FROM THE VAULT: Matthew Ryan – May Day
It’s a damn shame that I’m just now starting to listen to Matthew Ryan. I mean, the guy has released 12 badass albums in the past 13 years, and is an amazing live performer. I blame my friends for not introducing me to him earlier. On the flip-side, it is kinda cool that I’ve just discovered an untapped library of new (to me) music from one of the most underrated singer song-writers of the past decade, give or take a few years. So, how did I find out about this guy? Well, he and Kasey Anderson put on an amazing show last week at the Hotel Utah Saloon. I feel that we should do a proper, full-length review of the show, and I’m going to make Skeet do it soon. Let me just tell you that Matthew and Kasey started out on stage with their guitars trading song for song like it was a rap battle for white people. They ended up doing the same thing amongst the crowd by the end of the night, and Matthew closed out the show by serenading our friend Cristina. It was definitely one of the most intimate shows I’ve ever seen.
Released in 1997, May Day is Matthew’s debut album, and it will definitely fit well in the Americana/alt-country/ whatever section of your album collection. I’m not sure who else was releasing this kind of music back then, but I’m sure that being a dumb-ass teenager at the time, I most likely wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now. At that time, I was all about what it sounded like and less about what it said. Let me tell you that this album has both. The overall themes of the album, like most of Matthew’s music, deal with the highs and lows of life, some socio-political stuff, and the daily struggles that we all go through.
“Guilty” kicks off the album, and could quite possibly be the best break-up song I’ve ever heard. It’s not so much about how breakups can involve people falling out of love, cheating on each other, or growing apart. It’s about the fact that break-ups generally just fucking suck overall. Let’s be honest, all that fluffy break-up stuff is just a facade, this song is about the real emotion and the real goings on. It’s really raw, really pissed, and flat-out honest.
Guilty
This is one of those reviews where I have to limit myself on which songs I talk about. Every song on here is special, as I’ve had this thing on repeat for the past week. Another great track is “Irrelevant.” Where “Guilty” is hard and heavy, “Irrelevant” is introspective and soft. Matthew’s weathered voice still gives the track that gritty feel as he’s telling the story of a man looking back on memories that seemed so important, but realizing now that he’s, well “Irrelevant.”
Irrelevant
Okay, back to the rockers with “Disappointed.” This is my favorite song on the album, and my favorite part is during the beginning countdown with the way Matthew says “four.” For some reason that part always makes me smile. Another cool thing about this song, is that it caused me to use a dictionary. Do you know what a pugilist is? Neither did I. You think I’m going to tell you, but I’m not. I’m smarter than you right now and It’s killing you.
Disappointed
The last track I’m going to mention is the slow, steel guitar laden “Dam.” This is one of the most mellow songs on the album, and it’s really pretty. For the types of subjects that Matthew broaches, it can be hard to do so in a calming fashion, but he does it very well on this track.
Dam
So, I feel pretty bad about the fact that I didn’t plug Matthew’s 2009 release Dear Lover, or 2008′s Matthew Ryan Vs. The Silver State, or 2006′s From a Late Night Highrise, or 2003′s Regret Over The Wires, or 2001′s Concussion, or 2000′s East Autumn Grin, but I want for you guys to check those out on your own. While you’re here, check out the promotional video below that was made for Dear Lover’s release last year, it’s pretty sweet.
Taker Easy,
Brain
