Bryan Ruby -- Found & Lost
Bryan Ruby has been dropping hints of what to expect on his latest EP Found & Lost — heartbreak, but good-natured. Ruby is a sensitive songwriter with an earnest performance style and a voice that was born for ’90s country radio. The one problem with Found & Lost is that it’s too good for Music Row. Ruby has a clear vision for the story he wants to tell, and it’s not predicated on chasing trends.
Found & Lost shows us the extent of Ruby’s range. “Last Couple Weeks” is a catchy breakup song with meaty hooks and a jolly banjo line. Meanwhile, “Goes Without Saying” finds Ruby accessing the bass rumble in his voice, with a bridge that sparkles as a demonstration of Ruby’s gifts as a singer. In his most emotive performance to date, “If You Would Have Told Me” is a searing accusation leveled against a former lover. As the EP winds towards its conclusion, “Come Back” invigorates with a warm twang, but the name of the game here is a stadium rock banger — and Ruby certainly has the chops to show that that’s where he belongs.
With this EP, Ruby becomes a more vulnerable songwriter, one who is continuing to push the boundaries on what to expect from pop country while keeping things traditional. At the end of the day, Found & Lost demonstrates country’s potential for stories of queer love — and, unfortunately, heartbreak.
