Perhaps no artist has been as prolific as Matthew Ryan in creating art reflecting the mood of the last few years as our country and the world have struggled through difficult times. Earlier this year, he released the maxi-single “A Song for a Hard Year” under a new name to reflect the collaborative nature of his music, The Pines at Night. Now, under the new name The Pines at Night (and apparently with a new name also as songwriter, “Ryan C. Webb”), he has released a full album through Bandcamp called A Year of Novembers.
The release on November 7 marked an important 50th birthday for Ryan. Although in the last year he retreated largely from social media to find a quieter peace in our crazy world, he now gives us another generous gift with music that captures the atmosphere of the times, what one writer has called a “hopeful dark moodiness.”
The acoustic songs on A Year of Novembers are quieter than other full-album releases from Ryan in recent years like Hustle Up Starlings and Boxers. But in releasing several online EP’s or “maxi-singles” in recent years, Ryan’s music has been focused on the contemplative (although that always has been true of his music to a large extent).
As a general matter, the music is quiet, largely electric guitar or piano based with a dash of harmonica and additional non-intrusive bass, cello, Vox, and percussion. It’s all the better to keep the focus on the lyrics and a certain mood captured in the album’s title (although not all tracks have lyrics with To Be Young and In Love In America in November” being an improvised instrumental with David Henry).
From the opening track, “Peace and Love,” Ryan’s raspy voice draws you in, asking what starts as a familiar rock question that then takes a left turn, “What’s so funny about peace and love? Peace and love and murder?”
The songs from the album are not currently on YouTube, but the demo for “Peace and Love” (then called “Peace, Love & Murder”) originally appeared as an extra on Ryan’s release of an acoustic version of his album Hustle Up Starlings (2017), called Starlings Unadorned (2018). Below is the demo.
I loved the demo, yet I’m thrilled that the song found a new life on the new album. The completed version of the song on A Year of Novembers, not surprisingly, takes the song to a different level with fuller instrumentation that highlights the vocal and lyrics even more than the acoustic demo. Musicians, in addition to “M. Ryan,” adding to the album include Doug Lancio, Neilson Hubbard, and David Henry.
The opening song also tells us that “the heart is a ruthless plow,” which may sum up much of the album’s explorations. There are references to hearts throughout the album, and there is love’s redemption waiting everywhere. Yet, there also are other themes too.
The album ends with “The Day After the End of the World,” continuing Ryan’s recent trajectory of beautiful and amazing doomsday songs like “On Our Death Day” and “The Last Event” on recent releases. Here, with some “sha la la’s,” he tells us to “shake off the night” and assures us “we’re gonna be alright . . . for a while.”
I believe his reassurances that we are going to be okay, at least as long as he keeps providing us with the most essential soundtrack for these crazy times.
Head over to Bandcamp to listen to and, if you like it, buy the album (naming your own price), supporting Ryan’s continuing work. The album cover above, entitled “Last November,” was taken by Ryan. Leave your two cents in the comments.
