Album Preview: Ryan Young - White Citrus

One of the very first things I ever wrote about back when SubEx was still in its infant stages was Austin musician Ryan Young. If I am remembering correctly, his catchy single "I Got Me A..." was my first official music submission. And now so many months later we find ourselves checking in with Mr. Young once again whose full-length "White Citrus" is in stores December 1.

The thing that stands out the most about Ryan Young's album is the high quality of musicianship throughout. No matter which style he decides to take on from track to track, his adroitness at the guitar is never compromised.

"I wanted to make a guitar album. Something that wasn't over the top in terms of technique or showmanship," Young said, "but more of a return to just really good guitar playing."

But it's not just great guitar playing that sets this album apart; wurlitzer, trumpet, and saxophone pepper the album and add a new dimension of polish and funk to Young's work --most notably on a reworked version of the aforementioned "I Got Me A...".

Ryan Young will be the first to tell you how A.D.D. his taste in music is.

"My musical tastes are all over the place, so it only seems right that my music would be as well!"

But it's this same lack of focus that is the disc's biggest detractor. Sure Young flawlessly pulls off blues, rock, folk, country, jazz, and even Latin on "Sea of Green," but it also makes it hard for the album to gain any lasting momentum. Though in the age of shuffling mp3 players this may not be as big of a problem as it once might have been.

MP3: Ryan Young - I Got Me A... [Official Website]

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