Indie Music Album Reviews

ryan d white - Something Brilliant Is About To Happen

6/24/2014

Ryan D White

Something Brilliant Is About to Happen
Spinning Disc Music; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Ryan D White isn’t wasting any time. Last year he released a full-length This Is How We Lose Our Minds and is already back with another five-song EP entitled Something Brilliant Is About To Happen. The EP is no filler until his next full-length. White actually ups the ante this time by putting Mark Hallman in the producer's chair and adding female vocals provided by Genevieve Baer. White “wanted to write optimistic pop music that didn't make anyone cry” and after listening I think he achieved his goal. The music here is not cheesy, happy-go-lucky pop with no emotional weight behind it. What White serves up is in line with the type of cathartic, triumphant rock that the band Spiritualized delivers. The music is a testament to forging forward and feeling hopeful.

White kicks off the album with the title track “Something Brilliant Is About To Happen.” His voice sits on top of a dark pad and the guitar as he sings the question “Am I really better than I was yesterday?” It doesn’t take long for the drums and chorus to kick in and change the mood of the song. The pensive almost ominous ambience is replaced by a soaring triumphant chorus where he sings, “something brilliant is about to happen” as if it is solidified truth that is as certain as the sun rising in the morning.

The second track “We Are The Dreamers” is a dance song that combines synth bass, guitar, organ and drums. It jumps out at you with a good amount of energy that just picks up as it progresses. For a majority of the song Baer and White sing together, which adds to the emotional impact of the vocal melody.

“Love Story” is a nostalgic rock song, which has the most triumphant chorus on the EP while “Let Go” is the most subdued and melancholy. White closes with “Earthbound,” which is arguably the highlight of the EP. The music is inviting, warm and hit a number of harder to reach heights without sounding contrived. The EP ends on an extreme high in fact the last lyric is “higher than this.”

It’s evident after listening to this EP that White is taking into consideration all he can to put out music that maximizes his talent. Something Brilliant Is About To Happen is a step in that direction for White and showcases not only his talent for song writing but his ability to conceptualize what he wants to release.