Track-by-Track #5 Westbound

 

Track-by-Track #5 Westbound wasn’t something I had planned for the album. But as the project started to grow, I felt like it needed a bit of interlude or palette-cleanser (a musical sorbet, if you will). So, I wrote this from scratch and tracked it all in about 2 days.

And wouldn’t you know it, it’s one of the tracks people have told me they like the most. It just goes to show you. Sit back and enjoy a bit of blues guitar as we look off into the sunset of another highway drive.

https://soundcloud.com/ryansheeler/westbound?in=ryansheeler/sets/roads-weve-taken

ryansheeler · Westbound

Track-by-Track #4 These Streets Have Changed

 

Track-by-Track #4 These Streets Have Changed is the other brand-new song on this collection. This is the one I’ve gotten the most positive response from so far...and I nearly left it off the album…

This is one of my favorite songs on the album, and one of my favorites of my own of all the songs I’ve ever written. After all the of the unrest of this year, I started reflecting this summer on some of my memories of when I was younger. I remember when I was very little, my brother and I would walk to school by ourselves. It was about a 6-block walk to school; and we thought nothing of it at all. But things have changed over the years, we are so distrustful of everyone and everything – seems like we have a lot of neighbors out there but not a lot of friends. And every day we continue to wonder where we went wrong.

“These streets have changed, from now and then. We used to be neighbors, now we’re not even friends.”

ryansheeler · These Streets Have Changed

Track-by-Track #3 Set The Rain On Fire

Track-by-Track #3 Set The Rain On Fire - is another song idea I’ve had for a while. But this time I did almost complete re-write so it’s essentially a brand-new song. I was thinking back – knowing what I know now what would I tell my 14-16-year-old self? I would tell myself to go after things and do not be afraid of something before you start – at the same time try to recognize when the opportunity is there. “Set the rain on fire, but don’t chase the wind”. I wanted a good blues number to rock out with and play some guitar – it’s ok to turn this one up a bit.

ryansheeler · Set The Rain On Fire

Track -by-Track #2 Roads We've Taken

 Track-by-Track #2 Road’s We’ve Taken – is a song I’ve had around for a while now and slightly re-wrote for this project.   My favorite school years were in elementary school; it seems like those were the best years before life got crazy.  I still have life-long friends from those days who I talk to regularly – this song is for all of them.  I had some wonderful teachers in those days as well – ones who shaped me greatly.   We don’t thank our teachers enough I think – I took the time out to thank them in the bridge.  

“We were all a little younger than…younger than our dreams”

 

ryansheeler · Roads We've Taken

Track-by-Track #1 Route 65

Track-by-Track #1. Route 65 – is a nice little instrumental ditty to open the album with. Dan Fogelberg often opened his albums with little instrumental pieces of various styles, and it was a great way to set the mood. I always really enjoyed that. Years ago, I often played for the Summer Farmer’s Market at the historic Niland Café and Hotel (off Highway 65 and old Lincoln Highway 30). It is was a great time and a wonderful little spot in small-town Iowa. Sit back and enjoy a nice summer evening with a bit of finger-pickin’ goodness.

ryansheeler · Route 65

New Music - Roads We've Taken

*NEW MUSIC* I'm excited to introduce my new solo album entitled "Roads We've Taken".  (aka my 2020 quarantine project - file under "things I wasn't planning on doing this year").   I was going to just do a 4-song EP, and it turned into a 9-track full album.  That's the way it goes when you sudden have lots of free time at night and a little project studio in your basement.

There are a few new songs and several of these that I've had in the file for a long time, and never had a home for in other projects.  The album covers a wide range of stories; some are a look back at my childhood, and some are a look at today as we watch the world go by in these times. 

There's a little bit of variety here for everyone: some rock, some bluesy R&B, some piano, and some acoustic guitar textures. 

This is a *DIGITAL-ONLY* album release.  I will have CDs later this year.  "Road's We've Taken" is available now through all major digital music retailers. I am very happy to share this new music with you all.  Come join me on the front porch for some songs and stories on "Road's We've Taken" - available now

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CZ8N7NS/

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/roads-weve-taken/1523565027

Bandcamp:  https://ryansheeler.bandcamp.com/album/roads-weve-taken

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ryansheeler/sets/roads-weve-taken

Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/album/72KIYnRM1Af982v75d5d8S

new interview - The Guitar Show with Ramon Goose

I just did a new interview for Ramon Goose's guitar show Youtube channel.  Ramon is a UK guitarist who has a really great video series on all things guitar - history, gear, players, etc.    He did an earlier one on Ritchie and I emailed him about my new book.  We got in touch and I did this interview spot for his show just yesterday.

Here it is - check out my new interview with Ramon Goose for The Guitar Show - we talk about my new Ritchie book and Ritchie's music, playing style, and more.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co0QTlO-iHE