The brisk bluesy blast of the title song mixes the humor of the album’s second track with the more serious adult concerns of the opener. The chorus offers listeners the most memorable moment yet, and the exuberant vocals shift into a higher gear during the refrain. “Shuckin’ in a Cornfield” continues maintaining the upbeat pace thus far distinguishing the release albeit with an acoustic slant. It’s a relatively straightforward tune, though Roots Asylum does display a judicious amount of finesse in the guitar playing. It likewise maintains the less-than-serious air defining much of the release; Roots Asylum is especially adept at writing about adult life from a lighthearted perspective.
The revved-up emphatic shuffle of “Golden Hearts” belies the country music influence in Roots Asylum’s music. It’s absent any twang, however, or other cookie-cutter genre affectations. It’s another predominantly acoustic-based tune, and the band’s ability to keep up the same identity regardless of their sound is a great band’s calling card.
“Girl in a Tower”, one of the album’s best singles so far, continues to be a standout performance even in the larger context of the full release. The blending of acoustic rhythm and electric lead guitar is particularly effective, and the lyrics are rife with effective lines and compelling imagery appropriate for its underlying concept.
The call-and-response vocals provide a nice twist on the standard bluesy formula for “Dreamy Eyed Girl”. We’re also back with the band’s humorous side, though the comedy is a little darker than we otherwise hear from Roots Asylum. The mid-tempo pace of the track likewise shifts gears from the band’s typical full throttle and, as such, varies Ride On’s texture.
The album’s true closer “Christmas Sucks” is a playful, though unexpected, blast of punk rock with vocalists Jimmy McMillan and Katy Velten’s interplay reaching new inspired heights of fun-loving lunacy. Roots Asylym’s Ride On boasts a big, boisterous sound and comes on like a house on fire. It’ll make believers of anyone who gives it a listen.
Mindy McCall