From Silence and Joy

The full-length debut CD from Cincinnati's Ryan Adcock displays an artist strikingly similar in voice to Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas. This comparison is valid both in terms of the sonic quality and the striving-to-not-be-damaged-goods lyrical voice. Adcock puts on no facades in From Silence and Joy, finding sufficient depth in pure confessionalism sprinkled with optimism. The sound is familiar territory on the pop side of modern rock, very comparable to the equally earnest John Mayer and Jack Johnson records that received considerable acclaim at the same time this record hit. What makes it better than the average is the intelligent production work of Brian Lovely, who allows Adcock's capable voice to take center stage while adding just the right subtle elements to each track: banjo on "Dreaming About the Lions," soft synth-created horn effects on "If Carl Says So," and gentle orchestration on the triumphant "Drive to Hallelujah." That song, with its redemptive and inspiring lyric, is easily a standout, as is the memorably catchy "I Hope." From Silence and Joy suggests strong potential for Adcock, to the extent that Lovely as producer and multi-instrumentalist remains the Guy Chambers to his Robbie Williams.