Review Summary: Loser from reality TV show wins big with first solo album.
I first came across Ryan Star on the reality tv show "Rockstar: Supernova" and I have gotta say that my first impressions of him were that he was a typical reality tv show contestant (rude & arogant) but as the weeks went by and his performances picked up I started to warm to him. By the time he covered R.E.M.'s "losing my religion" I was convinced he was gonna be a star (pardon the pun) either with the services of "Supernova" (the band he was auditioning for) or as a solo artist.
At the completion of the show I caught word of a solo album that was released just prior to the start of the reality show, I searched high and low for the album and eventually got lucky on ebay and got a signed copy for about $10 and Iam pleased to say that it is the best $10 I have ever spent.
Anywho, enough with the fanboy crap, this album is basically a collection of Star's early work, that he has stripped down to perform as a solo artist. This is pretty much Ryan Star pounding on a piano or strumming an accoustic guitar and I must say it's gripping stuff.
The album contains 20 short tracks and here is a bit of a summation of my favourites.
WE MIGHT FALL - A great track, sweet but at the same time haunting vocals, and a subtle piano part lead us to a breath taking crescendo at the bridge. It brings a shiver to my spine every time I listen to it.
SO ORDINARY - A hopelessly optimistic track in which we are urged to be brave and tackle our lives and challanges with everything we have. Again this is just star on his piano. I find this track to be quite inspiring.
HERE SON - Starts with an almost classical piano part. This track finds star doing a bit of social commentary on the ill's of the world. A very interesting track.
THE BACK OF YOUR CAR - This is the track that star performed live on Rockstar: Supernova. Again a stripped down version but it loses none of its intensity. With a chorus that will get stuck in your head, I can imagine this being a crowd pleaser in years to come.
WAITING FOR LOVE - Another ode to lost love, or so it seems. Another track of star on his baby grand, his voice sounding particually powerful here.
This is probably not an album that you will find on the shelves of your local cd outlet, and you will probably have to go out of your way to get hold of a copy, but trust me, it is worth the effort as this is the type of album that may just change your life.
Thanks for reading!
