Post by jptheprofessor on Sept 21, 2008 22:05:04 GMT -5
RYAN MATTHEW – DRIVING HOME (no label) Altoona’s Ryan Matthew has become one of the more frequent flyers on area acoustic stages over the past few years. On his first album, Driving Home, he introduces listeners to his brand of upbeat, acoustic-geared rock and country sounds. With producer Mike Gambardella accompanying on a variety of instruments, Ryan sings and strums out a dozen odes to everyday life, revealing nuances of his own life, personality and soul along the way. The tender “#1 Fan” celebrates the eventual rewards of fatherhood, while “I’ll Do the Rest” is a statement of love and devotion. The gentle “Least That I Could Do” offers a patriotic sentiment, while “Die Young” champions going for the gusto in life. Several songs reference bar and night life, including the opening title track “Driving Home,” the rowdy “My Drinkin’ Song,” and the harder-rocking “Outta Here,” featuring some scorching Mike Gambardella lead guitar work. “Jimmy Buffett Kinda Night” offers a beach getaway daydream, while the disc-closing “Steeler Fan” is a self-explanatory revelation of Ryan Matthew’s NFL loyalty. Ryan sings his material with a strong, rugged voice and hearty presentation, selling his words with passion and sincerity. Mike Gambardella’s production keeps Ryan’s performance at the forefront, while using the arrangements and instrumentation to color and accent the moods of the songs. Driving Home is a nicely-done introduction and expose of Ryan Matthew that lays out the welcome mat to his musical personality and world. (The CD can be obtained at Music Emporium in Altoona, or through Ryan Matthew's Myspace website, www.myspace.com/ryanmatthewguitar.)