Ryan Allen has said about his latest release `Livin’ On A Prayer On The Edge` that it`s a tribute to staying up late and watching videos by Lemonheads, Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub, and more on MTV’s “120 Minutes”.
Ryan has been writing songs and playing live since the mid-nineties in bands like Red Shirt Brigade, Tiny Steps, Friendly Foes, The Cold Wave, Destroy This Place and more. He is best known as the frontman for Thunderbirds Are Now!! Apart from releasing seven solo records, his main focus for the past decade has been fronting the power pop band Extra Arms. He is also a member of melodic hardcore outfit Big Life and plays drums in indie rock project Speed Circuit.
The album kicks in with `I Should (But I Really Don`t Wanna)` a kind of Lemonheads tinged melodic anthem for the “can`t be arsed” generation and a nice tune to ease us in on. We have in `Lost In A Daze` a track that reeks of adolescent confusion. A faster paced Foo Fighters lite presentation which for me is no bad thing. I loved the manic drumming which really drove this track along.
`Anxious All The Time` is heavier and has a delightfully riffy vibe. A reflective, fearful almost nervous offering. There`s an initially jagged feel to the power pop `After I’m Dead` which had a seventies vibe and hook.
`Conspiracy Theory` is much more of a brooding composition which moves effortlessly from light to heavy, a captivating expansive listen. The garage punk tinged `Devil’s Juice` is a seventy eight second heads down no nonsense headrush.
`When I’m Gone` has some really satisfying guitar chord riffs throughout this compelling contemplative submission. We have in `Spider Sally` a short melodic rhythmic outing about a seemingly popular lady.
`Company’s Eyes` is a thumping bouncing melodic earworm of a number. A drum machine beat and recurring guitar riff lead us along `The Construction Man` an electronic tinged piece about a revered builder come labourer.
`So What Who Cares` is a fairly fast paced dreamy creation with questioning lyrics with some “bop bop ba da” melodies sprinkled in the latter section. The release closes out with `In The Next Life` which is a nice light heartfelt respectful eulogy to a recently passed friend with keys supplied by Sam Stapp`s Rhodes piano.
`Livin’ On A Prayer On The Edge` runs at just under the half hour mark and is a joyful thirty minutes of melodic catchy earworms with lyrics that come from the heart. It feels as if you a receiving a warm hug from an old friend and that for me is as much as you can ask from anyone.
Rating 8.5/10
