New Music Initiative: Ryan Glenn

2021 has not been a banner year for music for me. Certainly not to the extent 2019 and 2020 were. Now that may be because of Covid or just my own experiences. But don’t let the memes fool you. There’s always good music being made, and if anything i am just forced out of my comfort zone.

Anyway on the search for new music, I discovered Ryan Glenn. Unlike most of the artists I listen to, he’s on the early side of this career- 19 years old out of Denton, Texas and just releasing his first album. He is joined by members of the Old 97s, Bowling for Soup and Two Tons of Steel.

That guest list is a bit revelatory as Glenn is definitely stuck in the 1950s but he’s definitely got modern sensibilities.

The influence is classic early 50s country, a fair amount of rockabilly, and pre-Elvis in the army rock n roll. Critics pick up on his vocal hiccup and write Buddy Holly, though I would suggest (not that they are wrong, but) the first thought for many will be Hank Williams 3.

In fact, Far-away Rose is about as close as you can get to combining the influences of Hank and Hank 3. (Or combining the sounds of Buddy Holly and Weezer’s “Buddy Holly”). The subject matter probably puts him closer to 2022 to 1952- but then that probably shouldn’t be a surprise.

I’m really impressed. I hope we hear more from Ryan Glenn.