A guy I met one time sent me a link to his new album. In 2014, Ricky Tesla played bass and sang in a South Carolina band called Revolt Plan 8. They played grungy punk, lead by bass riffs accompanied by super tight drums and modest guitar flavors. It's rare to receive personal messages plugging new work so I took it as an invitation to ask some questions and do a review.
Ruins is compiled mostly of loops and guitar noodling with the sentimental feeling you might get showing up stoned to a flea market. Track one gives you the impression that something large is being built. Maybe it's the fuzzy drum loop, shambling along like an ancient concrete mixer plugged into a practice amp. Brick by brick, like the pyramids, we witness the laying of Ricky's foundation. Of course the meat and potatoes of the opener could be digested within three minutes but things are different when you take the time to space out. Your ears start playing tricks on you. Often with a homemade album, each track is like a different dish cooked up with the same ingredients. Some are basic sides while others hit you with everything at once. Regardless, it all digests the same.
The most memorable track is Blue Meadow, with the cool riff. Again, the beat conjures a vision of ancient egypt if they had had smelly garages piled with old music gear. Stuff like your first drum set.
You could upgrade the stock cymbals and buy some new sticks but the old ones, a decade beyond repair, still have some love to give. While some of the riffs could vamp some classic sludging doomer jam, their purpose was decided the same as an undercooked noodle. Surely some ideas were thrown out in the creation of Ruins but Ricky made a point to make the most of everything he had.
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