Wednesday, April 22, 2015

EP Review: Ryan Link - Reverberations



Alternative country rocker Ryan Link has released his latest EP, Reverberations, and it is a work of art. Concerning this EP, the beauty is in its brevity. While most EPs released today contain five, six, or even seven songs, Link went with the pure definition of EP and released a magnificent 4-track album. The terse amount of tracks makes each song much more powerful and the EP definitely leaves the listener wanting more, which should be the desire of any great musician.

“Under The Rug” kicks off Reverberations and makes it hard not to listen to this song multiple times before moving on to the next one. An alt-country, foot stomping, twanging guitar, grandstand of a great time, “Under The Rug” is one of the best songs I have heard in 2015. The guitar work is brilliant, especially the solo in the middle of the track. Link’s voice sings with an urgency that makes you feel the music as well as hear it. By the end of the track, fists are flying in the air, and listener vocal chords are strained from singing along as loud as they can. “Under The Rug” is a masterpiece.

The rest of the EP follows suit in its greatness and ability to deliver wonderful music. “Not Going Anywhere” is a mid-tempo beauty with strong lyrics and incredible music. “Reverberations” is a fun tune that shows off Link’s musical talent and changes the style up just enough to keep the listener hooked. And the final track, “Maladjusted,” leans heavy on acoustic folk, rounding out the album perfectly.

And while “Under The Rug” steals the show, the other three tracks do their best to keep up. Each song has its own uniqueness that sets them apart from the rest. If I wasn’t such a lover of heavier songs, “Maladjusted” would be my favorite song without a doubt. However, I’ve always preferred foot stomping, fist pumping songs to guitar picking folk songs. That isn’t a knock on “Maladjusted,” it’s more of a testament to “Under The Rug.”

Simply put, there is not a bad song to be had on Reverberations. Even though there are only four tracks to enjoy, it’s certain they will be enjoyed multiple times. What more can you ask from an EP? If Link can continue to produce music this grand, I have a feeling that he will be very well known in a short amount of time. Get on board early and grab a copy of Reverberations. It’s going to be hard to find a more enjoyable collection of music this spring.

Ryo’s Rating: 9 (out of 10)

Track Listing
Under The Rug
Not Going Anywhere
Reverberations
Maladjusted

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