Ryan McMahon Better Days Gone By. Release Date : 2006. Label: Independent. Rating: Warm. (Screw points. To each his own!) Despite him not looking the role at all, and I'm not sure, but I don't think it's really his point either, Ryan McMahon's songs largely seem to come rolling out of the old west like a tumbleweed on a breeze. "Getting Different Done" opens the album with a clearcut outlaw song. TOuched by the devil and fuelled by whiskey, the crass tune introduces us to the second track, "Liar." Okay this one isn't out of the old west. Instead it sounds like something that fell off an old REM album. I love that. REM is wonderful. But back to the old west, saloon style this time, with "Ruby Won't Die." Think of old-tyme whores dancing about with their frilly skirts, can-canning to the delight of a bunch of drunk men with moustaches who keep getting into fights. The roaring, full chorus is packed with overjoyed harmonies and twanging guitars. Out like a lamb though - off into the sunset. Then comes that song that created so much controversy - "Girl On Top," a selection that sounds a damn lot like Matt Mays' "City Of Lakes." I mean, it's uncanny. But I can personally vouch for McMahon having this one first over (or at least independently of) Mays. So there. This has always been one of my favourites live for it's easy catchiness and candid, honest theme (as if we haven't all been there). ANd yep, true to the disc, he country-ified this one up the wazoo. Cacti and bonfires anyone? Get outta Dodge? Yeah old west. That casual cool Mcmahon projects as he rolls out lyrics effortlessly is...well...cool. He has a definite talent for putting words together in a fluid way - nothing sounds clumsy. It has the ease of alliteration, no matter what letter combinations come up. Mellowly acoustic "Place Your Bets" splits the album in half. It's like an intermission. Not for long. Charging headlong into the second half of the disc, "Song Says So" seems to imply you should lose your head and not give a crap. Song of choice : Tough to choose, but I've always liked "Girl On Top" so I'll pick that for nostalgia's sake. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Ryan McMahon website Published : January, 2007.