Original Doll

Original Doll is the sixth studio album by British recording artist Shell Ruin. Released on December 27, 2010, the album is the first of two albums to be released via Holy Trinity Music Group. Ruin intended the record to diverge significantly from her previous pop and electronic sound as featured on The Dirty Is Done (2007) and Never Stop (2009).

The album is Ruin's first to be released after her staged death in November 2009. Following this, public goodwill for Ruin was at an all-time low and she had severed contact with many of her connections within the music and fashion world, including close friend Alesha. The album sees Ruin experiment with an alternative rock sound, inspired by grunge music of the 1990s. For the first time in her career, the album was entirely written and produced by Ruin.

Original Doll deals with themes of fame, self-reflection, and insecurities. Keith Caulfield from Billboard described the album as "a commentary on the decay of modern day celebrity". Though Ruin had experienced a wave of commercial success in 2009 with the release of Never Stop, the number-one single "Delusions of Grandeur" and her impending Shell Ruin: Live at Last! ninety-three date world tour, Ruin was plagued with anxiety and depression which caused her to fake her own death, allowing for a peaceful retirement from music.

The album received poor reviews from most critics. American critics viewed the album negatively for its production and experimentation, while the British press criticized Ruin's indie image and music change from her earlier work. Peaking at number nine, the album was Ruin's least successful to date until the release of her next album Panic Station the following year. Many fans believe that the negative reviews of the album were representative of Ruin's poor public image at the time, and Original Doll has become a "cult classic" among some fans, with many of them appreciating the album's commitment to the alternative grunge aesthetic and the deeply personal nature of the album.

Staged death and aftermath
In November 2009, Ruin staged her own death at the 17th Urapopstar Awards. Following this, a benefit concert was held in her honor on December 28, 2009. Close friend and recourring collaborator Alesha released the single "Good Mourning" on the same day, which was described as "the official soundtrack to the nation's mourning." Meanwhile, Ruin had relocated to Monaco, Italy with close friend and fashion designer Ricardo Agani. Ruin remained in Italy for nine months with Agani acting as her personal assistant and nanny to her daughter, Zowie Zephyr. In August 2010, British newspaper The Daily Mail ran a front page news story with the headline "Shell Ruin is not dead" with a grainy long-lens paparazzi photograph of Ruin and Agani drinking red wine on her rooftop terrace in Italy.

Following this revelation, Ruin's new home in Italy was found by international media outlets who camped outside the gated property, all hoping to retrieve the first photograph and confirmation of Ruin's wellbeing. In the UK, Scotland Yard issued an arrest warrant for Ruin for wasting police time which was later settled privately. On Ruins 25th birthday, she was photographed leaving her Italian home in a Range Rover with Agani, her daughter and two unknown females. That night, Ruin flew to California and checked into the the Chateau Marmont hotel. Ruin remained there for 93 days.

During her three month stay at the Chateau Marmont, international media and fans of Ruin began speculating about the reasons for her staged death, and ultimately how she had got away with it. Alesha, who was in the midst of promotion for The Martyr at the time, was questioned during several interviews but refused to comment. After increasing pressure for her to discuss the situation, a representative for Alesha issued a statement stating that Alesha was not aware that Ruin's death was fake and that the pair hadn't spoken.

Album development
Ruin wrote the majority of Original Doll while staying at the Chateau Marmont between August and October 2010. The album was written and produced entirely by Ruin. It is thought that songwriting took place in her hotel during depressive episodes where Ruin contemplated suicide. Recording of the album was completed in two weeks in a Los Angeles recording studio during November 2010.

Promotion
To promote the album, Ruin played a fifteen date Last of the Original Dolls Tour in the United Kingdom during December 2010 which was well-documented by British media. During the tour, Ruin's behaviour was erratic and unusual. She appeared intoxicated in most of the shows and fans of Ruin expressed concern for her wellbeing. During a show in Manchester on December 16, 2010, a group of fans tried to stage an intervention for Ruin before they were escorted off stage by security.

Ruin released the single "Judas" and the promotional single "Asking for It" in January 2011. Both were commercial failures. Ruin gave no interviews to promote the album, nor did she appear on televsion. This was reportedly due to the fact that nobody had invited Ruin to appear and several magazines and television shows refused to work with Ruin at this time.

Track listing
All songs written and produced by Shell Ruin.


 * 1) "Prelude to the Doll"
 * 2) "Ivory Tower"
 * 3) "The Land of Milk and Honey" (Interlude)
 * 4) "America"
 * 5) "Judas"
 * 6) "Asking for It"
 * 7) "Perfume"
 * 8) "The Opening of Pandora's Box" (Interlude)
 * 9) "Wretched and Beautiful"
 * 10) "Young Skin"
 * 11) "Runaway"
 * 12) "Born Rebels"
 * 13) "Doll for a Doll" (Interlude)
 * 14) "Mother's Ruin"
 * 15) "Last of the Original Dolls"


 * Deluxe edition bonus tracks
 * 1) "Last Will and Testament"
 * 2) "Chateau Marmont"