[ALBUM REVIEW] Matthew Ryan - Hustle Up Starlings

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I love a song
That doesn't care what you want

"Hustle up starlings," Matthew Ryan sings on the title track of his latest release. "The bats are coming."

Death is nothing new; we expire, we disappear. Life is today. It's also tomorrow, and the day before yesterday, and it's sometimes taxing, brutal periods of time where you're stuck in a mysterious place where light dimly flickers. Sometimes we're ghosts riding waves.

But Matthew Ryan's music doesn't live in any of these places. It's always in motion.

A way out.

A way out of that mystery. A way out to the life you've imagined, and also one that you can live. He's good -- no, great -- with describing the little moments. "I saw your name yesterday," Ryan sings on the dark piano ballad, "Maybe I'll Disappear." "On some unopened mail I threw away." Later, to close the song: "I miss the simplest of scenes, you in the dark just over me...your hair a mess, your eyes aglow...the engine hums, it starts to snow."

It's 2017, and we're swimming (drowning?) in a world where beats sell, and lyrics don't. But it wasn't always this way (see: Zimmerman, Robert). And every time I hear an album like Hustle Up Starlings, I'm reminded of the indisputable power of words.

There's plenty to dig into. "Run Rabbit Run" and "Hustle Up Starlings" are two of the most thought-provoking songs I've heard in a long time -- deep enough to still give me chills on occasion, mostly when I'm driving, alone, and the weather is changing around me. This album is a glowing, moving film, and it refuses to die.

"Don't die, don't disappear. I swear to God we need you here," Ryan sings on the opening track, "(I Just Died) Like An Aviator."

It's so simple, but sometimes you need to hear it.

[EXCLUSIVE STREAM] Listen To Joshua Winstead's Solo Debut, 'MMXX'

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Photo by Anton Lombardi

You got to believe that love can set you free, baby
You got to believe in love

Today, we're excited to share an exclusive stream of Joshua Winstead's solo debut, MMXX. You can listen to the full album below.

MMXX is an impressive, soulful solo debut for Winstead, who plays bass for the critically-lauded Metric. "One Heart," "Beautiful Prison," and "Games" highlight what is obvious: the 11 songs on MMXX are rich and powerful. It will be available to purchase here on June 3rd.

Listen to MMXX below after you read our interview with Josh.

First -- you have a great voice. How long have you been singing? And who are your favorite singers and songwriters?

First -- Thank you for the compliment.  I have been singing all of my life or at least as long as I can remember.   My family is quite musical and singing was part of my upbringing. I actually think having a good voice starts with the confidence it takes to sing. Most people can sing, very few people are actually "tone deaf”.  Most people aren't comfortable singing in front of other people and that tension can be heard.  It is understandable though singing is a very personal art form, you are literally vibrating your body for others to hear.  You become the song.

Because there have been many great singers, my list could go on for quite a long time. So here is a short list, as quickly as I can think of them, and in no particular order.

Sam Cooke
Nina Simone
Sting
Lauryn Hill
John Lee Hooker
Frank Ocean
Leslie Feist
James Blake
Chan Marshall
David Bowie
Marvin Gaye
Michael Kiwanuka

There is a political component, as you have mentioned, to this album, and, frankly, I love it. What were you thinking about when writing these songs? 

I'm glad you like the political side of the album.  My lyrical thought process tends to revolve around certain points of interest, such as human rights, love, equality and our own attitudes towards these subjects. But I try to include them in stories, I want to shy away from being preachy and stay more to the reflective side.  I understand why and how people can get lost in things like greed, fame, and ego, I’m not perfect and don’t claim to be.  But I do feel like I have an worked on and continue to work on being the best person I can be.  I only want to inspire others to try and do the same.  I was also thinking that my first album needs to concise and in tune with personal beliefs and later I can explore more topics lyrically.

I have read that Metric often likes to take time off between albums/tours (ie, for each band member to have time to reflect). How and when did these songs start to form? Did you talk to Jimmy, Emily, and Joules at all while you were getting ready to record?

The beginnings how and when for each song really depends on which song. Some songs "The Streets" for example is one of the oldest songs written quite a while ago while "A Poison Cup" was written after I considered the album finished.  Music is a nonstop process for me, songs are constantly gestating.  This album isn’t even released and I'm already working on new music.

I definitely talked to Emily, Jimmy and Joules while I was writing and recording. We were all together, some of the recordings were done while we were on tour.  Joules plays on the album, and I did some tracking at our studio in Toronto.  We weren’t necessarily discussing the music itself, but we were always in contact.

Listen to MMXX

The Felice Brothers to Release 'Life in the Dark' on June 24

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The Felice Brothers will release Life in the Dark on June 24 via Yep Roc Records. You can pre-order the album now. This is the first Felice Brothers release since 2014's Favorite Waitress.

Today is also the release of the video for the terrific "Aerosol Ball," which you'll find on Life in the Dark. Have a listen below!

Exclusive Album Premiere | Annie Stela - Whiplash Blues

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Today, we're proud to premiere Annie Stela's new album, Whiplash Blues, which will officially be released via iTunes on May 20th.

Albums like Whiplash Blues are the reasons we still do what we do at SiC, so we can't thank Annie enough for this opportunity to bring you these songs a few days before you can purchase them. The opening "Liar" gets our blood going; "Lucky" breaks our heart. Sign of a great songwriter if you ask us.

We asked Annie for her thoughts on the album, and how it was recorded. Here's what she told us.

We recorded Whiplash Blues at my friend Pierre de Reeder's studio in LA, and then we sent it off to Omaha to be mixed by Mike Mogis. I knew early on I wanted this record to be different from my first record(Fool), not only sonically but also lyrically.  The first time out I wrote a lot about myself; where I come from, what my childhood was like, who I wanted to be.  There came a point where I wasn't interested in telling that story anymore.  I wanted to write about the places I'd been on tour and the people I'd met, about people falling in love and dying and running out of money and running away.  I wanted to tell stories that anyone could relate to."

Hit play on the orange Streampad player at the bottom to listen to Whiplash Blues!

Annie Stela - Liar
Annie Stela - Billy Jay
Annie Stela - Love Me Still
Annie Stela - Lucky
Annie Stela - Whiplash Blues
Annie Stela - November
Annie Stela - Any Time, Any Day
Annie Stela - Deany
Annie Stela - Right