Formed in February 1992 as Gravel Monsters but after joining ARC records in 1995 they changed their name to Ruth. They recorded their first and only album "Harrison" in the summer of 1995 in Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire. However, the release was continually held back due to a lack of money & a lack of success of their singles until March 1999. With ARC continuing to have financial problems they left and eventually signed to Mercury Records UK where they changed their name to 45s, The.

Matt Haleswent on to have greater success asAqualung. His brotherBen HalesandMatt Vincent-Brownboth play & co-write on Aqualung tracks on occasion.

Review

by Jason Damas

While Brit-pop, as a genre, had basically died by the late 1990s, a few new bands still stood out as highlights, even if they failed to stir up much attention. Ruth is one of those bands. Recording singles since 1992, the group had a great deal of difficulty finding a record company to release their debut album Harrison, as it was unfortunately shelved for years until finally seeing a release date in 1999. While many of its singles, such as the stellar hits "I Don't Know" and "Valentines Day," had been released as much as three years prior, the record never sounds dated or tired. The band's energy and enthusiasm shine through; they simply sound like they're having fun the entire time, which is something that most bands in the U.K. scene seem to have forgotten how to do. This is not only one of the best power-pop releases of 1999, but one of the very best and most unfortunately overlooked albums of the entire decade. Harrison amounts to nothing but good power pop; composed of loud chords, catchy, singalong choruses, and teary ballads, this release was truly one of 1999's best. (The Japanese import version includes two bonus tracks — "What Shall We Do?" and "Something Good" — which are absolutely essential additions, even though the Japanese version features a slightly shuffled track order).

ARC 1998

STAN BARDZO DOBRY