RYAN McGIVER: Troubled in Mind
RYAN McGIVER
Troubled in Mind
Ryan McGiver
Ryan McGiver’s debut album, Troubled in Mind, features mostly traditional music from his native Catskill Mountains. Ryan is a fine singer whose intimate style resembles Nick Drake at times and he accompanies himself well on guitar. What sets Troubled in Mind apart from most other folk song collections is the imaginative production by Ryan and Shahzad Ismaily. The accompaniment of fiddles, pump organ, accordion and various percussion, reed and string instruments along with the delicate backing vocals offers a uniquely antique setting to the CD.
In addition to the traditional tunes on the album, Ryan offers a beautiful version of Randy Newman’s “Texas Girl at the Funeral of Her Father” and “Tazewell Girl” written by his uncle Neil Driscoll.
My favorite track is the setting of “Georgie,” with solo vocals accompanied in simple pedal point style by a string trio. Troubled in Mind is that rarest of first recordings. It offers a well-chosen selection of tunes arranged with a great deal of imagination. Keep up the good work!
— Tom Druckenmiller