Dead When I Found Her - Rag Doll Blues

Dead When I Found Her is the brainchild of talented American musician Michael Arthur Holloway. He created a buzz with his debut album 'Harm's Way' in 2010, a release which made a deep imprint on the alternative industrial scene.

'Rag Doll Blues' was released in October last year (2012) and picks up where 'Harm's Way' left off. Just like the debut album, this release captures the essence of Skinny Puppy, especially their later and more melodic releases.

I usually get annoyed when a band or artist tries to sound exactly like their great idols because nine out of ten times they fail miserably. But despite the very obvious Skinny Puppy influence, I find 'Rag Doll Blues' surprisingly irresistible. The album offers quite a few goose bump moments. Especially the harsh, dirty, and sometimes melodic sounds of "New Age of Reason", "Rain Machine", "Lesser Light" and "Scissors" are noteworthy.

Holloway's vocals are perfect for portraying the tormented soul that should accompany such hauntingly dark music. Not all tracks are equally memorable but as a whole this release is well executed, well produced, and it is obvious that nothing is done by chance. Even instrumental parts, like the full track "Doll Pieces" serves a purpose. Holloway is without doubt a perfectionist.

I wouldn't call 'Rag Doll Blues' groundbreaking or innovative due to the heavy Skinny Puppy influence. I would probably have given it a higher rating if Holloway had let even more of his own identity shine through.

In short - 'Rag Doll Blues' is well worth a listen and I sincerely hope that we will hear more from this promising project in the future. Feb 24 2013