Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Ryan Smart - take a chance

11/28/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ryan Smart

Take A Chance
self-released; 2016

3.8 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
​
Ryan Smart is a young artist from Lawrence, Kansas who recently released Take A Chance. Smart isn’t even nineteen years old but is showing some potential with these songs. At this point he still seems to be struggling slightly with finding his own sound as he jumps around from R Kelly type R&B and hip-hop to a more hard to pin down synth based pop. 

​He opens with “Man Made Paradise” which is one of the more unique styles on the album. Smart never revisits this style he introduces the album with. Soft synths linger around with cymbal crashes as he sings, “The years I've spent alone failed to build a home I've woke women who were able / Showed them soul that they could feel.” You then have a song like “No More Bets” which feels much more aligned with R Kelly but feels disparate from the opener. I enjoyed both songs but thought the leap in style didn’t create a foundation for Smart. 

“All That Your Love Means To Me” is a smooth jam with electronic piano and his soulful vocals while “Over & Over” is a song that's more apt for the club. It’s not as high energy as a typical Daft Punk but has a good amount of energy.

“More Sure (Love Like Yours)” is a highlight. I thought he got the tones right and also delivers one of his best vocal performances. He closes with “Looking 4 Love (Dedicated 2 Ya)” which actually had a tinge of MIchael Jackson.

I think the first two songs off this album didn’t give you a good idea of what the rest of the album was going to be like. Both those songs felt a bit more pop based without as much influence from R&B. The album starts to sound more cohesive after the third song.

Smart may not believe me but he will look back on this album in ten years as his humble beginnings if he continues to pursue music. At his young age there is a lot of time for his tastes to become refined and to learn a lot about composition and production. That being said this is one of the more impressive beginnings I have heard from someone who is just get started. He is one to watch. I can say that with certainty.
official website
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact