Ella Rouge (2006)

Ella Rouge

Moby Dick

Review of Ella Rouge

Who is Ella Rouge?  Yeah, I never heard of them either before someone contacted me about taking a listen to their album.  But I can almost assure that you will be hearing a lot about them in the coming years.  They are that good.

To begin with they have a good sound - or should I say sounds?  The first song on the album "That's Me With The Gun" has a great intro, and gets you to listen right away.  The production quality shows right up front.  The song immediately becomes a little harder and driving.  It has an early new-wave sound to it with a more modern edge. The second song is more of a alternative-rock ballad with a touch of Coldplay and a softer Nirvana.  The third song, "Jekyll n Hyde" has a late seventies - early eighties pop quality to it -- maybe a touch of influence from papa? (Benny Andersson of ABBA fame is lead singer Ludvig Andersson's father).

What places them above most of the other bands out their is their total sound comes together with excellent lyrics.  If you get a chance to listen to this album and have played it through to listen to the songs, listen to it again with the lyrics (enclosed in the CD casing) in hand -- listen to the words of the songs - you will be amazed.  Maybe not Lennon & McCartney, but the "Weary" track provides you with yet another sound and some real words. [They also have a thing for Sammy Davis - why?]

The album has something for everyone, with some tracks better than others.  For instance, I like the lyrics to "Eldorado High," but the song itself was too "pop" without much musical substance.  The change of music tempos is sometimes well placed, however, at times there is too much discrepancy between one song and another to make you say, what were they thinking putting this song here?

Overall, a great debut album for a good young band.  Well written, well produced and well played (the vocals are at the center of your attention, but I must mention that the band members create the very strong atmosphere for the many levels of their music.)  This is one of those albums that I will listen to again and will not collect dust on the CD rack.

"Oh Butterfly, Never Goodbye"

{Reviewed by Ian Ripley}

Tracks

Song Title

1. That's Me With The Gun
2. Holly Golightly
3. Jekyll N Hyde
4. Manhattan
5. Weary
6. The L.A. Dogs
7. Eldorado High
8. Into The Light
9. Light The Fuse 82's
10. Gender Jaded
11. Famous Jack

Related Links

Ella Rouge Official Website

Click Above to Purchase Ella Rouge

This review was written by Ian Ripley. Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved.