Ruby Vroom

First of all, let me lay to rest the notion that Soul Coughing's five-star ratings are artificial. This band was easily one of the most creative, innovative and interesting to hit pop radio in twenty years. While they are (obviously) beyond some people's ken, those of us who like them understand their achievements. Never has a band blended poetry, hip-hop, rock, folk, blues, techno and more into such a wonderfully quirky and listenable mix as Soul Coughing, and frankly, I despair of seeing such creativity again now that they are gone.

Ruby Vroom contains some of the most memorable songs I have ever heard. "True Dreams of Wichita" is a wistful love song that conjures up ghostly images of a small town in Kansas. "Uh Zoom Zip" is a super-charged bass grooving song whose words are a nonsense-jam of epic proportions. "City of Motors" tells a sinister story of a cat burglar and a witness who tells all... "BlueEyed Devil" tells the tale of a travelling salesman who ODs on the floor of a motel bathroom.

The best-known song from this record is "Screenwriters' Blues", the epic snapshot of Doughty's imgagined life as a screenwriter in Los Angeles. The song is rife with imagery that contrasts the negative aspects of Hollywood and the L.A. scene with the beauty the city often exhibits. When I saw Soul Coughing in San Fran two years ago, they opened with this song to amazing effect. The entire audience was singing along.

I personally don't think this band is very much like Cake; you may be disappointed if you buy the record on such a recommendation. I think Soul Coughing cannot be pigeonholed in any way, nor can you point to any one band that might have heavily influenced them. In a wasteland of bad pop bands, Soul Coughing was an oasis of beauty and originality. Rest assured, we are poorer as a nation for their breakup.

Bottom line: if you are open-minded and appreciate originality, I think you will like Soul Coughing. Ruby Vroom is as good a place to start listening as any.

I've been a diehard fan of Soul Coughing for a little over a year by now, and I just purchased this CD in June of 2000. I must say that it completely amazed me. Out of three stellar albums, this is definitely Soul Coughing's best. My favorite song on Ruby Vroom has to be "Bus to Beelzebub," either because it makes no sense whatsoever or because of the beginning. All I really know is that it didn't leave my head for weeks after I got the CD (get onto the bus...). Close second is "Screenwriters Blues," followed by "Sugar Free Jazz."

I most certainly wasted no money at all on this album, because it's kept it's spot in the very first pocket of my CD case ever since I got it. If there's a Soul Coughing album I'd reccommend you get first, it'd be Ruby Vroom.

Doing a quick glance over the various reviews of this album, i have noticed only one reviewer who even attempted to throughly criticize the hell out of this album. And a good job he did...for himself. But clearly, whoever recomended that he listen to Soul Coughing was glossly mistaken. Being the creepy stalker that i am, i read his other reviews to find that his primary musical interests center around 70s pop music, and while he may enjoy Cake, this is diffrent.

Diffrent to say the least. Soul Coughing is one of few bands that cannot be accurately compared to anything else at all. Sure, you can pick out the influences, but the complete sound is unique. It's a little like morphine, with free-form poetry and some drum and bass. Or like some of Garbages older stuff, but less electro and a male vocalist. Truely, though, Soul Coughing is not a band you ought to recommend to anyone based one their appreciation of another band.

"Ruby Vroom" is in my opinion, one of the greatest albums to be made in the 90s. I'm sure that comment won't go over well with the Nirvana crowd, but it's true. From the flawless, almost techno-quality drums of Yuval Gabay, to the haunting and precise upright bass of Sebastian, to, best of all, the vocals of Mike Doughty. Doughty does not sing songs about specific stuff, like falling in love or how politics are in the toilet. He sings about things that, granted, do not make complete sense, but rather, convey a mood.

And "Ruby Vroom" is all kinds of moody. The combination of unusual vocals and the use of an upright bass gives the entire album a brooding and dark tone. The wall to wall "hits" include "Casiotone Nation" (a song who's lyrics change every time it is performed) "Bus To Beelzebub" (which opens with a sample from a 'Looney Toons' song) "True Dreams Of Wichita" "Mr. Bitterness", and best of all "Screenwriters Blues", a track i personally think could continue the length on an entire LP and not get stale.

My humble opinion, but by the looks of it, I'm in good company.