Ruby Blue (album) - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

The album received positive reviews from music critics. Allmusic wrote that "Murphy keeps the alluring sensuality and unpredictable quirks that made Moloko unique, without sounding like she's rehashing where she's already been." Stylus Magazine said the album "happily represents something of a midpoint between the downright oddity of Moloko's early albums...and the mix of disco sensibility and wrenching balladry of their swansong". PopMatters referred to the album as "one of the best examples of production shaping but not overwhelming the artist's vision." The Guardian agreed, stating that because of Herbert's production, Murphy sounded "sonically enticing and varied…at times sultry, rude, powerful and tender across white noise, waltz time signatures and jazz sass" but was mixed on the album overall, adding that the pair "their noodling eclipse the songs, leaving few you'll actually be able to sing back to anyone." Pitchfork Media remarked that "it's hard to imagine anyone not ranking this is the best thing Murphy has ever done" and that "when the songwriting is on, Ruby Blue seems perfect, the ultimate combination of human warmth and technological know-how." The publication listed the album at number forty-one in its list of the top fifty albums of 2005.