The Ruts
The Crack

THE REVIEW

When this record came out, I wasn't born yet; I can hardly blame myself for that, but perhaps I might have understood better how the Ruts phenomenon exploded and ended within just a few years. Now it's simple: only one song signifies the name of this band, "Babylon's Burning", while everything else remains in the shadows. Perhaps snubbed by some for their Hit Parade success, perhaps marked as a sort of minor Clash, the Ruts enjoyed a dizzying success and their historical fame today is not always remembered. Directed against racism, they organized several events like "Rock Against Racism," staying particularly close to the English working class. Part of their success was due to the inclusion of reggae songs in their setlists and lyrics with strong themes, sometimes misunderstood, double-edged blades.

After the substantial sale of singles, the Ruts recorded their first album: "The Crack". Complete and substantial, mature and devoid of nonsense, an album to be consecrated, rich in avant-garde tracks. Even though it's far from the harsh and confusing sounds that would characterize punk in the years to come, I can perceive an important step forward towards the future hardcore musical approach. The tracks are not excessively long, rich in nuances, and well-crafted. The guitar work is varied, alternating energetic riffs with atmospheric chords without breaking the musical continuity, evidently influenced by Jamaican sounds, they make great use of offbeat rhythms making everything much more catchy and dynamic. A strong point of the instrumental part is Jennings' bass; it fills those empty spaces with an almost funky touch, making his instrument the real backbone of the Ruts' music. Owen's voice, on the other hand, manages to hit us from within, simple but present, with a warm, hoarse tone, expressing the band's message with a personal rebellious sensitivity. Some tracks are entirely reggae music, but beware, "Jah War" or "Give Youth a Chance" are not provocative fantasies, but heartfelt pacifist messages of hope that couldn't have been more effective otherwise. As for the recording, I must say it is perfect. Every component was placed in its rightful space, no one invades the other's territory, every instrument is positioned perfectly to make listening a true pleasure.

Overall, I could never say which track of this album is the best, every song has its strong point, every song has its own contamination, every song is a testament to the Ruts' musical activity. It seems too limiting to say that in this work only "Babylon's Burning" is noteworthy, I would like to point out, for example, "Savage Circle", "You Are Just a...", or "S.U.S.". Anyway, I repeat that all the songs have a unique charisma.

Owen will die of an overdose shortly after the release of this album, a pity, I would have been really curious to hear what would have happened in the future, the pointless reunions could not make headway. Without Owen, the Ruts were like a fly without wings.

The album is a milestone, in few words, I recommend it to any music enthusiast.