JJ Ryan – Life May Take Its Toll

The alternative music scene has thrived in recent years, with outstanding artists and bands delivering some of the finest works this genre has heard or seen in decades. Unfortunately, many of these outlets sound similar to anything you’ve heard before, thanks to trends imposed by various influences, social media platforms, and streaming services, which usually push the same old, repetitive, bland, predictable music. But if you take a deep dive under the surface, you’ll realize there are still singer-songwriters capable of writing, composing, arranging, and producing fresh, unique, innovative, captivating music that goes way beyond anything you could possibly hear via streaming platforms nowadays. JJ Ryan, a Brisbane-based independent alternative rock artist, is certainly one of those singer-songwriters you should pay attention to, because his songs always sound soulful, passionate, sincere, meaningful, and, most importantly, captivating, otherworldly, and beautiful. With “Life May Take Its Toll,” his excellent extended play released today on all streaming platforms, JJ Ryan brings the finest alternative rock music you’ve heard in a while to the table. Across six marvelous compositions, this highly skilled and talented artist incorporates the fundamentals of alternative rock music in every segment, yet you’ll notice how some different yet complementary styles like garage, indie, and nineties rock found their place and purpose in this sonic equation. It’s nearly mindblowing how they enhance, decorate, and accentuate particular segments or the entire songs without every spoiling the initial sonic direction, proving that JJ Ryan thought about everything while writing, composing, arranging, and producing this masterpiece. Besides marvelous instrumentation, the artist also provides in-depth lyrics, exploring various sentiments, moods, situations, and circumstances with such finesse. Therefore, “Life May Take Its Toll” is a highly relatable piece of sonic artistry that will immediately resonate with the broader audience. It’s certainly one of those records that will appeal not only to the longtime alternative rock fans, but also to anyone who appreciates catchy, memorable, engaging, beautifully crafted, and flawlessly performed music.

This epic sonic journey commences with “Time Is On Your Side,” a perfect introductory piece that vividly demonstrates what you might expect from the remainder of the album. As soon as you press play, this beautiful composition wraps around your listening apparatus and refuses to let go long after the last notes and beats fade away.  JJ Ryan’s soulful, passionate, sincere, confident, powerful vocal performance acts as a centerpiece, flawlessly balancing low, mid, and high notes with precision and finesse, while generously distorted riffs and jangly, arpeggiated chord progressions shape a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine. In the meantime, the equally impressive, warm-sounding basslines offer more groove and depth, while well-accented, dynamic beats, breaks, fills, and accentuations keep everything in line. Such a perfect introduction to an exceptional material. “Live Wire Halo” is another standout composition off this material, bringing a comprehensive collection of jangly, subtly distorted chord progressions, riffs, harmonies, melodies, and other sonic maneuvers, while JJ Ryan’s voice contribute emotional depth, complexity, and more melody over an already intricate song structure. This composition has a perfect structure, decorated with many clever arrangements, profoundly detailed segments, brilliant ideas, and outstanding musicianship. “Trenches” beautifully balances between modern and retro indie and power pop elements. Throughout the entire composition, JJ Ryan demonstrates his exceptional songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities. Each segment brings those beautiful, arpeggiated chord progressions, immensely supported by subtle yet vividly audible riffs that lurk and punch from beneath. The bass guitar delivers more depth, clarity, heaviness, melody, and detail, all while serving as a binding element between guitars and drums. You’ll also hear how all those expertly performed rhythmic patterns keep everything together, all while dictating groove and pace. This composition has such an addictive, hypnotic, irresistible choruse that invites you to hum all those harmonies and melodies along.

“Safe In The Comfort” brings good old rock ‘n’ roll vibes, empowered with all those fundamental elements of alternative, indie, and power pop. This composition packs a lot of emotion, soul, melody, and harmony thanks to JJ Ryan’s impressive vocal performance, which in this case, acts as a centerpiece, commanding attention, elevating all the orchestrations to new heights, and guiding listeners on an epic sonic journey through the expansive sonic universe. Besides a comprehensive collection based on perfect themes, melodies, harmonies, and power chords, you’ll notice how additional synth leads, themes, and pads offer more depth and detail, while the steady, groovy, dynamic beats keep the momentum going. The artist showcases his impressive songwriting range with “How Can I Lie Awake?” It’s one of those songs that seamlessly levitates between folk and indie music, as each vocal, sonic, and rhyhtmic maneuver brings all the fundamental elements of both genres into this sonic equation. It’s certainly one of the finest songs on this material, and such a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, otherworldly piece that will immediately end up on your playlist. This epic sonic journey comes to an end with “Don’t Ask Questions,” another brilliant alternative rock song where heavy guitar riffs meet profoundly melodic vocal performance, intricate low ends, and groovy rhythmic patterns. It’s such a perfect composition that will immediately force you to spin this alternative rock gem all over again. “Life May Take Its Toll” is an absolute alternative rock masterpiece, crafted by one of the finest singer-songwriters you’ll stumble upon in years. JJ Ryan’s ideas, creativity, talent, and musicianship are on full display here, as he delivers six incredible, beautfiul, captivating song that will stay with you long after last notes and beats fade away. If you love soulful, passionate, emotive songs where melody, harmony, and power collide, “Life May Take Its Toll” will be right up your alley. It’s one of the best alternative rock records you’ll hear in a while.