ALBUM REVIEW: ElectrAcoustic Vol 3 – Ruts DC
In their initial incarnation as THE RUTS, the band blazed a trail and gained plaudits with their mixture of hard hitting punk rock alongside crucial dub and reggae influences, all combined with a political edge to it. They released their seminal debut album The Crack followed by the singles/demos collection Grin And Bear It and hit singles like In A Rut and Babylon’s Burning, but unfortunately vocalist Malcolm Owen sadly died of a heroin overdose and that marked the end of this incarnation of the band. They didn’t let this tragedy stop them however and carried on as RUTS DC, releasing the albums Animal Now and Rhythm Collision and keeping the flame alive before ultimately splitting up in 1983.
Over the years, THE RUTS and RUTS DC have become an almost mythical name when it comes to punk, with the material they released in their heyday becoming an inspiration to a whole host of varied musicians over the years. From Henry Rollins citing the band as a massive influence, to British rock/metal heroes THE ALMIGHTY covering In A Rut and collaborating with RUTS members on their 1996 track Coalition Star, to Brit punk upstarts GALLOWS and grime MC LETHAL BIZZLE joining forces on a version of The Ruts Staring At The Rude Boys, THE RUTS were kept in the public consciousness as their music lived on.
It was with massive joy then that RUTS DC got back together in 2007, first off with guitarist Paul Fox getting the band back together with Henry Rollins actually fronting the band as a one off alongside fellow original members Dave Ruffy and John “Segs” Jennings before Fox also sadly passed away. RUTS DC continued though and they have not stopped since, with a whole host of albums and live shows under their belts since they reformed. They have been going from strength to strength ever since and in 2024 – 45 years after they originally formed – the band are stronger than ever with Segs and Ruffy alongside Leigh Heggarty still creating the RUTS goodness with their punk and dub stylings and demonstrating the sheer resilience of their music.
With a backstory like theirs, it is warming to see that the band are still marching on and their latest release ElectrAcoustic Vol 3 sees RUTS DC go through their catalogue both past and present again to create powerful acoustic versions of their songs with brilliant results. From full on punk blasts like Secret Soldiers, Human Punk and Criminal Minds, to the blissed out dub of Jah War, to the anthemic Vox Teardrop and Pretty Lunatics and the heartfelt Whatever We Do, RUTS DC cover all bases of their vast catalogue and show exactly what an amazing band they are, and the fact that this is the third volume in which they have tackled their songs in this manner and it still sounds as life affirming and powerful as ever just shows what a special band they still are.
The songs here are all delivered with passion and energy throughout and the band sound as if they are having the time of their lives as they play them. RUTS DC will be taking these songs (and lots more) out on the road to celebrate 45 years as a band and going on the renditions here, that is not to be missed at any cost as any one of the songs on Volume 3 would absolutely slay live. So go along and join in the celebrations of the past, present and future of one of this country’s greatest ever bands in RUTS DC and THE RUTS.
Rating: 8/10
ElectrAcoustic Vol 3 is out now via Sosumi Recordings.
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