This is the greatest modern musician, lyricist and performer of our time.
Little known yet widely acclaimed, Ryan has released five albums before this
and will be releasing two more before the year is over. This particular albums
is a double album, nine tracks per disc. This is by far his best work and he
has paired up with The Cardinals to make the sound even more incredible.
The album has more of a country tone then any other genre, but it's not a
country album. There is no way to classify the range of musical genres he
explores in this album; it's just good music. You have more somber, melancholy
songs such as Now That You're Gone, How Do You Keep Love Alive and Friends,
but they are balanced with more upbeat and fast paced tunes such as Beautiful
Sorta and Life Is Beautiful. There is not a bad song on either of
these discs and I find myself playing them over and over again, hearing each
song differently then I did before. You can find something personal and
memorable in each track and that makes it an album worth owning.
The next album, Jacksonville City Lights, is due out in America
on September 6, 2005 and
there will be a third release, 29, by the end of the year.
No matter what you think of my judgment, there's an album listed above that
is meant for you. The best music is usually the stuff you've never heard before
so don't be afraid to explore and open up your horizons to artists you've never
heard before. If you end up not liking it, you can always sell it to your local
music store and tell them that Jennifer gave you a bad recommendation.