Michigan’s A Rueful Noise, ‘The Ashen Glow’ – Album Review
A Rueful Noise, “The Ashen Glow” album review – Author: Anne Erickson, Photo via A Rueful Noise
There’s really nothing better than getting a jam-packed new album from one of your favorite artists that isn’t full of songs you’ve already heard. In that spirit, Lansing, Michigan, alternative rockers A Rueful Noise recently released a new studio album, “The Ashen Glow,” offering 11 new originals. It’s a special treat in an era of singles-driven music.
Michigan’s A Rueful Noise, ‘The Ashen Glow’
A Rueful Noise bring together Nicholas Merz and Jennifer Toms, who are married, as well as Todd Karinen. The group makes really well-written rock ‘n’ roll with chaotic guitars, heavy rhythms and wispy vocals.
“The Ashen Glow” kicks off with “The Big Lake,” which has a deep groove and nostalgic alternative-indie rock vibe. Bands such as Hole and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs come to mind, especially with Toms’ light and airy vocals that sit perfectly on top of the instrumentation. This is really a choice track to kick off the album, because it’s so full of different shades and atmospheres and gets the listener curious and wanting more.
“Winterdream” follows, with Merz and Toms sharing some vocal duties. This song, like much of the album, takes the listener on a wild journey. In fact, this song is so filled with different sounds and experiences that it’s hard to believe it’s just over three minutes long. Listening, it seems like it would take a 10-minute song to pack this much variety. “Winterdream” is also experimental sounding, very heavy and almost has a Black Sabbath vibe.
One of the major strengths of “The Ashen Glow” is the album’s variety. No one track sounds the same, ever. Case in point: “Dead to the Moonlight” is a dark, grandiose ballad that sounds nothing like anything else on the album. As the album plays on, “Sagarmatha” offers doomy metal, and “Open Up Anew” brings a more commercial-sounding track with well-produced vocals and a catchy hook. If I were to pick a “single” off this album, it would definitely be “Open Up Anew.”
“The Ashen Glow” is an exciting collection of modern songs that take the listener back to a different era. It also has a very live feel, which makes the tracks sound real and raw. Closing my eyes and listening to this album, I could almost imagine being at one of their shows. It’ll be interesting to see what A Rueful Noise does next, because they obviously love dabbling in different styles and stretching their musical muscles, and boy, are they good at it.
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