The Bottom Line
What does it take to make Ryan Cabrera smile? To kick off his upcoming album You Stand Watching, he has chosen another song of emotional loss and ambiguity. As in his big hit "On the Way Down," he finds a silver lining lyrically, but ultimately Ryan is left without the relationship. A pleasing, jangly pop arrangement surrounds Cabrera's honey-soaked voice, but the whole thing lacks in the substance that would make it a truly memorable hit song.
Pros
- Ryan Cabrera has one of the most pleasing male voices in pop music today
- Relaxed pop arrangement will appeal to a broad audience
Cons
- Is this song really very memorable?
Description
- Ryan Cabrera is once again on the losing side of a relationship
- A lyrical pledge to be strong support come what may
- Produced, co-written, and sung by Ryan Cabrera
Guide Review - Shine On - Ryan Cabrera (EVLA / Atlantic)
Just about a year ago Ryan Cabrera emerged as on of the hottest new pop stars. Under the wing of Joe Simpson, Ashlee and Jessica's dad, he landed on pop playlists across the country with a pleasing acoustic guitar based sound and earnest, broken-hearted song lyrics. With "Shine On," the first single from the upcoming sophomore album You Stand Watching, Cabrera is putting out more of the same.
"Shine On" was co-written with songwriter Andrew Ripp, a new collaborator, but it fits comfortably with Cabrera's past output. Heartbreak is once again the subject of a Ryan Cabrera song, and it all goes down easy, but it lacks the powerful hook to make it stand out in the crowded pop music field. Hopefully, the upcoming album will have other tracks that truly reward repeated listening. Cabrera's voice is one worth hearing, and he deserves the tunes to match the vocal talent.
