Artist: Matthew Ryan
Album: Boxers
Bitrate: 240kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Blue Rose Records
Genre: Rock
Size: 77.42 megs
PlayTime: 0h 42min 41sec total
Rip Date: 2014-10-30
Store Date: 2014-10-31

Track List:
--------
01. Boxers                           4:13
02. Suffer No More                   3:17
03. God's Not Here Tonight           4:20
04. The First Heartbreak             4:15
05. Heaven's Hill                    3:38
06. We Are Libertines                3:33
07. Then She Threw Me Like A Hand    3:14
    Grenade
08. Until Kingdom Come               3:32
09. This One's For You Frankie       4:33
10. An Anthem For The Broken         3:48
11. If You're Not Happy              4:18

Release Notes:
--------
Matthew Ryanæs career began in 1997 with alt-country leanings and made its way
through genre shifts from folk to electronica. His latest release, Boxers, is a
full-out rock record, albeit with some softer stuff for variety. ItÆs also a
great way for Ryan to display his detail-rich, heart-on-his-sleeve songwriting
skills.

The presence of Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem on guitar and the unfettered
passion in RyanÆs approach might get him lumped in with the New Springsteens of
the world. But Ryan has too much stylistic wiggle in him to get pinned down too
easily. ThereÆs a little Paul Westerberg in the disheveled character sketches of
ôSuffer No More,ö while the brooding rumbler ôGodÆs Not Here Tonightö is
reminiscent of The National.

Every song has at least a couple lines that are quotable either for their
visceral power (ôI lost some teeth/ While defending you/ And you folded like a
ratö) or poignancy (ôHow do you say goodbye/ To a dream that just wonÆt die.ö)
Ryan crams ôAn Anthem For The Broken,ö a tour de force thatÆs like DylanÆs
ôChimes Of Freedomö with more lung power, so full of such bruised bon mots that
several listens are required for them all to hit home.

A song like ôThis OneÆs For You Frankieö wouldnÆt work if Ryan didnÆt provide
the titular character with telling grace notes that make him seem so
heartbreakingly human and not a songwriting construct. Meanwhile the acoustic
sweetness of the music on the pretty ôUntil Kingdom Comeö only partially salves
the romantic wounds of the narrator.

Those wounds pop up again on the atmospheric closer ôIf YouÆre Not Happy,ö as
Ryan puts away the lyrical fanciness and makes a direct plea from the heart to
his lover on the verge of leaving. Much of Boxers is devoted to bittersweet
toasts to those who either escaped the dead-end scene or were claimed by it.
Just be glad such an insightful songwriter stuck around long enough to keep such
a memorable scorecard.



This NFO File was rendered by NFOmation.net

Artist: Matthew Ryan
Album: Boxers
Bitrate: 240kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Blue Rose Records
Genre: Rock
Size: 77.42 megs
PlayTime: 0h 42min 41sec total
Rip Date: 2014-10-30
Store Date: 2014-10-31

Track List:
--------
01. Boxers                           4:13
02. Suffer No More                   3:17
03. God's Not Here Tonight           4:20
04. The First Heartbreak             4:15
05. Heaven's Hill                    3:38
06. We Are Libertines                3:33
07. Then She Threw Me Like A Hand    3:14
    Grenade
08. Until Kingdom Come               3:32
09. This One's For You Frankie       4:33
10. An Anthem For The Broken         3:48
11. If You're Not Happy              4:18

Release Notes:
--------
Matthew Ryan‘s career began in 1997 with alt-country leanings and made its way
through genre shifts from folk to electronica. His latest release, Boxers, is a
full-out rock record, albeit with some softer stuff for variety. It’s also a
great way for Ryan to display his detail-rich, heart-on-his-sleeve songwriting
skills.

The presence of Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem on guitar and the unfettered
passion in Ryan’s approach might get him lumped in with the New Springsteens of
the world. But Ryan has too much stylistic wiggle in him to get pinned down too
easily. There’s a little Paul Westerberg in the disheveled character sketches of
“Suffer No More,” while the brooding rumbler “God’s Not Here Tonight” is
reminiscent of The National.

Every song has at least a couple lines that are quotable either for their
visceral power (“I lost some teeth/ While defending you/ And you folded like a
rat”) or poignancy (“How do you say goodbye/ To a dream that just won’t die.”)
Ryan crams “An Anthem For The Broken,” a tour de force that’s like Dylan’s
“Chimes Of Freedom” with more lung power, so full of such bruised bon mots that
several listens are required for them all to hit home.

A song like “This One’s For You Frankie” wouldn’t work if Ryan didn’t provide
the titular character with telling grace notes that make him seem so
heartbreakingly human and not a songwriting construct. Meanwhile the acoustic
sweetness of the music on the pretty “Until Kingdom Come” only partially salves
the romantic wounds of the narrator.

Those wounds pop up again on the atmospheric closer “If You’re Not Happy,” as
Ryan puts away the lyrical fanciness and makes a direct plea from the heart to
his lover on the verge of leaving. Much of Boxers is devoted to bittersweet
toasts to those who either escaped the dead-end scene or were claimed by it.
Just be glad such an insightful songwriter stuck around long enough to keep such
a memorable scorecard.



This NFO File was rendered by NFOmation.net