Tag: Ryan Hamilton

Ryan Hamilton and Onesie

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“Ryan

Ryan Hamilton “Haunted By American Dreams”

Ryan Hamilton returns with renewed purpose. After 2023’s ‘Haunted By The Holy Ghost,’ he stepped away from music to focus on family, radio, podcasts, and other pursuits. The break proved temporary. As Hamilton explains, “‘Haunted By American Dreams’ is really about chasing something you were told would save you, and realizing it doesn’t. It’s the echo of small-town promises, late-night highways, and all the ghosts of who you thought you’d become. I didn’t want to make a perfect record. I wanted to make an honest one, even if it rattles a little.”

That honesty drives the album. Hamilton explores persistence, disappointment, and resilience without losing his gift for memorable hooks. The opener, “Dreaming Screaming,” sets the tone with crunchy guitars, soaring melodies, and an infectious chorus. “Over Again” carries the same melodic punch while embracing the idea of starting over. “That Girl” is built for singalongs, with one of the album’s strongest choruses, while “The Come To Jesus Moment” recalls Hamilton’s earlier work, blending his Texas roots with sharp power pop songwriting.

The performances feel lived in, the lyrics avoid easy answers, and every song serves the album’s central theme. There is no filler here. Fans of Tom Petty, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Adam Schlesinger will find plenty to admire. This album stands among Ryan Hamilton’s strongest releases and marks an impressive return. Easily makes my top 10 list for 2026.

Amazon


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“Onesie"

Onesie “Way Thousand Bump to the Sky”

Brooklyn’s Onesie continues to push its sound forward. What started as quirky slacker rock from the trio of Ben Haberland, Rob Lanterman, and Jason Bauers has grown into a confident, finely tuned band that improves with every release. The opener, “World Stepped On A Mirror,” immediately grabs your attention with its shimmering guitar textures, driving bass line, and irresistible momentum. “Twilight Years” follows with a thick wall of fuzz and a descending chord progression that lingers long after it ends.

As precise as the performances are, Onesie never sounds mechanical. “Tryptophantastic” shifts effortlessly through melodic twists that recall Sugarplastic and XTC, while “Heckscape” delivers the band’s trademark offbeat humor and melodic charm. The hooks may not hit with the same immediacy as 2023’s ‘Liminal Hiss,’ yet the songwriting feels stronger from start to finish. The album moves through a wide range of moods, peppered with clever pop culture references and unexpected turns. Like Onesie’s previous releases, it rewards repeated listens, revealing new details and deeper connections each time. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

March of the EPs: Ryan Hamilton, Late Cambrian, Triples, Space Jaguar, Laughing Week, The Dracu-Las

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New excellent EPs here! Can I just say that Ryan Hamilton looks nearly unrecognizable with his hairless head and face, but his latest single “Come To Jesus Moment,” has that comfortable melodic hook. Welcome back, Ryan! Next, John Wlaysewski has been mastering the genre mashup with Late Cambrian and his new EP ‘How I Bleed’ is killer! A gutsy combo of funk, rock, pop that would make Lenny Kravitz jealous. Triples is the project of Toronto songwriter, guitarist, and actor Eva Link. Her catchy melodies reflect influences from Guided by Voices, Liz Phair, Courtney Love, and Juliana Hatfield. Space Jaguar is a folk-rock pop combo that got my attention. Check out “Bright Future” and “Go Home,” it’s a little bit like The Lemonheads. LA band Laughing Week has a harder power pop sound with a nostalgic vibe that credits Ultimate Fakebook. I loved “Conspiracy” with the great opening lyric, “You said they poisoned the water and made all the frogs turn gay.” Finally the retro catchy surf guitar of The Dracu-Las. I dare you to listen to the first track and not sing along to all the “doo-be-doo-be-doos.”

Ryan Hamilton and Bennett Wilson Poole

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Alex Fleuris

Ryan Hamilton “Haunted By The Holy Ghost”

Ryan Hamilton was a bit of a nervous wreck with the release of his latest album, based on his social media. Originally scheduled for March, it was a little late. He need not worry, as this release is amazing. Based on his experiences growing up in an extremely conservative religious household, Haunted By The Holy Ghost doesn’t pull any punches. Start with the opener “Asshole” a confession to all those one-night stands he bedded, but the title track is a perfect modern power pop song. It’s all about accepting religious guilt with a catchy sing-along chorus.

The positive vibes of “Overdose” and “Paper Planes” really deliver the hooks. Both songs boast catchy melodies that Ryan effortlessly puts out, all he needs is a “moment and a microphone.” With his songs, Ryan adds more of his personal anxieties about romance in the slow-burning “Broke My Heart, Fixed My Vision” and “Absence Of Love.” The sequence of songs tells a common story of regret for being that “Asshole,” but it’s not really redemption — it’s more “Yeah, Whatever.” It loses a little direction towards the end as “Sad Bastard Song” recognizes that bitterness stays with you long after a breakup. Overall this is a fantastic album, and hopefully, others will recognize this.  Makes my top ten for the 2023 list and is Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Alex Fleuris

Bennett Wilson Poole “I Saw A Star Behind Your Eyes, Don’t Let It Die Away”

The veteran rock trio of Robin Bennett (Dreaming Spires, St Etienne), Danny George Wilson (Grand Drive, Danny & The Champions Of The World), and Tony Poole (Starry Eyed & Laughing) are back. Where their debut record was very much like a Crosby Still Nash-styled, mellow California folk pop, this new album is even more hippy-dippy. The Byrdsian jangle is in full swing with the catchy “I Saw Love” with its solid three-part harmonies. Not unlike The Travel Wilburys, with an emphasis on late-era Beatles psychedelia.

These guys each take a verse on the George Harrison-like “Waiting for the Wave to Break,” and the smooth “I Want To Love You (But I Can’t Right Now)” is a soulful recall of glory days. Other highlights include “Ready To Serve,” and the gentle “Heart Songs.” While it meanders through the latter tracks, there is enough here to make this Highly Recommended.

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July Singles, EPs and Freebies: Any Version of Me, Dana Countryman, Eric Barao, Anatomy Class, The Valery Trails, Supercrush, Ryan Hamilton

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July is here and the AC is on full blast. This is why I like to check on new music from old friends. French artist Any Version of Me does his best Brian Wilson tribute with “Away,” perfect for the beach. If you’d like classic pop greatness, you have the talented Dana Countryman offering up a FREEBIE that you can’t miss; made of assorted selections from his catalog, and “Summer Sand” is another sweet Beach Boys-styled gem. It’s been a long time, but Eric Barao has a delicate ballad that just tugs at your heart; “Whoever You Are.” Aussie rockers Anatomy Class impressed me with its anthemic rich melody, fans of Lemonheads, Swervedriver, and Pixies will adore “Expo 88,” and another band from down under The Valery Trails celebrates the summer with “Jaisalmer,” a bouncy rocker stocked with guitars and horns. Seattle’s Supercrush seriously reminds me of Superdrag and other late 90’s power pop on its perfect EP Melody Maker. and finally, Ryan Hamilton is back and he tells you to write your troubles down, then fold your worries into “Paper Planes.” Hope it flies far!

Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts and Scott Lavene

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Ryan Hamilton And The Harlequin Ghosts

Ryan Hamilton And The Harlequin Ghosts “This is the Sound”

Ryan Hamilton has bounced around over the past few years as an artist, but he settled in Fort Worth, Texas. And he brings a rowdy party with his band The Harlequin Ghosts. Opening with a song about his whiskey drinkin’ pot smokin’ “Mamacita,” it sets the tone for the loud guitar anthems that follow. What Ryan continues to do is set forth a series of catchy sing-along choruses with heavy rock chords similar to Bowling For Soup, and the most infectious of the bunch “Get Down” takes no prisoners as it rocks away.

Other tracks that keep the party going include “Bottoms Up,” “This Is The Sound” and “Far Cry.” But Ryan knows when to take his foot off the gas a little, and serenades on “Feels Like Falling In Love” and “All Fall Down.” Then “Girl vs. Monster” allows Ryan to explore a more country sound with some slide guitar. The music is both uplifting and heartfelt on “Let You Go,” where loving someone really means letting go. It gets emotional and introspective on the closer “Won’t Stop Now.” I could not find a bad track here, and overall it’s a fine example of modern power pop. Highly Recommended and makes my top ten nominee list for 2019.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Scott Lavene

Scott Lavene “Broke”

Essex UK musician Scott Lavene is very matter of fact in his debut LP Broke.  His spoken narrative style is comparable to Ian Drury, Lou Reed or David Byrne. On the opening track, “My Stereo”  has a slight country vibe, with conversation over a bassline that dovetails nicely into a sung chorus. “Apples And Pears” is a punk-like rant through modern life and the universal struggle of job, marriage, etc. In some ways, the non-narrative “Super Clean” is the highlight here – a little Bowiesque approach goes a long way with its bass lead.

While the melodies are okay, and some of the lyrical stories are funny,  the next few songs are really strung out. The spacey “Modern World” with its sullen strings or the slow funk on “Moonbeams” made this listener lose momentum. “Light Of The Moon” has some nice Keith Moon styled drumming in the intro before it settles into another conversation with Scott, doing his best “scratching out a living” with his band. Overall an interesting album that needs a few more melodies and less narration. But it’s still worth exploring, so check it out!

Bandcamp | Amazon

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