Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

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



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

. 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

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Friday, December 5, 2025
ALBUMS
Leslie Jordan Memos - EP (independent)
JVKE & FORREST FRANK this is what christmas feels like [AWAL]
Knaladeus Never Left [Syntax]
Nunky Koma My All - EP [SOZO]
MATTHEWS The Darkest Light [Curb]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship Glory Glory - Single [DREAM]
99 APEX My Love - Double Single [Syntax]
B.Cooper Peace (feat. SIV) - Single [RMG Amplify]
Peter Burton Where Would I Be (feat. Matthew West) - Single [Integrity]
Cleansing Of The Temple Mary Did You Know? - Single [Rottweiler]
EJ Swavv, Edify, 1KChvcho Come From - Single [Syntax]
Alex Henry Foster City on Fire - Single [Hopeful Tragedy]
Heather Suzanne, Ian Austin Sleeping Child of Bethlehem - Single [Ocean House]
iNTELLECT, Procyse Lose Yourself - Single [Polished Arrow]
Living Again Dive Into - Single [Ocean House]
Myles Maestro New Life - Single [Syntax]
Ronnie Martin O Christmas Day - Single [Velvet Blue]
Seth Metoyer Flicker Of December - Single [Rottweiler/Broken Curfew]
Lexly Nirvana Honestamente ft. Manny Gee - Single [Syntax]
Q-FLO Heaven - Single [Syntax]
Run51 Good News (A Christmas Medley) - Single [DREAM]
Seventh Day Slumber You Say - Single [RockFest]
Tds Cam Scared Of The Beautiful - Single [Syntax]
VOTA Hold for Applause - Single (independent)
Zach Williams If God Lives Here (Live) - Single [Provident]
Yung Drew, De'Aris, prodbyzayne LEMME TALK - Single [Syntax]

Next Friday, December 12, 2025
ALBUMS
Angelica Walkin' In Faith: 35th Anniversary Collectors Edition [Girder]
Idle Cure 2nd Avenue: 35th Anniversary Collectors Edition [Girder]

SINGLES
John Long Thankful - Single [Ocean House]
Mountain People Worship I Don’t Know Where To Start - Single [Ocean House]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images