Ryan Allen - They're Coming For Us

One of the benefits of this modern age of music is that an artist can opine on current events in real time. If you released a protest song back in the day, by the time the thing got recorded, the records were pressed, and the label was ready to put it out, you might have been singing about something that had happened a year or more earlier. But these days, modern technology has greatly reduced (and in some cases, virtually eliminated) the turnaround time between writing and releasing a song. And if you're a protest singer in 2026, that's ideal. Ryan Allen is not always a protest singer, but he certainly doesn't shy away from using his art and his platform to weigh in on what's happening in America. He is passionate about social justice and (to put it mildly) deeply concerned about the political climate of the moment. "Shit is fucked" is his technical assessment of the situation, and he's not wrong. 

If you had told me even a decade ago that we'd soon be living in times where white supremacy would be rebranded as a perfectly respectable political choice, anti-fascism would become a partisan stance, an outgoing president could incite an insurrection and subsequently get re-elected in an electoral landslide, and half the nation would bend over backwards to justify masked government agents executing protestors in the streets, I would have considered that a fiction too absurd to be published. But here we are. A wise man once asked the musical question "What are we gonna to do now?", and what Ryan Allen has done is written some songs that he hopes will inspire resistance and raise some money for the cause. They're Coming For Us, his brand-new EP, is his effort to use his talents "as a weapon against hate, oppression, and the doomscroll world that we're all living in." All proceeds from this release will be donated to Democracy Forward. 

Musically, this EP delivers a little bit of everything that I enjoy about Ryan Allen. The title track finds him going back to his roots in punk rock, and the message is not subtle. If you're willing to embrace authoritarianism in America because they're going after "those people," don't act shocked when they eventually come for you. "This Ugly" is vintage Ryan Allen indie power pop and confronts the distressing realization that we can no longer assume that most people are decent, kind-hearted humans who reject hate. The EP concludes with "Hurry Up and Wait," which finds Allen adopting the classic guitar-and-voice only approach to protest singing. The song ponders a question that has been on my mind as well: When will this lunacy end — if it does at all? 

They're Coming For Us was produced, mixed, and mastered by Robby Miller. It sounds fantastic, and the songs are as inspired musically as they are lyrically. The EP is a $5 download from Bandcamp. 100% of Allen's cut will go towards the defense of democracy. Again, not that many years ago, the mere notion that we'd ever have to worry about preserving democracy in America might have seemed ludicrous. But I'll be honest: I'm pretty damn worried.

-L.R.

https://ryanallen.bandcamp.com/album/theyre-coming-for-us
https://open.spotify.com/album/6uQcUstGnFPDFv5kEcbua2
https://www.ryanallenmusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ryanallenmuzik

Ryan Allen - One Week Off

Ryan Allen has given us his own version of one of those "How I spent my summer vacation" essays. One Week Off, his second album of 2025, is the the fruit of an August staycation. In that one week, he literally made a record all by himself. He sat down with some songs he'd demoed in the past, found a whole bunch of them that worked as a single album, and created this gem of a power pop record. These songs are mostly from 2021-22. A few are from 2024, and one is brand new. But One Week Off doesn't come off like a collection of leftovers. This is genuinely one of Allen's best albums, and it's definitely the hardest he has ever rocked as a solo artist. 

What kind of talent do you have to have the luxury to write songs this good and then put them on the shelf? But it's not just about talent — it's also about work ethic. Ryan Allen writes a lot of songs. And when you're that prolific, you're bound to have some gems that you can save for a rainy day (or a week off from work). He intended this to be an "upbeat, no-frills, punch-you-in-the-face rock record," and that's precisely what it is. His last album, Livin’ On The Prayer On The Edge, was all over the place by design. One Week Off is a little more focused on that power pop by way of '90s indie rock with a touch melodic punk style that is Allen's forte. If you enjoyed his 2016 album Basement Punk, you're gonna be into this one as well. Allen played everything on this record and produced it at home on a Digital Audio Workstation. Then he had Paul Miner work his mixing and mastering magic and make it sound like a million bucks. It's crazy to think that songs like "Bloody Gums" and "Simple Pleasures" went unrecorded and unreleased for so long. If "Sick of Content," "Do It All Again," and "When Is Everybody Gonna Step?" aren't anthems for these times, I don't know what is. 

When I hear about an artist putting out two albums in a year, that means one of two things to me. Either you're contracted to a soulless major label in the late '70s, or you're making music for the sheer love of it. In the case of One Week Off, we know which one it is. Be sure not to miss Allen's recent contribution to the Is It Power Pop?! series over at Remember the Lightning! 

-L.R.

https://ryanallen.bandcamp.com/album/one-week-off
https://open.spotify.com/album/6zlA2GaRV1A2CkzvyMVSu1
https://www.ryanallenmusic.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/ryanallenmuzik.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/ryanallenmuzik/#

Ryan Allen - Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge

A decade has passed since I first became aware of Ryan Allen's music. That sure was a quick ten years! Today, I review him as a lead artist for the 13th time. His new album, cleverly titled Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge, is almost definitely his magnum opus so far. At the very least, this is the most of himself that he has ever put into one of his releases. The album essentially combines all the musical influences that have ever shaped his songwriting, and yet every track sounds distinctly like him. I have to admit that when it came to Ryan Allen, I loved him from the moment I first heard his voice. And over the past decade, I've had the pleasure of hearing him grow as an artist and embrace a wider array of influences while still rooting his musical approach in timeless melody. 

At one point, there seemed to be two sides to Ryan Allen: the experimental indie rock side and the melodic power pop side. Slowly but sure, those two sides melded into one. Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge is the work of an artist who loves everything from '90s alt-rock to classic power pop to left of the dial indie rock to shoegaze to The Beatles to punk rock and has absorbed all those influences in a way that's fully cohesive and reflective of his unique point of view. I feel like all of us, when we get to a certain age, grow out of particular phases and simply embrace everything we've ever loved. That's where Allen is in his musical journey. And having spent so much time (especially post 2020) working on home recording, Allen has really figured out who he is an artist and how to achieve the sound he's going for. I have a strong attachment to 2015's Heart String Soul for sentimental reasons. But when you compare Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge to Heart String Soul, it's striking how far Allen has come as a songwriter, musician, and producer of his own work. As I listen to this record over and over, I find myself feeling like it goes by too quickly. Yet at nearly a half hour, this is not a particularly short album. It just seems that way because it's so good that I'm ultimately left wanting more. 

Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge is an album inspired by memories of being a kid and discovering a whole new world of music that you never knew existed — and of being an adult who never lost that enthusiasm and wonderment. I would imagine that almost anyone reading this now will be able relate to that. You could be listening to any one of millions of podcasts or reading any one of millions of online publications right now, but you're here looking at some small-time music blog because you're still super-passionate and genuinely excited about new music. As he revisits the music that was life-changing in his teenage years, Allen is not afraid to sometimes wear his influences on his sleeve. "I Should (But I Don't Really Wanna)" literally recreates Teenage Fanclub's guitar tone. The hilariously on-point "Conspiracy Theory" would not sound out of place between Swervedriver and My Bloody Valentine on a mixed tape. "After I'm Dead" unabashedly worships at the altar of Big Star. "So What Who Cares" doesn't care if you think it sounds like Stereolab. But for the most part, the influences on this album are more suggested than obvious — the result of them co-mingling in Allen's brain for thirty plus years and ultimately getting filtered through his own personal style. Without sounding like any band in particular, "Lost in a Daze" captures the spirit of fuzzy early '90s college radio power pop. I can't decide if "Devil's Juice" is trying to be action rock or garage punk, but I know that I love it. If Devo, Sonic Youth, and Guided by Voices had been one band, they might have written "The Construction Man." "Company's Eyes" is the sort of classic jangly pop that I hope Allen never stops writing. "In the Next Life," Allen's poignant tribute to a recently passed friend, is beautiful and silky-smooth —  an unironic nod to the soft rock that ruled the airwaves in the '70s and early '80s. 

Of course there's an undeniable '90s nostalgia underpinning Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge. When Allen was a teen discovering much of the music that influenced this record, I was a twenty-something discovering many of those same bands myself. So of course I'm going to have a soft spot for these songs. But those fond memories are just a starting point — not the ultimate destination. This is by no means a "retro" album. It asks you not to turn back the clock a few decades but rather to appreciate the timelessness of the music that inspired it. Allen's lyrics run the gamut from personal reflections to social commentary to deeper ruminations on life in these times. Altogether, this is a record that feels very relatable and very now. Songs about coping with anxiety, enjoying domestic bliss, and wanting to create something meaningful to be remembered by absolutely speak to me, and they likely will to you as well. Far more than just the product of his influences, Ryan Allen is a songwriter of extraordinary talents. I will always think of him when I'm asked why the 2010s were such a rad time for indie pop. But in the 2020s, he has only gotten better. I imagine he's extremely proud with what he has created in Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge. And let me tell you: he should be. 

-L.R.

https://ryanallen.bandcamp.com/album/livin-on-a-prayer-on-the-edge
https://open.spotify.com/album/7mvC8Ktviha5Zoq7SCUr3q
https://www.ryanallenmusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ryanallenmuzik
https://bsky.app/profile/ryanallenmuzik.bsky.social

Ryan Allen - "I Should (But I Don't Really Wanna)"

It was just a little less than ten years ago when I first got hip to Ryan Allen — who by then was already a two-decade veteran of the underground music scene. If I ever did a list of favorite albums I've reviewed for this blog, Heart String Soul would be on it. Within the first 74 seconds of "Should Be Me," I knew I was going to love the album. And Allen was instantly one of my favorite artists. Since then, I've had the great privilege of chronicling his career, and I highly recommend anything he has ever written or played on. But there's something in particular about his home-recorded stuff that really hits the spot for me. And as I listen to his new single, "I Should (But I Don't Really Wanna) b/w "Anxious All the Time," I'm reminded so much of the first time I heard his music. These songs are giving those same vibes. Not every songwriter is cut out for solo work, but Allen seems to be made for it. There's something about having complete creative control that really allows him to shine as a songwriter. Both songs on this new single are taken from his forthcoming album Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge, which he describes as "the most ME record I've ever made." So first of all, that title is brilliant. And second of all, I am beyond excited for another album where Ryan Allen essentially tells the world, "Hey! This is who I am!" He certainly chose well with these two single tracks — which will give you all the feels if you have a soft spot for crunchy, vaguely melancholy early '90s indie power pop a la Teenage Fanclub and Lemonheads. But I'm also looking forward to hearing where Allen goes with the rest of the record. Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge promises to be a culmination of all the musical influences that have shaped him as an artist over the past 30+ years. 

When I started this blog back in 2011, I was strictly a genre geek. You could argue I'm still genre-driven in what I write about, and that would be fair. But I feel like, over the years, I've become more of a fan of particular artists and bands as opposed to a fan of specific musical genres. That was the way I got into music as a little kid, and I seem to be going back to that in my older age. That's why I don't get tired of writing about certain bands over and over and over. Ryan Allen certainly knows how to write a great pop song. But beyond, I just really like him as singer and songwriter. And unless he starts playing nu metal, I look forward to following his artistic progression for another decade at least. Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge will be out April 25th, and pre-ordering is now open on Bandcamp. I'll have lots more to say next month!

-L.R.

https://ryanallen.bandcamp.com/album/livin-on-a-prayer-on-the-edge
https://open.spotify.com/album/1y6tzeN7TklOhkC0ZiqUnR
https://www.instagram.com/ryanallenmuzik/

Extra Arms - RADAR

Extra Arms have been a go-to band for me for a number of years, so I'm always excited to hear new music from southeastern Michigan's finest loud pop foursome. The band's new album RADAR is its first in two years, but it's the first album the band has made together in the studio since 2019. 2022's What Is Even Happening Right Now? was a terrific record, but the band members recorded all their parts remotely due to pandemic restrictions. And when it comes to a rock band like Extra Arms, chemistry and live connection are everything. So if you want to call RADAR the first "real" Extra Arms album in nearly five years, that's not entirely inaccurate. 

Extra Arms — Ryan Allen on lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards, Ryan Marshall on bass, Daniel Stover on drums, and Jordan Wright on guitar — have come through with their best album by far. RADAR, named after Marshall's dog, takes everything you loved about Extra Arms and makes it bigger. Every aspect of this record — from the production to the hooks to the ambition of the songwriting  — feels more massive than before. Being someone who lives under the delusion that it's only a matter of time before real rock music re-takes the commercial airwaves, I can almost convince myself that I could turn the radio on right now and hear one of these songs. Perhaps that ship has sailed, but Extra Arms belong spiritually to a bygone era when there was honor and artistic merit in crafting a perfect pop song that could rock your face off. RADAR doesn't mess much with the band's musical approach, but it refines it and takes it to the next level. The sound is equal parts power pop, indie rock, and the good parts of classic rock with the spirit of punk and new wave bubbling under. If you think that sounds like something I'd be into, you'd be very right! Allen is one of my favorite vocalists, and he excels at condensing six decades' worth of melody-driven songwriting tradition into something that sounds far more timeless than retro. He manages to toss bits and pieces of Cheap Trick, The Replacements, The Cars, The Kinks, Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello, and Bob Mould in a blender and concoct something that sounds contemporary yet pleasingly familiar. Lyrically he really pushes these songs into the present, mixing personal reflections on modern life with some sharp social commentary. 

Allen and his band-mates Marshall, Stover, and Wright form a well-oiled machine; RADAR soars on the strength of thunderous guitars, tight and powerful rhythm work, and silky vocal harmonies. The album doesn't veer far from Extra Arms' usual M.O., but it does find the band incorporating some new tricks and taking full advantage of the talents of some guest musicians. "Space and Time" is a touching country rock ballad  featuring Dave Feeny on pedal steel. Jessi Dills' trumpet adds a new dimension to the band's core sound on "All Good Things Take Time." Album closer "Sit Back Up," featuring Matt Jones on saxophone, is almost Springsteen-esque. "Shut 'Em Down" is a fight-the-power anthem worthy of a packed stadium. While the album as a whole is less overtly '90s-sounding than earlier Extra Arms efforts, "Mad Dog Blue" instantly transports me to a moment when hearing Teenage Fanclub for the first time was life-changing. 

Finally given the chance to properly get the band back together, Extra Arms did not waste the opportunity to make the record of their lives. Engineered by Geoff Michael at his Big Sky Studios, produced by Ryan Allen, and mixed and mastered by Paul Miner, RADAR sounds like a million bucks — with songs that are absolutely worthy of all that studio sheen. And as polished as this album is, none of that comes at the expense of energy. Call it power pop. Call it alternative rock. Call it rock n' roll. It doesn't really matter. If you like rocking pop songs with hooks for days that come straight from the heart, RADAR needs to be on your radar.

-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/radar
https://open.spotify.com/album/4Tt526LVO3WKrovqfvAGFo
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lv1vh3Jb8FpzeHZaRSsE6u4-zs-IGLhbA
https://www.extraarmsband.com/
https://www.instagram.com/extraarms/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lv1vh3Jb8FpzeHZaRSsE6u4-zs-IGLhbA

Ryan Allen - The Last Rock Band

Out today, Ryan Allen's new solo album The Last Rock Band was originally conceived as the third Extra Arms album. The concept for The Last Rock Band was inspired by one simple question: "What if there were only one rock band left on Earth?" It was the middle of February 2020. There was not a trace of real rock and roll anywhere near the pop charts. As Allen pondered the long-debated "Is rock dead?" question, he began crafting a narrative of a fictional rock and roll band — literally the last one in existence. And then you-know-what happened. There were no more band practices, live shows, or recording sessions. A song cycle pondering the death of rock and roll may have suddenly felt way too real. The project was shelved. When it became possible for Extra Arms to make music again, there were more pressing issues to write about. New songs were written, and they became the excellent album What Is Even Happening Right Now?. Yet it always bothered Allen that The Last Rock Band remained unfinished. So he went into Big Sky Recording with producer Geoff Michael and recorded the album one-man-band style. And now here it is. 

An important aspect of The Last Rock Band as a concept album is that even if you removed the concept, it would still be a terrific pop rock and roll record. These are really good songs. I also appreciate that the album ties a fictional tale together with Allen's personal story of coming to love music. While the narrative traces the rise, fall, and re-birth of an imagined band, one gets the sense that a lot of these songs are very personal to Allen. "Discovery" describes some musical discoveries of his youth (Public Enemy and Nirvana are directly referenced) that were literally life-changing. It may be coincidence, but the turn of events that take place between "Bought a Computer" and "Second Act" parallel Bob Mould's retirement from rock and eventual triumphant return. The whole album is essentially a love letter to critical bands in Allen's musical universe, and thus it jumps around quite a bit stylistically. Allen conceived the album as something akin to a mixed tape, and that really comes through in the songs. I'm hearing echoes of everyone from The Who ("Start a Band") to the Ramones ("Like the Ramones") to the Replacements ("Wrong Place Wrong Time") to AC/DC ("Second Act") to David Bowie ("We Have Returned") along side power ballads ("Stop the Train"), synth-pop numbers ("Bought a Computer"), and arena rock anthems ("Because I Have To"). In a way, this album is a logical successor to Allen's 2021 release What A Rip. Allen as a solo artist has never rocked harder; one can easily imagine this being an Extra Arms album. So if the loud pop side of Ryan Allen is your thing, this release ought to be up your alley. 

I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying The Last Rock Band ends on a positive note. "Because I Have To" is another song where the real Ryan Allen weaves his way into this mostly imaginary rock opera. Here he finally answers the "Is rock dead?" question definitely. Of course rock is alive. The very existence of this album (and many more like it releasing every year) proves it. As I listen to this album, I envision a kid in his bedroom recording songs off the radio and listening to mixed tapes. I don't know if I'm seeing myself or Ryan Allen. Perhaps that's the point. In 2023, we have digital playlists instead of mixed tapes, and there's not much on commercial radio worth recording. But modern technology has given us an access to new and exciting sounds that the young Ryan Allen or Josh Rutledge could have only dreamed of. Pop charts be damned — all those people discovering life-changing music at this very moment are the living heartbeat of rock and roll.  

-L.R.

https://ryanallen.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-rock-band
https://setterwindrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-rock-band
https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms/
https://www.instagram.com/extraarms/
https://open.spotify.com/album/5YlyxVQ2A442rKDiRHi2xs

Extra Arms - What Is Even Happening Right Now?

What Is Even Happening Right Now?, the third album from Detroit indie rock/power pop foursome Extra Arms, is truly a release for these times. Out now on Chicago label Forge Again Records, this ten-song platter was recorded in the midst of an historic pandemic and lyrically inspired by the non-stop insanity that was 2020-21. But rather than fixating on the darkness, What Is Even Happening Right Now? moves at full force towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Singer/guitarist Ryan Allen used much of his COVID downtime to record and release music of various styles. But there's nothing quite like rocking out arena style with a kick-ass band. And while the making of What Is Even Happening Right Now? was difficult and time-consuming, its arrival feels celebratory. That's no accident. This album radiates positive energy. It features songs that are informed by bleak times yet profoundly triumphant -- as if these guys took all of their frustrations from the last couple of years and used them as fuel to rock harder than ever. As a longtime Extra Arms fan, I was looking forward to this album anyway. But the themes of this record (looking out for our own mental health, striving to become a better human) really speak to me at this moment in time. Essentially this is an album about accepting how messed-up things are and just saying, "Fuck it: I'm not going to be defeated by all of this!" That's a wonderful message, and it's delivered with Extra Arms' usual blend of crushing guitars, pummeling drums, and massive hooks. 

While What Is Even Happening Right Now? follows Extra Arms' general blueprint of Midwestern power pop running straight into '90s alternative rock, it's definitely the band's most varied release in terms of influences. It tips the cap to everyone from The Cars ("Feeling Alright") to Elvis Costello ("Click Wars") to Jawbreaker ("In Control") to The Who and Kinks ("Big Dogs") to Randy Rhoads ("Falling Into Place"). And while the band isn't afraid to get overtly political ("Click Wars", "Denial"), the majority of these songs are vigorously life-affirming. This is particularly true of the album's bookend tracks: the big rocker opener "Fun Guy" and the anthemic closer "I Don't Wanna Die." It seems redundant to describe an Extra Arms album as "energetic," but What Is Even Happening Right Now? has the feel of an unstoppable force. I'm guessing these guys were listening to a lot of punk rock when this album was being written and recorded. It certainly didn't hurt that mixing/mastering guru Paul Miner was on hand to make this record sound massive! 

What Is Even Happening Right Now? features more special guest stars than a Love Boat episode. Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Bob Nanna (Braid/Hey Mercedes), Gregory Macdonald (Sloan), Lily (the Plastic Beach), Scott Allen (Thunderbirds Are Now!), Chris Hatfield (Love Axe), and saxophonist Matt Jones all lend their talents to this powerhouse of a record. Fortunately, all of that star power was not wasted on a mediocre set of songs. What Is Even Happening Right Now? is one of those old school big hooky rock records that hardly anybody makes anymore. While the word "bangers" should not be in any 51-year-old man's vocabulary, I can't come up with a better word to describe each of these ten songs. The world may continue to be a train wreck, but at least Extra Arms have given us a killer soundtrack. As a very wise man once said: "It's really good to see you rocking out and having fun."

-L.R.

https://forgeagainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/what-is-even-happening-right-now
https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms
https://www.extraarmsband.com/
https://www.instagram.com/extraarms/
https://www.facebook.com/forgeagainrecords

Extra Arms - "Big Dogs"

One of my most eagerly-anticipated albums of 2022 is set to release June 3 on Forge Again Records. What Is Even Happening Right Now? will be the third full-band album from Detroit-based loud power pop foursome Extra Arms. It's hard for me to believe it was seven years ago already that I fell in love with Ryan Allen's solo album Heart String Soul. Back then, "Extra Arms" was just a funny way to convey that Allen could play a whole lot of instruments. Eventually he found some permanent bandmates and made Extra Arms a bona fide rock band. I've never been disappointed with any release that Allen has been involved with. Extra Arms in particular hit a sweet spot for me because they recall a time when indie/alternative rock truly rocked! In advance of What Is Even Happening Right Now? (a perfect album title for this moment in time!), the band has released the single and video "Big Dogs." In typical Extra Arms style, this song is a killer slice of powerful pop. "Big Dogs," it turns out, is a love song to man's best friend. It was inspired by Allen's special relationship with Willie Nelson, his partner's dog. Yet the song is more universal than that, exploring the powerful connection we can have with another living being in spite of not being able to fully converse with them. If you, as I, have ever longed to know the inner thoughts of your four-legged soulmate, you will understand what a profound song "Big Dogs" is. And the video is an absolute delight! With less than a month to go until the new record releases, I am getting majorly pumped for more new tunes from Extra Arms. This just might be the album of the summer! Hit up Forge Again's Bandcamp to pre-order the vinyl. 

-L.R.

https://forgeagainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/what-is-even-happening-right-now
https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms
https://www.extraarmsband.com/
https://www.instagram.com/extraarms/

Ryan Allen - I'm Not Mean

While we eagerly await a new Extra Arms album (which is coming this summer!), Ryan Allen has continued to treat fans to some truly excellent home-recorded solo releases. What I've enjoyed about these releases is that they have allowed Allen to dive deep into his multitude of musical influences. Song Snacks Vol. 1 was a nod to some of the sprawling indie rock epics of the 1990s. What A Rip was a love letter to 1960s pop and rock and roll. Digital Hiss celebrated the loud/fuzzed out side of indie rock. And now on his latest release I'm Not Mean, Allen finds himself inspired by the heyday of jangly indie pop. Without copying any artists in particular, he taps into the general vibe of The Smiths, early R.E.M., and the collective output of Sarah and Slumberland Records. It has been well-established that Ryan Allen can rock with the best of 'em, but these four tracks are all about finesse. From the guitar tone to the harmonies to the general fidelity of these recordings, the devil is in the details. "Count With Me" is as warm and bright as spring sunshine. Simply put, it's perfect pop. "To Be A Journalist" doubles down on the jangle but still sounds like a vintage Ryan Allen song with amazing lyrics and indelible melodies working hand-in-hand. Allen goes full twee on the title track, melding simplicity and sheer beauty like he's the second coming of Bobby Wratten. 

While Ryan Allen is no stranger to home recording, I'm Not Means finds him really stepping things up in terms of production and arrangements. Listening to this EP, it's not in any way obvious that these tracks were recorded at home by one guy with two microphones. Of course it doesn't hurt to have a formidable talent like Justin Pizzoferrato on hand to mix and master the recordings! If Allen's intention was to craft an homage to jangle pop, I'd say he fully nailed it. And as he always does, he manages to fold those inspirations into his own distinctive style as an artist. Whatever the specific influences may be, a Ryan Allen record always sounds like a Ryan Allen record. Whether you're a jangle junkie or simply a fan of melodic pop music, I'm Not Mean is highly recommended!

-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/im-not-mean-ep
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms

Ryan Allen - Digital Hiss

It's almost guaranteed to be a good sign when an email from a musician begins with "I know I'm a complete nutcase and can't stop releasing stuff!" Well, Ryan Allen is no nutcase. But it's true that he can't stop releasing music. And if I were as talented as Ryan Allen, I too would release music as frequently as possible! Digital Hiss is Allen's ninth release in the last ten months (yeah, really!), and the concept is based on a 4-track recorder he received for Christmas one year as a teenager. He never actually recorded songs on that 4-track (it got loaned to a friend and eventually went missing). But if he had, they likely would have sounded quite a bit like the songs on Digital Hiss. Allen mentions Eric's Trip and Sebadoh as specific influences on this release. More broadly, I'd describe this album as loud, fuzzy, lo-fi indie rock. Unbelievably, the entire EP was written, recorded, and mixed in a single day. Now that's what I call DIY! But just because it's DIY and lo-fi doesn't mean that it's just noise. Allen's knack for loud, simple pop songs of the highest quality is on full display here. I'm reminded of my own roots in underground music -- which was listening to college radio in the early '90s. Honestly, most of these tracks sound like they could be Extra Arms songs if they were worked out with a full band and more fully produced. But the whole point of this project was to replicate the ear-battering majesty of the fuzzed-out indie rock of yore. Mission accomplished! It blows my mind that Allen was inspired enough to write and record all of this material in a single day. This is really great stuff. I'm all for crafting a song over weeks or months if that's what it takes. But there's also something super cool about having that wild burst of creativity and getting everything down on tape while the inspiration is fresh in your mind. It's clear that Ryan Allen has been a remarkably prolific recording artist over the past year. But he's not just been putting out a ton of music --- he's been putting out a ton of really good music! Digital Hiss is very much up to his usual standards and highly recommended to any fan of noisy pop!

-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/digital-hiss
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms
https://www.extraarmsband.com/

Ryan Allen - What A Rip

What A Rip, the latest album from Ryan Allen (Extra Arms, Thunderbirds Are Now!, Destroy This Place), is not the first "2020" album I've written about. Nor will it be the last. But it will surely go down as one of the best. The title is in some ways a humorous acknowledgement that Allen "borrowed" from a classic song or two in the process of writing this album. But the real rip-off Allen is referencing is 2020 itself. This was a year that deprived us of so much. We all missed out on time spent with family and friends. Kids missed out on going to school. Bands missed out on playing shows. Birthdays, graduations, and holidays were not the same. Many of us literally lost people we loved. What a rip indeed! 

With What A Rip, Allen gives us a 2020-themed record that doesn't try too hard to be a 2020-themed record. Like so many other musicians and artists, he made the best of a bad situation last year and used his pandemic downtime to focus on creative pursuits. Last year alone, he released a 20-song album titled Song Snacks Vol. 1, a demo collection called RCHIVES, two albums of cover songs, and several singles. While not super-intentionally a concept album, What A Rip clearly explores ideas that were running through Allen's mind as the year progressed. In terms of musical inspirations, he went back to some of the most foundational bands in rock roll. The influence of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, and The Who is all over this record. And seriously: if you're gonna steal from other bands, those are the ones to steal from! It actually all started with a friend lending Allen a guitar pedal that mimicked the sounds of a Mellotron keyboard. And from there, the songs on this record just came to him. What A Rip brings together various elements of that classic mid-to-later '60s era of popular music - from garage rock to melodic guitar pop to psychedelic rock to baroque pop to early glam rock. While it's fun to joke about who he might be ripping off from track to track, Allen does a wonderful job of stealing creatively. And isn't that what all of the best rock and roll of the last 40 years has basically done? "On My Mind" sounds like what would happen if "Paperback Writer" and "Last Train To Clarksville" made a baby. "Look In My Eyes" is probably meant to bring to mind The Nazz's "Open My Eyes", yet it's by no means a straight rip. "Already Gone" steals a riff from T. Rex that was already stolen from Howlin' Wolf and incorporates it into a very Ryan Allen sounding song. While very obvious in its inspirations, the material on this album is well-crafted and consistently strong. In my book, songs like the simple, sweet "Glad That I Have You" and the gorgeous, Lennon-esque ballad "Only Son" (featuring Allen's dad Brad on guitar and brother Scott on keyboards) are two of the all-time high points in the Ryan Allen/Extra Arms songbook. Featuring an appealing mix of rockers, pop songs, and wonderful ballads, What A Rip is the sort of great all-around rock record that you just don't hear often enough these days. 

While I've enjoyed Ryan Allen's two albums with the full band version of Extra Arms, What A Rip has a home-recorded, deeply personal charm to it that takes me back to when I first heard Heart String Soul six years ago and became an instant fan. Allen is one of those songwriters that you just can't help relating to. In telling his own personal story through song, he touches on experiences we all share. In that respect, he was an ideal songwriter to make a 2020 themed album. What A Rip doesn't try to be profound or deeply insightful. It merely tells the tale of one man trying to navigate his way through a year full of hardships, gloom, and chaos. This is an album about loss and uncertainty and despair - but also an album full of hope and gratitude for the loved ones who make this life so worthwhile. I know the term "dad rock" is often meant as a knock. But this album is an example of what all dad rock should aspire to be. Having previously made albums in the styles of power pop, alternative rock, and indie rock (as well as the genre-hopping Song Snacks Vol. 1, which I deeply regret sleeping on when it came out last summer), Allen now presents his tribute to rock and roll. Yet the constant throughout has been how much of himself he puts into his songs. Digging into his full catalog on Bandcamp is surely a multi-hour commitment. Yet it's an endeavor I highly recommend!

-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/what-a-rip
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms

Extra Arms - Up From Here

As a huge fan of Detroit foursome Extra Arms, I was excited to find out that we were getting a second album from the band just one year after the release of its first. Headacher, Extra Arms' debut as a full band, was a gem of an album and absolute treat for anyone who fondly recalls the huge, hooky alternative rock of the later '90s. I am very happy to report that Up From Here is an absolutely extraordinary follow-up. What I'm not so happy to report is that it was inspired by a really terrible year in the life of front-man Ryan Allen. Ever since I heard his solo effort Heart String Soul four and a half years ago, I've considered him one of my favorite songwriters. Listening to Up From Here's opening track "F.L.Y." is like hearing a friend in distress. But while Allen is very up-front about this album being about the end of his marriage, this is in no way the depressing divorce record you might expect. Allen has always had a knack for writing about his personal experiences in a way that makes them come across as universal. And that's what he's done with Up From Here. Yes, these songs are extremely personal to him. But at a broader level, they're about encountering an unexpected loss and figuring out how to make a new, better life for yourself. You take your punches (literally and figuratively), and little by little you work yourself back to a good place. Who can't relate to that?

While the Sugar/Superdrag/Superchunk influences that powered Headacher are still very much at play on Up From Here, the feel of this album is a little different. Running just 22 minutes, it's got a punkier bite to it - especially on the first few tracks. And that perfectly suits this powerhouse of a band (also including Michael Gallacher on guitar, Ryan Marshall on bass, and Daniel Stover on drums). "F.L.Y." and "Disruptor" rip hard & fast and find Allen fully embracing his punk rock roots. "Secret Friend" is the heaviest track this band has done to date. Allen's narrative begins in a very dark place, and the music is reflective of that. You can hear the lyrics for yourself, but let's just say that Allen doesn't hold anything back. With the full force of kick-ass band behind him, he really lets it all out. Some of these songs are flat-out intense! You can feel the tide turning as the album progresses - Allen moving from rage and despair to self-reflection, acceptance, and finally genuine hope. "Comes In Waves" and  "Hold Me (All The Time)" are thundering shots of radio-worthy power pop that are perfectly suited to Paul Miner's massive production. "No Enemies" is a rocker that would make Bob Mould proud. And the title track is the soaring, optimistic closer this album needed to step fully into the light.

I cannot emphasize enough how much Extra Arms rock (Stover on drums is an absolute animal!). This is one of those groups that puts the power in power pop - like Cheap Trick or Material Issue back in the day. No wonder Allen didn't feel right putting his name above these other guys! I think some people will hear "divorce record" and automatically presume it will be full of mopey ballads. But Up From Here is about as far from that as you can get. Its mix of crunching power pop and powerfully emotional punk is carried off with an energy that is undeniable. There's part of me that feels guilty about enjoying this record so much: like, is it right that another person's pain should bring me such pleasure? But isn't that essentially the history of most great art and popular music in particular? Life has kicked all of our asses at one point or another. But we come back from it and find new beginnings. Allen has daringly laid his soul bare for all the world to witness, and it's my hope that more than a few people will be comforted or encouraged by this record. Music always makes things better. Whether you're invested in the story or just want to rock out like the '90s never ended, Up From Here is the best record that Ryan Allen has ever lent his name to. Although, technically, he didn't lend his name to it. Vinyl is out on Dadstache Records in the U.S. and Get Party! Records in Canada. Full stream available here!



-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/up-from-here-2 
https://getparty.bandcamp.com/album/up-from-here 
https://www.extraarmsband.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms 
https://www.facebook.com/GetPartyRecords/ 
https://dadstacherecords.com/ 

Extra Arms - Headacher

Depending on how you look at it, Headacher is either the fourth Extra Arms album or the very first. "Extra Arms" was originally a humorous nod to Ryan Allen serving as his own backing band on his solo endeavors. Allen, former singer/guitarist for Thunderbirds Are Now!, made three solo LPs using the Extra Arms handle. Then something really cool happened: the backing band Allen assembled to play live shows in support of his last solo album Basement Punk clicked so terrifically that a new permanent band was born. And just like that, Ryan Allen and His Extra Arms became...just Extra Arms! The band members are Allen, Michael Gallacher (guitar), Ryan Marshall (bass), and Sean Sommer (drums). Headacher, then, is the debut release from Extra Arms. It retains many of the characteristics of Allen's solo albums. But with this album, you definitely get the sense that you're listening to a proper rock band. And sonically, that lifts Extra Arms fully into the realm of mid-to-late '90s alt-rock/power pop.

If Basement Punk was Allen's nod to early '90s college radio, Headacher pushes forward a few years to the cleaner, crunchier sound of alt-rock greats like Sugar and Superdrag. The guitars are cranked way up, and the band elicited an absolutely massive sound from producer Geoff Michael and mixing/mastering superstar Paul Miner. But at the heart of the album are the same qualities that made Allen's solo records so appealing: memorable melodies, meaningful lyrics, and tremendously likable vocals. None of these things are lost amidst the wall of guitars and pristine backing vocals. If anything, the added oomph of a tight, powerful band heightens the impact of these songs. "Why I Run" is the type of song Allen has always done so well: taking something meaningful to his life and allowing you to feel its importance. But with the full force of Extra Arms behind it, "Why I Run" comes off like a pump-up song for the ages. Even if you're not a runner, you can easily relate this song to anything in your life that brings you purpose and exhilaration. I'm adding this one to my gym playlist for sure! Elsewhere songs address topics ranging from cultural ("Done To Death") to personal ("Honey Brown") to even political ("Push the Button"), and it's all don well. For me personally, this is an album that takes me back to a time when alternative rock was just freaking awesome. The moment those Superchunk-ish guitars kicked in on "Headacher", I knew I was in for a treat. The influence of Bob Mould is all over "Done To Death", and that can never be a bad thing. "You Make The Life You Want" sounds like a missing track from Goo Goo Dolls' Superstar Car Wash. "Honey Brown" brings to mind the melodious guitar pop of Teenage Fanclub or even Allen's buddy Nick Piunti. "The Last One" may set off your "token sensitive acoustic number" alarm, but you'll have a hard time denying that it's an absolutely magnificent song.

Will fans of Ryan Allen's solo releases love Headacher just as much? I have no doubt! But it's with good reason that Allen's name is no longer attached to the Extra Arms moniker. Headacher, far from one man's creative vision, is the collective effort of an exceptional rock band. These guys wrote and recorded this record together, and they absolutely knocked it out of the park (what's the appropriate running metaphor? Lapped the field?). Headacher releases today on Get Party! Records. Save it some prized shelf space next to your well-worn copies of Regretfully Yours, File Under: Easy Listening, and The Colour and the Shape.



-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/headacher 
https://getparty.bandcamp.com/album/headacher 
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms 
https://www.facebook.com/GetPartyRecords/ 

The return of Ryan Allen And His Extra Arms!

It has been a year and a half since Ryan Allen released Heart String Soul - which has quickly become one of my two or three favorite albums of the present decade. Heart String Soul is that rare power pop record that I would recommend even to non-fans of the genre, and Allen is as fine of a singer and songwriter as I've heard in recent years. When I found out that Allen (Destroy This Place, Thunderbirds Are Now!) was coming out with a new solo album on Save Your Generation Records, of course I was delighted. And even with my expectations set sky-high, the new album Basement Punk is everything I was hoping for and more. It had to be a great challenge to top a nearly flawless album, but Ryan Allen has done exactly that!

While still very much a pop record, Basement Punk has a little bit of a different feel than its predecessor. It celebrates a wonderful and specific time in music - when the sudden mass exposure of Nirvana, etc. caused so many of us to start digging deeper into the "secret" world of college radio, independent record labels, and DIY shows in tiny venues. So enamored is Allen with the indie/alternative/college rock sound of the early '90s that he intended for Basement Punk to sound like something that would have come out of Boston's Fort Apache Studios in its heyday. That Buffalo Tom/Dinosaur Jr./Lemonheads vibe is right up my alley, and it brings back fond memories of all the great music I discovered left of the dial in my young adulthood. Opening track "Watch Me Explode" would have fit perfectly in between Husker Du and Sloan on one of the homemade comp tapes of my youth, and it's a fantastic tone-setter for an album that consistently delights. And while tracks like "Gimmie Sum More" (a throwback to classic era Soul Asylum/Goo Goo Dolls) and "Without A Doubt" (think early, punky Lemonheads) carry on in a similar vein, there's so much more going on with this album. In keeping with the '90s inspirations, Allen successfully tackles shoegaze ("Alex Whiz") and emo/post-hardcore ("Basement Punks"). The latter, a loving tribute to the late Sarah Zeidan, just might be my favorite Ryan Allen song to date. It's a perfect example of what Allen does so well as an artist: sing about his own personal experiences in such a way that the listener feels a genuine connection. "Basement Punks" is as stirring and life-affirming as music ever gets, and it sounds like it ought to be playing over the closing credits of a movie you loved so much that you didn't want to leave the theater. If being part of a local music community has ever brought joy and meaning to your life, this song will give you tingles.

Even with its wider array of musical influences, Basement Punk is ultimately the work of an exceptionally gifted craftsman of guitar pop. Allen's melodies are just so pretty, and he has this seemingly innate sense of how to make a song catchy. In "Chasing a Song", "Mal n' Ange", and the fittingly titled "Gorgeous With Guitars", Basement Punk possesses a core trio of pure pop songs that surely have Alex Chilton and Chris Bell smiling from the great beyond. And if album closer "Everything (In Moderation)" sounds like it could have been on the new Nick Piunti album, it's hardly a surprise that these two great friends are rubbing off on each other (Piunti, in fact, is very quick to credit Allen for helping make Trust Your Instincts the album that it is).

I think I became a Ryan Allen fan the very first time I heard him open his mouth. He's got a voice that makes you immediately want to root for him, and he has the courage to share deeply personal parts of himself with anyone who might be listening. Any record of his is like a novel with a likable narrator. It goes without saying that power pop fans ought to be lining up to buy Basement Punk. But again Allen has made an album that's truly for everyone, and his stories and reflections really get to the essence of what it means to be human. What Ryan Allen is above all else is a classic American singer/songwriter, and I promise not to denounce my fandom if he makes the pages of Rolling Stone and sings "Alex Whiz" on Jimmy Fallon. Order Basement Punk today from Allen's Bandcamp, and Detroit peeps can check out the album's release show tomorrow night in Ferndale!



-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/basement-punk
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms
https://saveyourgenerationrecords.bandcamp.com/album/syg-033-basement-punk

That new Ryan Allen album...yeah!

If my posts are infrequent over the next week or so, you can blame Ryan Allen for that. I love his new album so much that I can't bring myself to listen to anything else right now. If you need me this morning, I'll be at my desk with "Angela '97" on repeat - bobbing my head like a maniac and enjoying the hell out of life. 

Ryan Allen (Thunderbirds Are Now!, Friendly Foes, Destroy This Place) has been playing in bands since the dawn of the Millennium. Why make a solo record when you've already busy with an active band? Because you've got a story to tell! Heart String Soul, recorded under the name Ryan Allen and His Extra Arms, is a classic case of a songwriter making a record entirely for himself. And precisely because of that, it's a true joy to listen to. Essentially it's an autobiographical record - the story of "a 35-year-old guy with a kid, a wife, a mortgage, and a full time job, but also with a passion to keep doing music and keep being creative". All of that aside, this might be the best collection of pop songs I'll hear all year. It seems inadequate to call Heart String Soul a great power pop record. It's more like a great record that just happens to be in the style of power pop. Genre geeks like myself will love it, but I could envision a few of these songs as massive mainstream hits if radio programmers would suddenly get a clue.

Allen recorded Heart String Soul in his dad's home studio in Michigan. He played most of the instruments himself - with additional contributions from his dad, brother, and pals such as Sean Sommer. It seems like the stuff of a Hollywood script: a veteran musician making the album of his life in his childhood home - with a huge assist from friends and family. But while that may sound like a good movie, it's an ever better album! Removed from the edgier indie rock stylings of Destroy This Place, solo Ryan Allen favors the guitar pop classicism of Big Star & Badfinger by way of '90s alt rock/power pop (Matthew Sweet, Fountains Of Wayne, Teenage Fanclub). And while so much of what makes this album special is surely to be discovered once you explore the lyrics in detail, Allen never loses sight of what great pop songs are really about. His melodies are sweet and instantly memorable. He crafts harmonies to die for. And like all the best songwriters, he has this way of saving the best part of a song for a knockout hook. By the time he declares, "The song on the radio/Well, it should be me", it's pretty much impossible to disagree! I love that his most amazing lyrics are supported by equally stunning melodies. "Born Radical", a loving tribute to Allen's parents, is the kind of uplifting pop song that makes you happy to be alive. "Angela '97", boasting the best one-word chorus since Material Issue's "Diane", is a true-life love story and hands down my favorite song of the year. It shames me to live in a world where a song this good isn't all over the radio.

When an artist pours his heart and soul into a record, I always want to like it. But with Heart String Soul, there was no effort required. I loved it from the very first listen, and it only gets better with repeated spins. While I'm no artist, I fully relate to Ryan Allen's experiences and point of view ("Not Hanging Out" could very well become my new personal anthem). Allen is an engaging storyteller, a wonderful singer, and a terrifically talented songwriter. He's created a true album - not just a bunch of songs. Whether or not you're a power pop freak like me, Heart String Soul is a release you can point to for proof that genuinely great music is still being made in 2015.



-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/heart-string-soul
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Two-Brains-Recording-Co/1536906163231903