Ryan D White - this is how we lose our minds

Ryan D White

This Is How We Lose Our Minds
self-released; 2013

3.7 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

Ryan D White brings us this experimental album, This Is How We Lose Our Minds, that bridges folk and country music with electronic and ambient sounds. It is a unique listen and showcases the artist’s talent for exploring different mediums and genres. The album is raw in both sound and emotion as the theme describes a rough time in the life of the musician. The strife of losing a newborn child is illustrated articulately through the lyrics of the album.

The track “Rocketship” starts off with a really bizarre electronic synth beat, and then the song completely transforms into a ballad country song that harps on lost love. The song has very descriptive lyrics and there are some very compelling guitar riffs toward the end of the song. Another track that is very uplifting is “Every Day.” The lyrics literally describe slowly overcoming a hardship day-by-day. As the song progresses, the beat and tone continue to become brighter and brighter, an aural metaphor for the concept the artist is conveying.

“Mysterious Ways” is a quite spacey-sounding song that is anchored by a punky chorus. It really is an anthem of strife and even goes on to question faith; “…the god that you’re praying to don’t give a shit.” Even though these lyrics may be in your face, it is a concept many people can relate to.  

Although the album is relatively short, each song has a really driving force that can catch any listener’s attention. The concept remains very personal to the artist and these types of concept albums usually prove very successful in a creative sense. A listener can tell that the musician is really releasing and escaping the real world through his music, something that perhaps is contagious while listening.

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