The Weakness (album)

The Weakness
Studio album by Ruston Kelly
Released	April 7, 2023
Recorded	2023
Genre	Folk rock alternative country Americana
Length	40:51
Label	Rounder
Producer	Nate Mercereau
Ruston Kelly chronology
Shape & Destroy (2020) The Weakness (2023) Pale, Through the Window (2025)
Singles from The Weakness
"The Weakness" Released: January 17, 2023 "Mending Song" Released: February 23, 2023 [1] "Michael Keaton" Released: March 16, 2023 [2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Spectrum Culture	67% [4]
Sputnikmusic	4.0/5.0 [5]

The Weakness is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly, released on April 7, 2023. ^{[6] [7]} It is a pivot from his previous albums, incorporating influences from pop punk and has a different producer.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ruston Kelly, with additional writers noted.

The Weakness track listing ^[8]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Weakness"		3:27
2.	"Hellfire"	John Chong Bryan Dawley Tim Kelly Calvin Knowles Juan Soloranzo	4:02
3.	"St. Jupiter"		2:21
4.	"Let Only Love Remain"		3:51
5.	"Michael Keaton"		3:19
6.	"Mending Song"		3:50
7.	"Dive"		2:15
8.	"Breakdown"	Nate Mercereau	3:04
9.	"Holy Shit"	John Feldmann	3:28
10.	"Better Now"	Matthew Koma	3:08
11.	"Wicked Hands"		4:37
12.	"Cold Black Mile"		3:31
Total length:			40:51

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. ^[8]

• Ruston Kelly – vocals (all tracks), guitar (tracks 1–6, 8, 9, 11), baritone guitar (1, 2, 9); synthesizer, ukulele (6)
• Nate Mercereau – production, engineering (all tracks); drums (1–6, 8–11), bass guitar (1–5, 8, 9, 11), guitar (1–3, 5, 6, 8–12), Mellotron (1, 2, 4, 11), programming (1, 2, 5, 7, 8), synthesizer (1, 3–8, 10, 11), zither (2, 10), glockenspiel (2), mandolin (3, 8–10), harmonium (3, 9), French horn (4, 12), keyboards (5, 7), violin (6, 8, 9), organ (6, 12), samples (7, 10), drum programming (7), vocals (8), fretless bass (9, 10), percussion (10, 11), flute (10)
• James Krausse – mixing
• Paul Blakemore – mastering
• Bill Malina – engineering (1, 8, 11)
• Jarrad Kritzstein – engineering (5, 7, 11)
• Gary Paczosa – engineering (9)
• Aidan Thillman – mixing assistance
• James Kirk – engineering assistance (1, 8, 11)
• Sage Lamonica – art direction
• Alysse Gafkjen – photography

References

1. Schube, Will (February 23, 2023). "Ruston Kelly Returns With New Single And Video 'Mending Song'". UDiscover Music . Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
2. Major, Michael (March 16, 2023). "RUSTON KELLY Shares New Single 'Michael Keaton'". BroadwayWorld . Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ruston Kelly - The Weakness". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
4. Alm, Rachel (June 25, 2023). "Ruston Kelly: The Weakness". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
5. Sowing (April 3, 2023). "Review: Ruston Kelly - The Weakness". Sputnikmusic . Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
6. Freeman, Jon (January 17, 2023). "Ruston Kelly Brings the Pain With 'The Weakness'" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
7. Rettig, James (January 17, 2023). "Ruston Kelly Announces New Album 'The Weakness': Hear Its Title Track". Stereogum . Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
8. "The Weakness / Ruston Kelly / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved September 8, 2025.