Cassette Review // Dave Ruder "Lil Ol Davy Ru Ru" (Gold Bolus Recordings)
https://daveruder.bandcamp.com/album/lil-ol-davy-ru-ru
If you're like me, the most time you spent watching the NBA was during the 1990's. This is something which comes in useful when listening to the first song on this cassette- "James Worthy", which says "Every James is a worthy James". Being aware of Magic Johnson and that Lakers dynasty is one thing, but I also think of people this way. There is an actor named Jay Will and every time I see his name I think "Jay will, but John won't". So just to have that connection with words put this cassette into a place where I want to be right away, on that first song.
Through a groovy sound this can feel Bohemian but also jazz-ish. Can we combine those into a genre like BohoJa? Can that be a word? It can even begin to feel somewhat catchy. Keys start off the second song and the third has these big ringing accordion sounds which feels like we're about to lead a parade. "Repenting Stranger" is a song about someone who comes to town and seeks forgiveness. It has odd lines like "I thought you might have some nice insects", but then almost like a mantra we get: "Repenting is strange but I am a stranger".
Fun synths kick off "elision addition", which can also feel like surf rock. It reminds me of They Might Be Giants at first, but then I'm also reminded of Ben Folds. Beeping electronics are on "Speaking in Similes", which says "No, wait. That's a metaphor". "Like a Canyon" has a strong bass line and says "I am the baker / I am the operator" while telling how we are all filled with blueberry pie.
Onto the flip side now we have upscales and beeps. Asking the burning question in this song: "The dawn of the day is like a red footed duck / But what is a red footed duck like?". "Seltzer to a Bee" has a spoken part which says the title of the cassette and then it goes on to say: "I'm about as useful as seltzer to a bee". With big beats this becomes like an orchestra and things are basically rhymed so that when they end, they rhyme with "bee". This is in lines like "The planet's getting warmer, so I just bought a lifetime pass to ski".
"Masculine Urge" is a somewhat funny song about how we might want to control our impulses. It has this slower, elevator sound to it and if I had a radio show along the lines of Dr. Demento I would definitely play this song on it. This all comes to an end on the last song, "Don't Touch Me", which has dual vocals singing the title and is just some good advice to keep in mind because people these days just seem way too familiar.
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