Ra Ra Riot have resolutely failed the second album test with The Orchard, delivering a well produced offering that is sadly too light on quality song writing.
The key to Ra Ra Riot’s success so far has been the blending of indie rock with its wonderful string section. This has been an act that has been wowing festival crowds for the last two or three years and on 2008’s debut album The Rhumb Line they almost managed to perfectly capture that beautifully unusual live sound to disc.
The Rhumb Line had its faults. Some of the production was a little too slick, a little too forced and sucked some of the passion out of the beautifully crafted songs such as ‘Dying is Fine’. Such tracks appeared in far better, sparser form on their self-titled debut EP which came out shortly before. But what The Rhumb Line did have in spades was a good bunch of tunes.
On The Orchard they’ve got the production bang on, drawing out the epic quality, retaining the band’s indie cool and bringing out the best from their violinist Rebecca Zeller and cellist Alexandra Lawn.
But where it falls down is on songs. Apart from two or three the tracks are just not up to the job. Too many fillers. Opener ‘The Orchard’ is one of those tracks that builds up, builds up, builds up and then just fizzles out. A real missed opportunity.
Things improve from for the next two tracks. ‘Boy’ is a true indie pop single, radio friendly and full of catchy hooks. ‘Too Dramatic’ is pretty good too, the build ups actually reach a superb conclusion.
But sadly things go down hill from there, with filler after filler from ‘Massachusetts’ to ‘Keep It Quiet’ there is simply no stand outs.
This album will come as a real disappointment to those that have seen them live, especially as its from an indie rock band with a genuinely different sound. Let’s hope for the third album they can finally marry the songmanship of The Rhumb Line with the production of The Orchard.
5.5/10
by Joe Lepper, Aug 2010
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