CD Review
Ryan and the Del-Rays
Absolute Custom
Snappy Records (© 2002, Snappy 1001)
by Jim Angehr
Review date: August 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Ryan and the Del-Rays' first album, Absolute Custom, is a solidly intriguing and engaging disc from a band with a very promising future. Fronted by singer-guitarist-songwriter Ryan Verthein and aided by drummer Kevin Severson and bassist Mike Carvale of the Lamont Cranston Band, the Del-Rays serve up a yummy mixture of blues covers and originals, with nods to old R&B, rock, and grunge thrown in for good measure.
Verthein, barely 20, is a guitarist who obviously took the time to learn the basics of the instrument, instead of cutting straight to the speedy stuff. His tone sounds substantial without being overwrought, and he's as fast as any guitarist needs to be. What may open up his future, though, is a knack for tasty rhythm that elevates his songs above standard beer-blues fare. Listen to the boogie-rhythm of the album's opener, the original "Walking Down the Line," or the genuinely funky "Black Sheep Funk" to hear grooves about ten times better than what you'd expect from a high school band in Minnesota. Drummer Severson keeps the train rolling along and deserves props for navigating the tricky percussion of the chestnut "Crosscut Saw." On the bottom, Carvale's bass thumps with ingenuity and intricacy. Debut albums aside, he's one fine bass player.
The secret weapon of the band may be Verthein's voice; he comes across more Eddie Vedder than Howlin' Wolf. While that may sound like a turn-off, just remember how many blues-shouting soundalikes have put you to sleep recently. Verthein sings blues convincingly but also sounds FM-ready on the grungy "Life in Our World."
It will be interesting to see where things go from here for this outfit. There's a real sweet spot in this album to be mined. The Del-Rays won't be straight blues, and they won't be straight rock, but you can hear something going on in Absolute Custom that promises a hybrid between the two—and it's not generic blues rock. Check out this opening salvo from these guys, and keep an eye on them for later on.
http://ryanandthedelrays.tripod.com/
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