Capturing the magic of the best in classic 1960s soul, Georgia native Ryan Shaw brings old-school funk to a new generation with his debut album This is Ryan Shaw.
The young up-and-comer mixes both original material with covers of classic rhythm and blues songs by Wilson Pickett, Bobby Womack, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.
There is no doubt that Shaw can sing; his booming and soulful voice is widely displayed from start to finish. The album authentically captures the spirit, sound and euphoric joy of vintage soul music with an "in your face" sound that makes it impossible to sit still.
The disc starts off with the track "Do the 45" and captures the traditional jive of rhythm and blues that will get listeners snapping their fingers and strapping on their dancing shoes before the second verse. Similarly but with a little more funk, Shaw's first single, "Nobody," has a throbbing baseline and instrumental background that fuses nicely with the Southern attitude in Shaw's lyrical delivery.
By far the best track on the album is the unlikely reworking of the Four Tops' "I am Your Man," a brilliantly passionate track that Shaw makes his own, arguably surpassing the original version.
The track "I Found a Love" has a 1950s vibe to it with its sensitive lyrics rooted in the origins of doo-whop. With a strong bass and a back-up choir, the tune "We Got Love" has a classic feel and makes a dance partner more than necessary.
Yet, despite the album's overall retro richness, certain tracks such as "Mish Mash" and "Working on a Building of Love" have too much of a cookie-cutter vibe and temporarily bring down the flow of the album
This is Ryan Shaw is by no stretch of the imagination revolutionary or ground breaking. However, it has some catchy tunes that will force you to tap those feet. Shaw's voice alone makes the album worth it, offering a little Southern comfort to shuffle on the iPod from time to time.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
