Harris & Ryden - Run (2002)

The music of Stephen Harris & Chris Ryden draws a melodic line nearly the length of the Great Divide, from the craggy peaks of the Grand Tetons to the rolling, green Texas Hill Country. Lots of miles and lots of stories and lots of territory...And all of it is encapsulated on RUN (Two Mule Records), the aptly-titled second album from the increasingly popular duo.

Although they attended the same high school in San Antonio, Stephen's and Chris' paths did not cross until after they made parallel sojourns to cowboy on ranches up in the wilds of northwestern Wyoming. A tangled skein of circumstance (or fate, if you believe in that sort of thing) brought the two together on a rambling roadtrip to Texas. Discovering a shared love of music-and a newly-minted affection for Austin-the two embarked on a musical partnership which has seen a wildly diverse range of shows- from sharing the stage with Lyle Lovett to performing at the ambassador's party at the U.S. embassy in the Dominican Republic. And, oh yeah, an awful lot of beer joints, too.

RUN was produced by Merel Bregante, whose landmark work with Loggins & Messina gave him a few platinum-selling insights about coaxing the best from a duo of talented songwriters and musicians. And the band H&R has assembled makes good use of some of Austin's most talented young pickers.

The bakers-dozen songs on RUN (including the inaugural single, "This Hard Town") flow naturally between Western-flavored rockers, ballads and story songs that evoke classic high-lonesome images. Though Ryden cites influences from Mark Knopfler and Springsteen to Marty Robbins, and Harris' loyalties hew close to classic Texas storytellers like Guy Clark and Ray Wylie Hubbard, their collaborative work owes unclassifiable and original debts to folk, rock, country, and the fertile regional gumbo that is "Texas music."

The caliber of musicians is notable, including track contributions from Matt Slusher (South Austin Jug Band), Brian Run (an accomplished songwriter in his own right), not to mention Blake Lindley (drums, percussion), Justin Farrow (fiddle, piano) and Joel Canfield (upright and electric bass). There is no doubt that Harris & Ryden are a talented pair, but the backing on this record is sharp and diverse, and reveals a distinct maturation from their debut Here to Jackson. The instrumentation is expanded and includes unexpected doses of the accordion, dobro, and piano. Songs vary from genre to genre, making it difficult to pigeonhole the album into a single music category. From traditional to "younger" country, from rock to alt-country, Harris & Ryden draw from a fan base that reaches further than a single radio station's programming. Whatever your musical taste, Run offers something that hit the spot for everyone. And I personally hope that the fates continue to bring Harris & Ryden further success. I suggest that you "run", don't walk, to get this new release from the rising Texas talents Harris & Ryden.

Track List:

01 - This Hard Town
02 - Southern Plains
03 - Lazy Afternoon
04 - Beggar's Dimes
05 - Cold Wyoming Snow
06 - The Eyes Of A Friend
07 - Strange New Love
08 - Mogollon
09 - Annie Belle
10 - Run
11 - Careless
12 - Shiny Cars

Quality: Average VBR 229 Kbps 44100 Stereo
Size: 97.14Mb
Genre: Folk | Roots Rock | Country | Alt-Country | Songwriter

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