Originally published in The Aquarian Weekly

April 30, 2008

Matthew Ryan

Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State

00:02:59

Matthew Ryan’s 2006 album, From a

Late Night High-Rise, was very much

a homespun affair on which he lamented

the death of a close friend, and his

brother’s 30-year prison sentence.

The new album is homespun too, but this time

Ryan has moved from programmed

drums and synthesizers in his bedroom,

to a full band in the garage.

These 11 songs are about what really

goes on in this life, and not some

unreachable fantasy. These are the things

that happen not only to Ryan and his

loved ones, but to all of us. I can think of

very few other songwriters who speak

as directly to the human experience.

Don’t look for frills here.

The magnificent “It Could’ve Been

Worse,” addresses a lost friend who may

or may not have taken his life, leaving

a note that says, “look everywhere, you’ll

never bury me.” The Replacements-like

“Drunk and Disappointed” describes

John who “slid from the window, out onto

the stars.” Ryan remembers a youthful love on

“Jane, I Still Feel the Same.” For

all the darkness, there is not a moment

when these songs are without hope.

Matthew Ryan has been at it for ten

years. It is time that he should be

recognized as one of our greatest

songwriters. This is one of the best albums

of the year.

In A Word: Real

Grade: A

—by Ken Shane