The
Legendary Jim Ruiz Group successfully updates the garden-pop sound of early
Everything But the Girl and
Aztec Camera on the wonderful
Sniff. The vocal tandem of
Ruiz and wife Stephanie together suggests a pairing between
Chet Baker and
Astrud Gilberto, complete with airy guitar textures and light bossa nova beats. The west coast jazz influence extends to "Bigfoot (I Remember Wes)," a tribute to
Wes Montgomery, while a cameo appearance from French indie-pop star Katerine further underscores the album's cosmopolitan leanings. Suave and sophisticated,
Sniff is that rare indie-pop album that's much more than the sum of its influences. ~ Jason Ankeny