hardest track of the album, musically speaking, with its crunching guitars, and upbeat feel. Especially impressive is its use of metaphors---God picking up your broken pieces and reforming them into a "mosaic soul." "What I Can't See" is a lighter rock track. While it doesn't quite fall into ballad territory, the song has a slower pace. The middle of the album mostly runs together. A few of the songs are catchy at best, but nothing particularly memorable or special. For the most part, Out Of Ruin's style sounds too similar to fellow pop-rockers Jars Of Clay to produce anything unique. Besides a few certain moments (like "Broken Pieces"), the lyrics seem to fall into typical Christian territory. The songs rarely venture into anything more than typical clichés.

The album picks up again on the last few tracks, but is disappointingly not enough to redeem the whole album. "Alimente El Corazon" is the album's only instrumental song. With a latin-influenced feel, this song gives listeners a break from their now-tired pop-rock style. The other standout, "Only Half," is a catchy ballad that closes the album and is Out of Ruin at its finest.

All in all, Out of Ruin has a good thing going for them, but this album fails to show it. As a whole, the album has been done before, and gets boring after the first few songs. What I Can't See is likable at best, but Out of Ruin does little to develop their own sound, much less, a place in the music industry.

- Review date: 6/6/08, written by Matthew Watson



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. Record Label: Vertical Shift Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 44 minutes, 6 seconds
. Street Date: April 29, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Broken Pieces
  2. Lifting Me
  3. What I Can't See
  4. This is We
  5. Spirit
  6. Step On Faith
  7. Man To Be
  8. Pictures
  9. Numb
  10. Alimente El Corazon
  11. Stand For Something
  12. Only Half
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

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This Friday, August 29, 2025
ALBUMS
Burial Extraction Rotting Flesh - EP [Charon Collective]
Jenn Chenoweth Out To Get Me - EP (independent)
Faith Child When Faith Feels Far [Wings]
Gaither Vocal Band Then Came the Morning [Gaither]
Paul and Hannah McClure After Your Heart (Live) [Bethel]
Naomi Raine Jesus Over Everything (Live in Las Vegas) [Tribl]
Saints In Exile Becoming the Villain Remix EP [Syntax]

SINGLES
Alphen & Rmc Beatz SEVEN - Single [Syntax]
Ashes Awaken A Better Way - Single [MTS]
Elan Brio Life Savers - Single (independent)
CAIN Jesus Lifted Me (feat. Brooke Ligertwood) - Single [Provident]
Chris Caro Trauma Room - Single [Syntax]
CarriedOn My Way - Single (independent)
CRC Music 4 Love - Single (independent)
Eighteen Mile Above The Clouds - Single [Mountain Home]
goodwill. The Love I Need - Single [Syntax]
Grace Graber Everything You Ever Wanted (feat. Audiophile) - Single (independent)
Kashh Kade FREEDOM - Single [Syntax]
MATTHEWS Don't Stop 'Til - Single [Curb]
Jonathan McReynolds Still (feat. Jamal Roberts) - Single [Motown Gospel]
OnBeatMusic & Dillon Chase Breathe (ft. Saint James) - Single [Syntax]
Sæle Joy - Single (independent)
Silent Reflection Eyes - Single [Syntax]
Sleeping At Last Tell Me The Truth And I'll Believe It - Single (independent)
Thrive Worship Prison Break - Single [Integrity]
Vineyard Worship Joy In Obedience - Single [Vineyard UK]
Solachi Voz Undefeated (ft. Aurrie Janelle) - Single [Syntax]
Zane Walls Dry Bones - Single [DREAM]
Denison Witmer Which Way - Double Single [Asthmatic Kitty]

Next Friday, September 5, 2025
ALBUMS
Josh Baldwin Full Grown Man, Vol. 1 - EP [Bethel]
bodie NO SKIPS [Provident]
Coqui LIVING 2 DIE - EP [DREAM]
The Gray Havens This Is Not the End [Artist Garden]

SINGLES
Carly Ann Taylor Why Should I Worry (Remind Me Version) - Single [Curb]
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