Singer/Songwriters presents :

Ruth Minnikin

CD (2003), CD (2004)

Private   Ruth Minnikin : EP (CAN,2003)***° (ex)

When I first heard Ruth’s voice from one track called “Maiden Voyage”, through the internet, it was immediately reminiscent of a voice like Jolie Holland, and I noticed its full and strong expressive potential. It is also a very beautiful song. I must still say Ruth seems also to have some inspiration rooted in folk country, perhaps textually (like on "this heavy heart", here mixed with some "blues" feeling), or musically. The first comparison seems to be a bit quickly made, but I still like her voice colour very much. She also knows how to be emotionally effective with her voice. Also, every track is worked out very nicely with a band (with acoustic guitar, mandolin, French horn, and here and on two tracks some Hawaiian pedal steel guitar and some barely noticeable percussion). All roots are transformed to a very personal expression, and with attention to detail, that it works, and that makes this release just perfect as it is. I must say I fully enjoyed each listen. Recommended.

Links further down->

Private  Ruth Minnikin : Marooned and blue (CAN,2004)**°' (g->ex)

This is the first full release by Ruth Minnikin and her band. The release sounds very consistent, often like a rock band release, rather than just a singer-songwriter backed by a band. A number of tracks set the tone with Hawaian pedal steel guitar. The use of the french horn I think fits very well in the sound of the band, though it’s not really missed when it’s not there, but it combines very well with this band.  I thought at first the emotionality in the songs and singing emotionality stands out a bit less than on the demo, and that it is more the complete band production result which might have become most important, perhaps as meant for a demo for live gigs. But after some listens I noticed not every detail had reveiled itself immediately. There surely are various tracks that showed this to me only after some listens (like "NYC", "Behind bars", "Marooned"). One or two tracks, like the last track, are too country for my taste. Personally I prefer to hear Ruth’s personal side to come across well, rather than being submerged too much in a band identity. An enjoyable album.

Homepage (with links to other reviews) : http://www.ruthminnikin.ca/

& with audio : http://www.myspace.com/ruthminnikin

Listen to demo version of debute : http://www.newmusiccanada.ca/genres/artist.cfm?Band_Id=11557

Listen to live at CBS radio here ; info : http://www.justconcerts.com/concerts/concert.cfm?Concert_Id=327 

Some other on line reviews : http://www.healthyconcerts.com/reviews/?x=|action=search|Artist_ID=268

Interview : http://ladyfriend.ca/numberone/minnikin.html

go back to the singer-songwriters index

or go back to the general index