RYAN DAVIS AND THE ROADHOUSE BAND - New Threats From The Soul

The name Ryan Davis might not mean much to many people, even though he's one of the most buzzed-about artists right now in the alt-country and Americana scene (helped also by the fact that he's co-founder of the multimedia festival Cropped Out and started his own record label, Sophomore Lounge).

The reason might be that this is only his second solo album, after putting out five records with the band State Champion, active from 2007 to 2018, an outfit that never really caught on in Europe despite finding a fair amount of success in the States.

Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and now based in Indiana, Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band have crafted an album of great charm whose dominant theme is without doubt human fragility, explored from a number of different angles. His lyrics are dense, poetic and often rich in metaphors that swing between the tragicomic and the surreal.

The album kicks off in style with the title track, its enveloping sound built on a subtle piano joined by slide guitar, conjuring up the atmosphere of a classic American saloon and making it nearly impossible not to move along with its driving rhythm. Every track runs longer than average, ranging from the nearly six minutes of "Monte Carlo/No Limits" to the almost twelve minutes of "Mutilation Spring", which, together with its companion piece "Mutilation Falls", forms the emotional and darkest core of the album.

"Mutilation Springs" unfolds like a feverish, almost dreamlike tale, built on spare instrumentation dominated by an acoustic guitar that traces dark lines and subtle textures reminiscent of Tim Rutili and his Califone. The near-disorienting atmosphere helps paint a vivid picture of anguish and resignation. "Mutilation Falls" is a ballad that unfolds into a slow, cosmic crescendo steeped in melancholy and torment; here, layers of electric guitars and keyboard drones build a vast, almost visionary soundscape not unlike that of Canada's Nap Eyes.

"Better If You Make Me" is a vibrant, driving track that, thanks to airy strings and the ever-present slide guitar, stands as one of the album's high points, with a clean production that showcases Davis's narrative vocal delivery; it's easy to draw comparisons to David Berman, both in his Silver Jews days and in his solo project Purple Mountains.

Also worth mentioning is "The Simple Joy", a lighter-toned track enriched by backing vocals from Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy). A soft-edged acoustic guitar and a warm-toned bass shape the melody, while Oldham's ethereal harmonies blend perfectly with Davis's voice, creating a harmony we might call consoling.

"New Threats From The Soul" is an album that demands repeated listens to reveal all its layers, but it ultimately rewards you with uncommon depth and beauty. This is a record that cements Ryan Davis as an essential voice for anyone seeking honest, genuine country-inflected songwriting.

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13/08/2025