Ruins of Berlin

Dex Romweber Duo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bloodshot Records
• ASIN: B001NOMOAQ
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,203 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dexter and Sara-The Real Dynamic Duo, February 16, 2009

By 

Famous Jonny Mambo "Famous Jonny Mambo" (Carrboro, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ruins of Berlin (Audio CD)

In the past year and a half, I have unexpectedly become a Dexter affecionado. It just sort-of-happened (like an unplanned affair). I feel that I need to SHOUT OUT to the world that Dexter could give Elvis Presley a run for his money. Dexter is on a hot-streak that shows no signs of abating. Like the wonderful CD that Dexter just recenly created with the New Romans ("Night Tides"-which you should also get), this ultra-fine album shows the work of an Artist who is finding harmonic synchrony with his limitless creativity, his maturity, and his real sister Sara (there is no way that you can't dig Sara's contributions).

The album mixes 50's pop/soul/blues/instrumentals/country/lounge-crooning and whatever else gets in the Dynamic-Duo's way. Dex gets support from major-league names such as Exene Cervenka, Cat Power, and Neko Case. There is even some Polish dance music for alt-Polka fans. Some of the harsher sonic aspects found on earlier releases have been toned down and the music is easy on the ears, while continuing to push the boundaries of creativity. I'm a DJ and I will be playing this CD alot on my show (Mojo Ballroom on WCOM). It is worth your while to plunk your hard-earned cash on this. Catch these folks when they tour across the country to see what rock and roll is supposed to be like. Dex and Sara I hope you conquer the world, Love Famous Jonny Mambo.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dex just short of a classic, June 30, 2010

By 

Johnathan Bailes (South Riding, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ruins of Berlin (Audio CD)

So it has to be tough being a living UNDERGROUND legend especially one that flew under the radar nearing a crash and burn on the way down from the flight. You don't get the fame or the cash just the headaches and the long life of the road.

The adoration of his adoring high-profile fans are apparent but the collaborations are the weakest bits of the album. Dex seems to work best when trying to put together music that sounds like Dick Dale and Buddy Holly working together on a 60s spy movie. It has that vibe like an old soundtrack through the eyes of man rode hard and put down wet.

It is easy to get wrapped up too hard in the whole Dex Romweber as an icon bit but to do so you miss the whole angle of his partner Sarah Romweber who played in Let's Active and Snatches of Pink. That would be a shame because she is a monster on the drums especially live let me tell you.

Everyone doing reviews seems to gush over the instrumentals and mention the weakness of the collaborations especially the off-key label-mate pairing with Exene which is the worst of the bunch. But I do not understand this myself because songs like Picture of You or People, Place and Things or yes Ruins of Berlin all benefit from that almost horse course, bellowing, sloshing voice that is magic. Its like Cash at the end where you know this voice should not sound right for a song but god it does.

Sure the surfabilly punk killer instrumentals like Cigarette Party kill but you have to watch the Bloodshot video of People, Places and Things and listen to world tired tone of Dex before you get the impact of his range.

I am just looking forward even more to the next CD where hopefully all his big-name fans will leave him be and let him take the spy movie surf rockabilly vibe to the next level.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Missing link b/t Sun Records and White Stripes, April 2, 2010

By 

Scotts Sounds "Scott" (Austin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ruins of Berlin (Audio CD)

Dex should be considered a national treasure and this is one of his best disks. Buy now.