Ryan Allen’s Livin’ On A Prayer On the Edge

The prolific Ryan Allen is hard to keep up with. 2024’s RADAR (with Extra Arms) had all the punch and guitar fuzz a punk-pop connoisseur could ever desire. Similarly, Extra Arm’s Last Rock Band was among our top 20 albums of 2023. And his foray into retro pop, What A Rip, was the Power Pop News #1 album of 2021.  

Big Guitars – Even Bigger Hooks

I keep waiting for a dud. Not this time. A dozen songs varying in tempo and influence, Livin’ on a Prayer on the Edge leans on his innate sense of harmony, big guitars and bigger hooks. It’s also worth mentioning that it may be his most diverse yet. There’s even an acoustic track here.

The single, “I Should But I Don’t Really Wanna” offers all the trappings from a memorable chorus to a beautiful, chiming guitar. “After I’m Dead” isn’t a new theme for Allen but the glam twist on it as a real treat. The shoegaze-y “Anxious All the Time” is also a real winner.

The punkier side of Allen pokes its head out with “Devil’s Juice”. Add the aforementioned “After I’m Dead” to “When I’m Gone” with its sing along chorus and the short but poppy and a pattern start to take shape. Add the final track, “In the Next Life” and we have a theme.  In total, they make a very cohesive collection.

Get Your Copy of Ryan Allen’s Latest

I thought twice about posting my thoughts on this LP a full month before its release. However, it’s available for pre-order and it should be on your radar (no pun intended). For fans of Sugar, Swervedriver, Teenage Fanclub and of course, Ryan Allen. Pre-order it at Ryan’s Bandcamp page.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.