Ruins (LP)

Ruins is the new and eagerly awaited album from Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit. This new album finds First Aid Kit as you've never heard them before: wounded and biting back hard. While Ruins follows the traditions of the classic folk rock sound that First Aid Kit revived via their breakthrough album Stay Gold (2014) and previous releases The Big Black And The Blue (2010) and The Lion's Roar (2012), the difference is that this time they've lived, and the results are intense.

Tracks such as "Rebel Heart" the album's opener documents a love doomed from the start. "It's A Shame" the lead single is a plea to live in the moment because everyone disposes of each other eventually. On "Postcard" and To Live A Life," you feel the breath-stealing weight of despair when a shattered love leaves you bereft of hope. "Fireworks" introverts the blame with self-loathing.

In many ways, First Aid Kit's largest asset is their biggest problem. Their voices are so damn pretty. The [previous] records were always so perfect," says Johanna Söderberg. On Ruins, the duo didn't want it to feel perfect. They wanted it to feel rough and wrenching. Johanna comments further, "Given the material, the lyrics had to be the focus. These sentiments didn't need to be dressed up. They needed to be naked."

Ruins was made with one target in mind: make it sound more real a result the Söderberg sisters clearly achieved.