Labels: Dadstache – Get Party Records
Review by: Samuel Rogers
“Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms” was a solo project from Detroit. After a few albums of catchy power
pop, Allen moved into full-band, melodic punk with last year’s Headacher. This year, “Extra Arms”
sound even stronger, with this 22-minute mini-album, Up From Here. In rock music, the timeworn
pattern is for bands to break up, and solo artists to emerge. Nowadays, there’s a movement in the
other direction. Technology makes it easier for solo artists to record a full album. Their enthusiasm
and vision infects talented peers, and a band is born. Lots of great new music results, and the new
tracks from Extra Arms are no exception.
The music is triumphant and tightly-controlled, with equal measures of punk, pop, and
straightforward rock. While the music is melodic and uplifting, the lyrics tell a different story. On the
short opener (“F.L.Y.”), Allen’s refrain “fuck last year” sets the tone of the record. These are songs of
suffering and recovery, with a poignant impact. The song writing is simple, but a lot of weight is
carried by understated lines. My favourite track, “Comes in Waves”, centres on those three short
words. They get power from Allen’s singing and the wider emotional context of the record. Anyone
who enjoys personal, guitar-driven pop-punk should give this a listen.