I love... Gary Numan, The The, Cold Play, Led friggin Zeppelin, Beck, Loretta Lynn and stuff like and unlike that.
Sounds Like
Purchase Ruby Rendrag albums here and help pay for the next album!
WARTIME FAVORITES 2008 BUY AT CDBABY
OR PURCHASE ON iTUNES
INTERRUPTED 2007
BUY AT CDBABY
OR PURCHASE ON iTUNES
The new Rendrag Alternative compilation CD has finally been printed and is now for sale at Ruby's shows or now through Pay Pal for only $5.00 NO SHIPPING, NO TAX!
Get your copy now and help support New Orleans' Rock, Alternative, Americana and Experimental bands.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Big Blue Marble
The Pests
Jim Smith
The Public
Mary LaSang
Caleb Guillotte
Les Poissons Rouges
Dana Abbott
Meadow Flow
A Living Soundtrack
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE: All proceeds go to reprinting to help promote these New Orleans musicians and the next compilation release.
Curt Hauff – Hardrock Haven
Amazingly, Ruby Rendrag's debut album has been three years in the making. It nearly didn't see the light of day. In fact, this is arguably the second or third album she's actually recorded. After enduring many setbacks and tragedies, Ruby will finally release Wartime Favorites to the world.
The album has an alternative, folk feel but carries with it the punk attitude of Blondie or the Pretenders. Ruby's voice slightly resembles a mix of Chrissie Hynde and Natalie Merchant. Songs like "Superman", "Not Today" and "Long Way Up" showcase this attitude and sound superbly.
The instrumentation is actually quite intricate, but is mixed and blended well. To the untrained ear, the music is just "really good". And if you listen closely, you'll find the reason it gets this reaction is that there are intricate layers of piano, guitar, strings and other instruments used to create the canvas that Ruby paints her lyrics on.
Ruby Rendrag delivers an honest, heartfelt performance in "High and Dry". While it's a cover of a Radiohead song, it fits extremely well into this album and many people will have no idea it's not hers. If you've heard the original, this version has a similar feel, but Ruby puts her signature vocal on it to give it a fresh sound.
"Superman" and "Not Today" are definitely bright spots. However, "High and Dry" and "Meditation" are definitely worth a listen as well. If you are into the artistic song for the sake of artistic-ness, you should dig "W-26" and "Clair de Lune" as well. Both are unique tracks and will give you a clear picture of the soul that is Ruby.__You have to admire the creativity in "Sonata 1" even if it is only an artistic interest. The piece starts with what sounds like an authentic radio recording from the '30s. The sonata is an elegant piano piece, but the audio is adjusted to make it sound old school. Even though it doesn't fit the sonic qualities of the rest of the album, it certainly nails home the album's title and theme.
If you dig the alternative side of folk pop, Wartime Favorites will be a good addition to your music library. Ruby Rendrag is nothing if not left of center. She is the hope that there is still music being made that isn't made from the same snowman cookie cutter that we've been fed since we were 5 years old.
Dino Lull - Metro Spirit- Augusta, GA
Ruby Rendrag has been a solo artist for only three years now, but she’s earned her bragging rights the hard way: playing in numerous music groups. Her backing band is no slouch either, as many of them can lay the same claim.
It should come as no surprise that the "Wartime Favorites" album by solo artist Ruby Rendrag is a tight, well put together piece of musicianship from veterans of the New Orleans music scene. Moody and bluesy, it packs an infectious little punch into all twelve songs.
Some of the best musicians have come from New Orleans, a city usually known for the Dixieland Jazz style. While Ruby Rendrag may not have much traditional jazz sound in her music, there is definitely an eclectic rocking singer-songwriter attitude to her music that is a mainstay of New Orleans rock ‘n’ roll.
Often, like early '90s girl rock groups such as the Breeders or Liz Phair, as demonstrated on the rollicking opening track “Not Today,” the New Orleans native pounds out catchy, grungy songs backed with a tight symphonic sound. Other tracks like “Nothing” carry a more somber note, lonely and slower. She also does a really inspired cover of Radiohead’s “High and Dry.” One of the best songs on the album is “W-26,” slow and melodic with a foot pumping pace, it brings together haunting Pixies-esque background sounds to a western campfire ditty. Deeply rich with a moody, bluesy sound, “W-26” is a perfect song fraught with emotional turmoil. While other songs like “Anything You Are” remind one of the more emotionally-based rock of Ani DiFranco or Frente. Still, other tracks like “Meditation” carry a more upbeat traditional New Orleans feeling. “I’m Gonna Go Crazy” is toe-tapping, catchy and sultry. The piano solo is classic old school.
While "Wartime Favorites" may be Ruby Rendrag’s second album since going solo in 2005, it is really the record to introduce her sound.
Not just your average singer-songwriter fare, "Wartime Favorites" packs in a mixture of classically trained musicianship and deeply personal female vocals for an album that keeps a hum in the back of the throat and feet bouncing along to the catchy beats.
The Guest List
“Rendrag gives us an album that is moody, dark, adult alternative that is easily going to be compared to the likes of Fiona Apple. Rendrag dives deep into real life and displays songs that offer a look at everything from good to bad, hopeful to lost, etc… and it is all masked by left of the dial alternative based music that encompasses your every emotion that one can feel while listening to music. The cello on tracks like "Superman," add a unique element to the album, while the outstanding cover of the popular Radiohead song "High and Dry," is going to raise an eyebrow or two. They say that through tough times comes great accomplishments and Rendrag's "Wartime Favorites" is the proof. A great album that is unlike everything else out there right now yet familiar enough to keep you listening.”
Jerry Henry - The Planet Weekly
New Orleans' Ruby Rendrag has released an impressive album, Wartime Favorites (www.rubyrendrag.com) especially considering it was recorded in a FEMA trailer. This is not a soul album but this lady has soul and the music behind her is played to perfection. She gets your attention with the opener "Not Today" but gets you hooked with the next track "Superman" which should get her noticed. Ruby can also rock and does with "Meditation." Wartime Favorites' material is impressive and so is Ruby's voice
Hey Ruby, The Article is in Vintage Guitar Magazine Vol23 no2 December of 2008.Howard Leese of Heart is on the Cover.It is on Page 166.If You want I can send You the Copy I have.Let me Know. As far as How are things going up here,Well,It's the Rockies and I have been around the world 10 times and I keep coming back here.It's the most Beautiful Place on this Planet.I Love the Bayou,But You do not sweat up here!!!!!!!!!!!If You would like to come up and do some gigs.There is always something we can work out.Ask Ron.We have had Beth up here doing gigs for the past five Years.Hope to Hear from You soon. Much LOVE D4A
Hey Ruby! How are you? Thought I'd drop by and say hi, had meant to do it a lot earlier! I LOVE listening to your tracks! You truly truly ROCK girl!! That's what I call REAL music! Hope everything is going great in your world. Keep inspiring and being true to yourself, catch ya later. X
There was a guy with your itty bitty amp wearing what could have been my jeans (all sorts of holy) playing across from the A & P in the Quarter. It's actually a Rouse's now, just not to me.
It was plenty loud. Have you tried hitting the streets with that thing yet? It'd work.
I think I'm going to play classical between the Photo Gallery and the jewelry shop on Royal in the daytime. One of the guys on the street seems to think it'd be a good fit. I can't imagine that it will be that lucrative but I'm not making a dime doing the same damn thing on my couch.
HEY I HATE TO BE THE BARER OF BAD NEWS & I WOULD HAVE CALLED IF I STILL HAD UR # BUT ANY WAYS I DON'T KNOW IF U HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BUT KAYLA WAS IN A SEVRE CAR ACCIDENT & SHE'S IN INTENSIVE OF CARE @ OCHSNER HOSPITAL(JEFFERSON HWY)TONI HAS HELD UP WELL BUT I THINK SHE COULD REALLY USE ONE OF US THERE FOR HER I'M 12 hrs AWAY I KNOW UR BUSY BUT IF U COULD IT WOULD REALLY MEAN ALOT TO ALL OF US & I THOUGHT U SHOULD KNOW WHAT HAPPEN.KAYLA'S REALLY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE,SHE GOT A LONG RECOVERY,BUT I'M JUS HOPEFUL SHE'LL BE OK I'LL MESSAGE U & LEAVE MY # SO U CAN CALL ME FOR ANY DETAILS!I'VE MISSED SEEING U BUT I STILL PLAY MY CD & WHERE MY SHIRT EVEN ALL THE WAY UP HERE IN S.CAROLINA I TAKE RUBY WHERE EVER I GO!
I miss my therapy! You know it! I may have a cool part time job soon. Then I'll be free to release the creative beast once again. Hope all is well with you!
High Ruby, Nah just rehashing the existing stuff! :^) Too stressed out to make new music. Still trying to find a real job. I really gotta win the lottery! Nobody will hire me. They really hate former self employed creative types!! Guess I'm gonna have to figure out a way to make money with music once again.
