Search - Ricky Ross :: This Is the Life

All solo, no sell-out.

Timothy Karlberg | Minneapolis, MN | 06/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's no denying that Ricky has a incomparable voice; to be sure, he does. But Ricky's charismatic, songwriting, and vocal contributions weren't the only reasons why Deacon Blue was truly a great band, and "This Is The Life" supports that argument. All but a handful of the tracks here could have been left on the cutting floor and the album would've faired just as well as an EP.



The song structure is, at times, uneventful and the melodies worth remembering are few and far between (mostly sandwiched in the middle of the record). If anything remarkable stands out on this record, it's the apparent incarnations of Brian Wilson's sensibility on songs like "I Sing About You" and "Starring Love" as well as the soul-inflected "Nothing Cures That," all of which testify to Deacon Blue greatness, and prove that Ross is no one trick pony. The opener, "Northern Soul," is a song that necessitates multiple listens to really appreciate and, ultimately, is worth the investment. Ricky's familiar blue-collar-flavored sense of yearning is still tangible on this his U.S. solo debut and, if for that reason alone, "This Is..." can be forgiven for not offering up one immediately catchy song after another; that's not what Ross set out to do.



Bottom line: if you're unfamiliar with Ricky Ross, don't begin with this album; start with an outstanding Deacon Blue collection such as, "Our Town -Greatest Hits," and then determine how dedicated a fan you are. If you're a more serious fan of Deacon Blue and Ricky Ross, "This Is The Life" should be part of your catalog, if only on the merits of 5 or 6 exemplary tracks."