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CD REVIEW: "Ryan Rocks" by Nancy Ryan


By Colie Brice

originally published: 06/12/2011


We live in a time when many pursue life as a sprint - running in desperate haste to achieve, acquire, and ascend the material sphere of contemporary existence. This is especially true in the music business where youthful ambition and enthusiasm often overshadow a time best spent for development and true mastery of their craft. This is not the case with Nancy Ryan, she's lived through the marathon of life and has put together an anthology of her recordings that illustrate a personal perspective and context that can only be gained with life experience and hard earned wisdom.

Ryan Rocks is the name of this CD and though it does feature some incredible rock players such as the ever masterful Jon Herington on lead guitar and some seriously tasty piano by Steven Lusardi among other fine talents, to these ears the overall direction of Nancy's music has more of an old school country vibe to it.

Nancy is a long time Asbury gal, but also spent many years out west in Southern California and the combined regional and era influences mix well into an aural time capsule of sorts. Releases like this fascinate me - artists who are late bloomers and take their sweet time releasing their back catalog fascinate me. I will be genuinely curious to hear Nancy's next work, for I feel that she NEEDED to get this out of her head and into the world to make room for her next release. It seems this Lady is just getting started and I applaud her for getting back in the game.

Track highlights include "Indecision Keeps Knocking At My Door" and "Can It Be?" featuring nice engineering and production work from Jeff Levine of Organic Sounds in Long Branch. For additional information please visit: http://www.reverbnation.com/nancyryan"




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EVENT PREVIEWS

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Coinciding with the United States' upcoming semiquincentennial, Women of Americana: A Celebration of American Music, produced by Eli Wolf, comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:30pm.
Morris Museum presents Cerus Quartet on April 9th

Morris Museum presents Cerus Quartet on April 9th

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The Morris Museum presents Cerus Quartet on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:00pm. Founded in 2022, the Cerus Quartet is dedicated to showcasing the dynamic and versatile sound of the saxophone quartet.
Newton Theatre presents GRUNGEFEST: Tributes to Pearl Jam & Chris Cornell

Newton Theatre presents GRUNGEFEST: Tributes to Pearl Jam & Chris Cornell

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Fans of grunge music will want to mark their calendars for GRUNGEFEST on Friday, April 10, 2026 at The Newton Theatre.  The Ledbetters will pay tribute to Pearl Jam and Superunknown will perform songs by Chris Cornell. Showtime is 8:00pm.
SOPAC presents Texas Flood - A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan

SOPAC presents Texas Flood - A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Texas Flood - A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan comes to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 7:30pm.
Westminster Conservatory Faculty Recital on April 10th to honor Galina Prilutskaya

Westminster Conservatory Faculty Recital on April 10th to honor Galina Prilutskaya

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Friday, April 10, 2026 at 7:30pm, Westminster Conservatory of Rider University will present a faculty recital to honor the memory of Galina Prilutskaya, a long-time member of the Conservatory's piano faculty who died on October 11, 2025. The recital will take place in Hillman Performance Hall in the Marion Buckelew Cullen Music Center (101 Walnut Lane) in Princeton. The recital is open to the public free of charge.
State Theatre presents Graham Nash in April

State Theatre presents Graham Nash in April

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Graham Nash - Live on Tour 2026 on Saturday, April 11 at 8:00pm. Graham Nash will perform a career-spanning retrospective of his six decades of contributions to contemporary music. Tickets start at $47.
RVCC Theatre presents Rolling Stones Tribute Band on April 11th

RVCC Theatre presents Rolling Stones Tribute Band on April 11th

(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College's Mainstage series will rock out its season with a performance of Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Tribute Show, Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:00pm.
State Theatre New Jersey and Metropolitan Entertainment present Graham Nash

State Theatre New Jersey and Metropolitan Entertainment present Graham Nash

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey and Metropolitan Entertainment present Graham Nash - Live on Tour 2026 on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 8:00pm. Nash will perform a career-spanning retrospective from his six decades of contributions to contemporary music.
Grunin Center presents Latin Grammy Award Winner, Nella

Grunin Center presents Latin Grammy Award Winner, Nella

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Renowned singer Nella brings her multilingual artistry to Ocean County College, performing on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Grunin Center for the Arts. Showtime is 7:00pm.

 

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