0 3 min 9 yrs

Ruby Amanfu has quite a musical history. She recorded her first album So Now the World Knows while in high school and performed with The White Stripes’ Jack White as well as appearing on NBC’s The Sing-Off. Now she’s about to release her newest album Standing Still. This songstress has a voice that demands to be heard and all of her fans are excited to hear what she has to say.

Let’s start with the soulful Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand). The soft beats and background music give it a blues and classic jazz sound. “Where You Going has a similar sound to the previous track, except that it has a faster beat. As the Dawn Breaks is truly appropriately titled. Think of what it’s like to watch a sunrise. The intro to As the Dawn Breaks has a sound that will remind you of that. It’s beautiful and peaceful.

In Shadow on the Wall, we go from a quick and jazzy sound to rhythm and blues combined with a slower beat. Out at Sea is a metaphorical track. The lyrics “I am drowning, drowning in frustration… Oh this feeling, this feeling is pulling me down” represent the pain and “frustration” Ruby wants to escape from. The slow strumming of the guitar makes Cathedrals sound as if angels are singing, which is appropriate considering the title. The organ, piano and drums in Street Lights sound somewhat like a little like a bit of jazz and gospel and very easy to slow dance to.

Not Dark Yet brings out a soulful folk sound that’s mixed with a little bit of blues. One by One is a mix of gospel and blues, particularly with the organ and choir in the background. Last but not least we have the final track I Tried. This softly and sweetly sung melody is heartbreaking but loving at the same time.

Each song on Standing Still is so beautiful that it will move the audience and definitely want to dance to it. You’ll either feel your heart breaking to I Tried or rock back and forth to Where You Going. Either way, Standing Still is an album you’re going to enjoy listening to.

Final Grade: A

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