Send "Matthew Ryan " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Popmatters |
 All hail the age of the bedroom musician, the indie artist with an appreciation for the songwriter’s craft, and the perseverance to throw their own hat into the ring. Matthew Ryan is one such artist who has been glued to his sampler and mixing console for a few years now. A resident stable of the Nashville music scene, his new creation exemplifies the dangers and rewards of the age of the bedroom musician. Listening to his new project, I Recall Standing As Though Nothing Could Fall, it is not hard to imagine a haggard Matthew Ryan slumped over his tools late into the night, patching together various vibes and painstakingly arranging his lyrical quilt. There is no doubt that I Recall is a labor of love from an artist unsure of how to navigate modern life and fragmented relationships. It is easy to believe Ryan when he says, “Dear Lord, I’m worried…”, on “Song for a Friend”. There are some some obvious influences exhibited throughout the musical stylings: U2, The Wallflowers, Peter Gabriel and Bob Dylan, to name a few. His vocal phrasing is most often reminiscent of Jacob Dylan and his father—the track “Here Comes the Snow” borders on an outright impersonation of Bob Dylan. But Ryan’s quivering vocals are unsure and lack the growling edge that compels fans of the Dylan family. This album does posses some strengths, but is outweighed by what it lacks.The selection and arrangement of drum loops are often a nice contribution to the ambient mood of the album. And Ryan experiments with some promising musical ideas, like the repetitive piano line in “I Don’t Want a Third World War” and the guitar lick in “All of that Means Nothing Now”. I applaud the consistent mood and aesthetic that Ryan is asking the listener to enter and experience, and it is the mood that holds this album together. A dark vulnerability that borders on self-loathing. But self loathing can get old, and that is why “Hey Kid” serves as the stand-out track, as Ryan attempts to directly connect his pain to the pain of others. ...full text |
| Matthewryan |
| We've decided to set the purchase price at $5 for the entire digital version of I Recall Standing As Though Nothing Could Fall. This price is our way of saying THANK YOU to those of you that buy directly from us right here on our bandcamp. It really is noticed and appreciated when you buy music. Your purchases contribute directly to our ability to create more music. We support the sharing of songs between friends; genuine advocacy is always welcomed! Thank you, and if you love the music, please help spread the word by sharing this page on your blog, twitter or facebook. You can even email it to friends. Check out the share button just below....full text |
| Directcurrentmusic |
| Prolific and praised under-the-radar singer/songwriter manages no mean feat in keeping not only his sound but his perspective fresh and vibrant on the thirteen tracks making up his thirteenth album...Unlike last year's more personal, relationship-focused gem Dear Lover, this affecting new project is an open-heart surgery on the everyday, sometimes cosmic struggles we all face every day // Release: I Recall Standing As Though Nothing Could Fall (August 23 CD/Out not digitally) // Sounds like: if Tom Waits had met up with The Blue Nile it might sound something like this...electro-beat ambient soundscapes, shadowy atmospheric production and Ryan's 3am rasp shaken (not stirred) and served on the rocks... Quote: "Instead of looking inward, this album communicates my take on what it feels like to be human right now. These songs aren't autobiographical, they're a hybrid of sorts, they were born in conversations with friends, watching the news, documentaries and reading and experiencing as much as I can." // What we like: beneath the twinkling electronics, dark synth washes and foreboding beats, I Recall Standing's diverse melodic themes and structures peer out, eyes glowing...the cool sheen of "The Spinning Room" feels somehow warmer with Ryan's ash-covered voice..."Summer In the South" is stripped to the waist, basically just a relentless time signature pounded loud behind Ryan's wisp of a melody..."Song For A Friend" works as a Waits-ian piano ballad of immense melancholy and regret -- beauty found in it's own rawness......full text |
Matthew Ryan lyrics
|
| |||||||
