Howdy!

For the past year I haven't had much motivation to write new songs. I felt like the pandemic had stolen a lot of my inspiration. So I stuck to playing cover songs. They've been comfort food for my ears, for my fingers. A lot of the songs I was playing I’d been fooling around with for years, and never thought to record them. But in July of 2020 I started recording a few of them on my Tascam 8-track, not knowing where they'd end up, recording on and off in bursts, taking monthlong breaks then picking up where I left off. Like all my music, these songs are pretty sparse instrumentally. They're mostly just me and guitar or piano, some harmonium, harmonica, or tambourine, and the occasional siren or honking horn from street traffic. I didn’t have to think too hard with these songs, they're all pretty easy and fun to play (except for "¡Que Vida!" which was a tough one for me) and I found recording them therapeutic, particularly during this past year. I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I enjoy playing them. Thanks for listening.

Much Love,

Ryan

P.S. Below you'll find the track listing with the artists who originally performed the songs and writing credits.

1. If Only You Were Lonely - Originally performed by the Replacements (written by Paul Westerberg)

2. New York City - Originally performed by Adriane Lenker and Buck Meek (written by Adriane Lenker)

3. The Lonesome Border, Pt. 1 - Originally performed by Dear Nora (written by Katy Davidson)

4. Open Up - Originally performed and written by Michael Hurley

5. Dancing with Tears in my Eyes - This song has been done by Lead Belly, Peggy Lee, Ruth Etting, Vera Lynn, X, and Johnny Marvin, to name a few. I was introduced to this song through X's version on their 1982 album Under the Big Black Sun. It was originally written by Joe Burke & Al Dubin.

6. A New City Life - Originally performed by Pants Yell! (written by Andrew Churchman)

7. Make a Deal with the City - Originally performed by East River Pipe (written by F.M. Cornog)

8. Terms Of Psychic Warfare - Originally performed by Hüsker Dü (written by Grant Hart)

9. All About Our Love - Originally performed by Sade (Written by Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale & Paul S. Denman)

10. As You Turn to Go - Originally performed by the 6ths (written by Stephin Merritt)

11. The Summer You Let Your Hair Grow Out - Originally performed by Pansy Division (written by Chris Freeman & Jon Finoli)

12. Dance By the Light of the Moon - Originally performed by the Olympics (written by Jimmy Eaton, Clif Goldsmith, Mickey Leader, Terry Shand, Fred Smith)

13. Bobby, King of Boys Town - Originally performed and written by Cass McCombs

14. Government Brand - Originally performed by Ponies in the Surf (written by Alexander McGregor & Camile McGregor)

15. Cherry Cream On - Originally performed by Unrest (written by Bridget Cross, Phil Krauth & Mark Robinson)

16. ¡Que Vida! - Originally performed by Love (written by Arthur Lee)

17. The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner - Originally performed by Belle & Sebastian (written by Isobel Campbell, Richard Colburn, Mick Cooke, Chris Geddes, Stevie Jackson, Sarah Martin & Stuart Murdoch)

18. True Fine Love - Originally performed by Steve Miller Band (written by Steve Miller)

19. Dirty Hands - Originally performed by Black Lips (written by Cole Alexander, Jared Swilley, Joe Bradley & Ian Saint Pé)

20. I’m Gonna Get You Yet - Originally performed by the Dixie Cups (written by Earl King)

21. Wildman - Originally performed by Reilly & Maloney (written by Ginny Reilly)

22. Underwater Explosions - Originally performed by Guided By Voices (written by Robert Pollard)

23. Stronger - Originally performed by Sentridoh (written by Lou Barlow)

24. My Drug Buddy - Originally performed by Lemonheads (written by Evan Dando)

25. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying - Originally performed and written by Labi Siffre

26. If You Can’t Give Me Love - Originally performed by Suzi Quatro (written by Michael Donald Chapman & Nicholas Barry Chinn)

27. I Am a Cinematographer - Originally performed by Palace Brothers (written by Will Oldham)

28. The Secret of Life - Originally performed by the Dead Milkmen (written by David Schulthise, Dean Sabatino, Joseph Genaro & Rodney Linderman)

29. Love is Pleasin’ - This is a Dubliners song, but I do it in the style of Shirley Collins and Davy Graham’s version from their 1964 album Folk Roots, New Roots. It was written by Barney Mckenna, Ciaran Padraig Maire Bourke, Luke Kelly & Ronald Joseph Drew.

30. Frankenstein Love - Originally performed and written by Daniel Johnston

31. He’s on the Beach - Originally performed by Kirsty MacColl (written by Kirsty MacColl & Gavin Povey)

32. Black Boys on Mopeds - Originally performed and written by Sinéad O'Connor

33. (Bonus Track) Love Theme from The Breakfast Club - Originally performed and written by Keith Forsey