'11:59' Marks a 'Brand New Day' for Ryan Star

Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Douglas Boultinghouse

We Came to Start a Fire – Ryan Star performs at the Rev Room in Little Rock Aug. 12, 2010. Star performed tracks from his album “11:59” as he opened for the band Thriving Ivory.

   "I need to break out / And make a new name / Let's open our eyes / To the brand new day," may be part of the chorus of the opening track on Ryan Star's latest album, "11:59," but the words are something he turned into a creative drive. With the album, he makes a name for himself.

   Star spent four years working on the album, which contains ten of the most original alternative rock anthems to be heard in the past few years.

   “Right Now” definitely serves as the leader of the tracks with its opening of cheers, “Go Go Go,” bursting straight into Star’s explosive hooks and chorus.

   “Yesterday is history / Tomorrow may not come / I'm gonna run to the horizon / We are strong, we are young / I'm gonna lay on the ground / Feel the rain that's coming down / And there's nothing anyone could do or say / To bring me down … right now,” he chants.

   Along the same vein is the infectious “Last Train Home,” which some may remember from the soundtrack to the 2006 film “P.S. I Love You.”

   The song, for the most part, is calm over a series of beats as it builds into the chorus.

   “And if you wait for me / I'll be the light in the dark if you lose your way / And if you wait for me / I'll be your voice when you don't know what to say / I'll be your shelter / I'll be your fate / I'll be forever / Wait for me / I'll be the last train / I'll be the last train home,” he sings.

   The energy-packed crowd-starter and new single, “Start a Fire,” could be the one to give Star a chance to burn up the radio charts where he sings, “Here we go / Just lose control and let your body give in / To the beat of your heart as my hand touches your skin / Is this love / Or just sexual desire / We're gonna start a fire.”

   On the contrary, the album is not filled solely with upbeat songs. The album contains a nice selection of rock ballads as well, including the inspirational hit “Breathe.”

   With the song, Star encourages you to let everything holding you back out and breathe, releasing your stress. Star even took it a step further by including several unemployed people struggling to make it in the music video for the song.

   “Let go of the fear / Let go of the doubt / Let go of the ones who to try to put you down / You're gonna be fine / Don't hold it inside / If you hurt right now then let it all come out,” he sings.

   The title track, “11:59,” a bit slower than “Breathe,” showcases Star’s strong vocal abilities.

   “Please, don't leave / This could be the best time of our lives, tonight / You and me / Don't let the moment pass by / Put the windows down and drive away,” he sings.

   The song’s melody, vocals and lyrics provide a stunning close to a solid rock album. Star even turns a genius lyric effortlessly in the creative way Taylor Swift tries to do with her songs, “The beat that my heart skipped / Was stolen by your lips / But I could never call this a crime.”

   Also in the set of ballads, Star includes two chilling tracks, “Losing Your Memory” and “We Might Fall.” At the same time, there’s more fire in the tracks “This Could Be The Year” and “Unbreak.”

   As a whole, the album is a step towards mainstream rock, and honestly, radio could use Star to freshen up the Adult Top 40 charts with a new sound.

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