Matthew Ryan's 11th disc of original material includes the song 'Jane, I Still Feel the Same,' familiar to fans of 'One Tree Hill.'

Matthew Ryan is pleasant to listen to, but not overwhelmingly interesting or great

Date published: 8/21/2008

BY MORGAN BROOKS

Although Matthew Ryan is totally new to me, his latest album, "Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State," has been getting great reviews since its April release.

This indie-rock musician and his band, Vs The Silver State, have been compared to Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. It is Ryan's 11th album in as many years, and he, once again, penned all of the tracks himself.

As I listened to each song on the album, it felt like the kind of music you would listen to turned up loud, riding in your car on a long trip with the windows down on a warm, sunny day.

The first track, "Dulce Et Decorum Est," was upbeat and sounded like a mix of country, rock and folk. Ryan has a smoky, raspy voice that I kind of like. The words to the songs and the way he sings them sound like he is singing about himself and his friends--in other words, they're personal.

You might have already heard of Matthew Ryan if you are a fan of the TV show "One Tree Hill." The eighth track on the album, "Jane, I Still Feel the Same," was featured on the show. I liked the song--it was slower than some of the others and consisted mostly of acoustic guitar.

To me, this is not an album that will totally knock your socks off--but it just might be worth a listen to open your mind to other interesting paths in the world of music.

Morgan Brooks is a rising freshman at Stafford High School.

What: Matthew Ryan Vs The Silver State performs indie-folk-rock along with Garrison Starr. Where: Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Avenue E., in Vienna When: Sunday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $15 Info: 703/255-3747 Web: jamminjava.com

Date published: 8/21/2008