Rusty

Nobody can accuse Adam Ruskowitz of rushing the process. The release of the Kansas City indie-pop musician’s third album, Points on the Pieces, marks the first trace of new music in a whopping six years.
After spending his youth rocking out (loudly and frequently off-key) in numerous basement punk rock bands, Ruskowitz began his solo career in 2003 with the release of his raw, sloppy, yet utterly infectious debut album, “Hammock,” which was followed in 2008 by the more polished and ultra mellow “Boxed Wine and Bottle Rockets.” The popularity of these albums resulted in shows at such venues as the legendary Bottleneck in Lawrence KS, in-studio appearances on 105.9 the Lazer, an invitation to perform at the Wakarusa Music Festival, and music licensing agreements as far as the United Kingdom.
Then quietly and without fanfare, Ruskowitz inexplicably disappeared from the musical grid. Years passed, with no shows, no radio appearances, and no rumblings of new music. To make matters murkier, the recording studio that gave life to his first two albums was closed so that the owner could run a boxing gym for the youth of Kansas City (that last sentence is completely true, too long of a story to tell here, and should probably become a Mark Wahlberg movie). Finally, in what looked to be the final nail in the coffin, Ruskowitz decided to clear up some space around the house by listing his music equipment for sale on Craig’s List. An interested buyer quickly inquired about Ruskowitz’s go-to acoustic guitar; the guitar he used to write favorites such as Decades, The Chariots of Satan, and Trampoline. A kind lady seemed to think the guitar would make the perfect birthday gift for her daughter, an aspiring musician. A meeting was set to conduct the transaction. The kind lady never showed…
…and so the guitar remained in his possession, and stayed there, until one night, during a period of personal turbulence, Ruskowitz churned out 3 new songs in an all-night marathon writing session. These three songs (The Story Of, Social Smoker, & Torpedo) would form the foundation for Points on the Pieces.
Under the guidance of studio engineer Adam McGill (of Republic Tigers fame) and studio owner/mixer extraordinaire Joel Nanos, Ruskowitz entered Kansas City’s own Element Recording Studio to craft the new album. Two years, countless Special K protein bars, gallons of 5-Hour Energy, and many shots of Evan Williams later, Points on the Pieces was complete. Combining the infectious energy of Hammock, with the indie-pop sensibilities of “Boxed Wine…” and throwing in a newly rekindled love of crunchy electric guitars, arena pop percussion, and soaring vocal melodies for good measure, Points on the Pieces exemplifies the musical influences of Ruskowitz’s past, and promises an intriguing new direction for the future.
From the soaring power-pop of lead single Baby Maybe, to the crunchy punk rock of Drunken Valentine, or the dreamy acoustic strumming of Flashlight, and rollicking Americana of Climbing Trees, Points on the Pieces tells the universal, yet uniquely personal story of tribulation, the light at the end of the tunnel, and all of the boozy nights in-between.