Albums to watch

Christopher

The Ruby Suns

Christopher

The Auckland-based psych-pop band led by Ryan McPhun with their 4th album, taking a turn towards synthpop

ADM rating[?]

5.4

Label
Memphis Industries
UK Release date
28/01/2013
US Release date
29/01/2013
  1. 7.8 |   The AU Review

    The melodies are danceable but relaxed enough to simply put the music on, increase the volume and lie back and chill with your feet up and beer in hand
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  2. 7.5 |   The 405

    Well worth digging the big speakers out fo
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  3. 7.0 |   Uncut

    A subtle repositioning that deserves attention. Print edition only

  4. 7.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    A Ruby Suns record in name only. Everything else – the sounds, the hooks, the synthesized delivery – derives from chart-topping produce from the last 30 years
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  5. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    Christopher comes across as so eager to please that parts of the album lack vim where it’s needed, despite the luxuriant polish that’s been spread across all 10 songs
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  6. 6.0 |   The Skinny

    Pristine and glittery on the surface, but not enough to push McPhun up a league
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  7. 6.0 |   NME

    Decent fodder for your inner wimp
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  8. 6.0 |   All Music

    The occasional burst of incredible, disposable pop goes a long way, but sadly not long enough to make Christopher an entirely engaging experience
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  9. 5.8 |   A.V. Club

    Even if Christopher is almost always functional, it’s almost never essential
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  10. 5.8 |   Pitchfork

    The Ruby Suns want you to view Christopher as their entry into splashy chart pop
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  11. 5.5 |   Prefix

    No one will ever get sick of Love Songs – they’re an essential product of the thing we call the human condition. But it’s easy to get sick of these
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  12. 5.0 |   No Ripcord

    An album less about the titular female of desire and more about Owens fully immersing himself in the limelight and making the exact album he wanted to make
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  13. 5.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    No matter how many people make scathing comments about the musical wares of Justin Bieber, writing a decent pop record is extremely difficult, and requires total commitment. The Ruby Suns might immerse themselves in the cause initially, but they soon come back up for air
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  14. 5.0 |   Slant Magazine

    The most cumbersome conversion of their sound yet
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  15. 4.4 |   Bowlegs

    This feels like yet another mis-guided step for McPhun – and it only takes us further from his much-loved debut
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  16. 4.0 |   Clash

    A phenomenally uneventful album, with noodly synth bits and squelchy, meandering programmed drums beneath entirely forgettable, wafting vocals
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  17. 4.0 |   Q

    The sooner McPhun sorts his love life out, the better. Print edition only

  18. 4.0 |   State

    Lysandre ends up being a lost opportunity, a failed attempt at proving what Owens can do on his own
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  19. 4.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    The Ruby Suns have always shone brightest when they kick their shoes to the sand and run with the breeze. As Christopher shows, they’re not quite so hot on the dark stuff
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  20. 4.0 |   PopMatters

    The few peaks of Christopher are heavily outweighed by its deep valleys and plodding middle ground, which pass by without so much as a signpost of remembrance
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  21. 4.0 |   God Is In The TV

    Soulless, limp, uninspiring
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