Ruston Kelly - Shape & Destroy (August 28, 2020) Album • Page 10

I think Brave is my favorite at this point, which in a year where Phoebe Bridgers and Soccer Mommy released similarly “hopeful, yet devastating” work, is very very impressive. Think Ruston has a crossover appeal that he really should be leaning into more, from a press perspective

 

If the singles are really out-of-this-world great, I think hearing them before the album comes out can actually enhance my enjoyment. That definitely happened with The Killers this year.

 

Feel like the singles for this are a pretty bad example of what the record is like. It’s a lot more upbeat than they’d have you believe imo. Also, on first listen, this is probably the best album I’ve heard this year

 

This is my first time listening to him. I love his voice! The first two tracks are my favorites.

 

Wow. Never realized R Kelly's first name was Ruston...

 

i’m good with not thinking about pedophiles in this thread tbh.

 

Yep, I’m fine not thinking about that piece of shit ever again.

 

Bad joke. I understand. Just never heard of Ruston Kelly before and unfortunately that's what caught my eye and made me check him out. At least something good came of it. Discovered a great new artist.

 

hell yeah bro I got like 301 or something when I bought it yesterday

 

This record should be huge. On here and everywhere, it's so good

 

Okay so a couple of thoughts. This is really good but it hasn't hit me quite as hard as Dying Star did right off that bat. Take nothing away from this though as it's great. Only song I'm not really sold on is Jubilee. Also I kind of wish he would have named the album "Hallelujah Anyway"

 

Agreed.

 

This is really great, but definitely too early to feel like I can honestly compare it to Dying Star.

Also, I totally agree with this.

 

It doesn't knock me out like Dying Star did, but I think I'll probably put it on more often.

 

As much as I love Dying Star, it's such a bleak listen that I don't listen to it all that often, especially with the world how it is right now. This album, while also melancholy, has enough hope in it that I feel like it's easier to listen to.

Too early to say which I like more. Feel like they'll be albums I put on when I'm in different moods. But they're both incredible.

 

Just curious if anyone has gotten emails about it being shipped yet?

 

No

 

His closers are so good and both leave me wishing they were more than 90 seconds long.

 

I don't hate Shape & Destroy as a title but every time I finish the album I can't help but think that Hallelujah Anyway would've been a killer title. Honestly my only nitpick with the whole album so far: the title isn't as good as his first (+EP) or as good as it could've been.

 

shape & destroy is a great title, as is his explanation for it. better than hallelujah anyway, which is clunky.

 

I think Shape & Destroy is super appropriate thematically, especially with how he tends to go back and forth between songs that seem more hopeful and songs that seem to be a little more despairing. I think the title speaks more to the daily process of rebuilding your life the way he has. "Hallelujah Anyway" is a great name for the closing track to that album, however.

 

Both are potentially interesting album names. I agree with Craig though. Also, Shape and Destroy seems fitting for this year.

 

I don't think it's clunky at all. It's a beautiful mix of poetic and conversational, which is so his writing style. It certainly doesn't clunk when he sings it.

 

This is one of those albums that has just completely taken over my life, but I can't articulate any of my feelings towards it in a meaningful way anyone would want to read (just yet). I traveled to Nashville to see him at The Ryman, and that was my last show before quarantine, and now that this is out I'm just suuuuuper wishing I could see every single one of these songs live... but at least I'm feeling something again!

 

To be clear, I think Hallelujah Anyway would be a great title too. I just think Shape & Destroy makes a lot of sense.