Matthew Ryan: Dear Lover (2009)

New Wax


Nashville's Matthew Ryan has been quietly releasing soul-bearing albums with workmanlike precision over the years. Last year's Matthew Ryan VS. The Silver State, one of my favorite albums from 2008, was filled with childhood reminiscence and musings on lost love. On Dear Lover, Ryan's 12th album, the veteran songwriter visits similar emotional territory while going all-out DIY. Not only was the bulk of the album recorded, mixed, and mastered in his Nashville home studio, but Ryan also financed and self-released the album. Musically, Dear Lover utilizes more electronic instrumentation than the more Americana-oriented Silver State, but it's not unfamiliar territory for fans familiar with Ryan's older material such as From A Late Night High Rise. The songs vary from electronically driven fare like "City Life" and "Spark" to the distorted shoegaze guitar-riffs of the title track to the no-pulled-punches country twang of "Some Streets Lead Nowhere." Regardless of backing instrumentation, Ryan maintains a candid, heart-on-his-sleeve narrative voice throughout. On the intimate "The World Is," Ryan sings in his signature gravelly vocals: "The world is held together with lies and promises, broken hearts, and brand new days for you to start all over again." Ryan gives off an honest, blue-collar vibe that lends real emotion to his words and Dear Lover is an impressive addition in this overlooked songwriter's catalog. Dear Lover is available now digitally and is set for physical release on February 16th, 2010. -- Capt. Obvious

Listen:
MP3: Matthew Ryan - Your Museum
MP3: Matthew Ryan - The Wilderness

Tags: Matthew Ryan, Dear Lover