Album Preview: Ryan Thomas Becker - Neighborhoof

On his sixth solo album Denton’s Ryan Thomas Becker opts to show off his softer side. Even without all the gritty guitar wizardry fans of his RTB2 project have become accustomed to Neighborhoof is still marked by Becker’s best asset: his voice. And when all the sonic wizardry and wandering solos are stripped away it is Becker’s soulfully smooth quiver the disc leans most heavily upon.

Although mixed at Echo Lab, the lo-fidelity four-track sound-quality and varied subject matter give the album an intimate, homemade feel, and the slide guitar overdubs sprinkled over most of the tracks make it feel homegrown as well.

“Finger Trace,” a personal favorite, with its syncopated chordal stabs and interwoven vocal harmonies would fit right in on any indie station around the country –which means it won’t be too long before it appears in a minivan ad. The track "Premeries" also gorgeously features a wonderful female harmony over Becker's lyrics of stoic love.

Pick the disc up in person at the Gutterth presented album release show tomorrow night at J&J's Pizza.

MP3: Ryan Thomas Becker - Seek Fire, Anime Kids

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