I am a big Ryan Allen fan as proven by the reviews on here. Starting when he was part of that Michigan Wrecking Crew with Nick Piunti, Chris Richards, Legal Matters etc. I've been through his solo years and full band Extra Arms and now we are solo again, certainly this year.
This is Allen's second album this year. The premise was rather than take the traditional week's holiday, how about recording an album in a week. Not that One Week Off sounds as if it's thrown together. You would also not necessarily think that this was a solo album in which he does everything.
I have to admit that I couldn't quite take to April's Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge, if felt a bit too commercial. I prefer Allen when he has an edge and this is him bang back on form. He has the knack of writing and playing Indie Rock that is melodic, yet isn't afraid to Rock.
One Week Off has everything you would expect from the man. Big choruses, riffs and superb Guitar playing. He can rock your block off and then ease you down with a singalong chorus. Here, he is also happy to chances.
The Punk energy of Do It All Again, the jangling pacy Power Pop of Think Fast, the top notch Psych Pop of Escape Road are all absolute winners. What's That You Say sounds most like his band, Extra Arms, Back To The Bubble is primetime 90s College Rock, yet When Is Everyone Gonna Stop? is a great shouty slab of Garage Rock.
Don't expect Ryan Allen to come up for air, he doesn't do ballads. Even the Power Pop joy of Simple Pleasures has a rawness to it. Allen is a major talent, a master at melodic Indie Rock with an attitude. This is an album showing him at the top of his game.
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