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Photo: Joseph Cultice (Courtesy of artist)

Gary Numan – “My Name Is Ruin” (Singles Going Steady)

Gary Numan's "My Name Is Ruin" is dark, intense, and shockingly vital.

Mike Schiller: Gary Numan’s gritty industrial phase — which can’t really be called a phase anymore, given that it’s been going on for nearly a quarter-century — has always been hit-and-miss, but when it hits, it sounds exactly the way you’d hope the guy who sang “Cars” would sound if he took a left turn into Hell. Numan brought his 12-year-old daughter along on this particular trip down below, and by adding some excellent background vocals and doubling her father on the chorus, Ms. Persia Numan fills in the gaps of a song that could easily have sounded empty and soulless. On the contrary, “My Name Is Ruin” is dark, intense, and shockingly vital. [9/10]

Chris Thiessen: The synthpop veteran of just about 40 years shows no signs of slowing on “My Name Is Ruin”. Taking the darkest side of new wave and fusing it with Eastern melodies, Numan is unrelenting. The video has some breathtaking and trippy desert visuals creating this apocalyptic picture he plans to explore on the upcoming album. As a single apart from the concept, however, the song lacks staying power. [6/10]

Chris Ingalls: Numan hasn’t been a household name since the early ’80s when “Cars” ruled the airwaves and made him a modern-day synthpop hero. He’s continued to make great music ever since, albeit under the pop culture radar. Here we see him returning to that same well that gave him early stardom, but he’s wise enough to temper it with plenty of present-day electronic blips and samples and a contemporary (if dystopian) swagger. He may be pushing 60, but Numan is well positioned, based on this song, to continue to be part of the electronic dance music landscape. [8/10]

Adriane Pontecorvo: Just in time for the apocalypse, Gary Numan’s new single calls out into an empty world with menacing synths and haunting vocals, both his own and daughter Persia Webb’s. “My Name Is Ruin” is a harsh and unforgiving song, full of industrial-strength rage and heft. Almost indulgent in its bleak outlook, it’s a wonderfully produced track, showing Numan’s versatility and well-polished skill. [9/10]

William Nesbitt: Sounding like an extension of Splinter, “My Name Is Ruin” blends Numan’s signature brand of industrial with Eastern sounds. The video advances this idea with Numan looking like a ravaged desert nomad. It’s catchy, distinct, and while he and Trent Reznor are currently on different tracks, songs like this continue to demonstrate why Numan is Reznor’s musical godfather. Be excited about the new album. Be very excited. [8/10]

SCORE: 8.00