Review: Ryan Lindsay, The Ride

Like almost any other artist on this rotating ball called Earth, Canadian country singer Ryan Lindsay had plans severely altered in 2020 for a very good reason. Yet he's making the most of the time with a new effort he says is "an honest stripped down album." And for the most part The Ride lives up to that description.

With a very sparse sound which even hears him picking up his acoustic guitar, Lindsay nestles into the gorgeous "You Love That Guitar More Than Me." Sung from the significant other's viewpoint, the tune deals with a songwriter's love of his craft and guitar to the point where he might take his six-string to the altar. Meanwhile "Hill To Die On" is slightly more upbeat with a lovely melody and strong penmanship. Perhaps the highlight here is "Darlin' You're Classic," a tender, dreamy ballad that could easily fall alongside "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks.

At just six songs clocking under 20 minutes there obviously isn't any notable filler. Lindsay offers up a deft toe-tapper a la John Denver for "Better Now" before wrapping up the album with the fiddle-tinged title track. People would be hard pressed to not enjoy this ride.

The Ride was released September 28, 2020.
Listen to it here.