Wanderings

A jam band through and through, Ruby Dune would be hard-pressed to differentiate themselves from the masses. One of the principle differences between jam bands and indie rock bands (who seem to function similarly) is that jam bands seem to be formed following the existence of other bands, where indie groups are formed in reaction to the lack of bands making a specific sound. Ruby Dune seems a case-in-point example. While their music doesn't sound like any specific group, their overall presentation is heartily derivative of a variety of sources, not in the least Phish and Moe, among others. There is a bright sound topped with swirling wah-wah guitar leads (here by Vim Tingle) and colorful piano parts (performed by Jason Zubiel). The music is mostly innocuous. To their credit, the album has a unified tone production-wise, sounding wispy and wistful throughout, even if the songs themselves are anything but. Occasionally, it gets to be a little too much, such as on the over-produced, synth-driven "Tide." Ponderous lyrics top culturally tension-less music.