{"id":69669,"date":"2018-09-12T14:00:24","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T13:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=69669"},"modified":"2018-09-10T19:25:46","modified_gmt":"2018-09-10T18:25:46","slug":"review-annas-anchor-everybodys-welcome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-annas-anchor-everybodys-welcome\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Anna’s Anchor \u2013 Everybody’s Welcome"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Self-described as “honest songs for honest people”, Anna’s Anchor<\/strong> is the creation of Limerick-based singer-songwriter Marty Ryan.\u00a0Those new to Anna’s Anchor<\/strong> will immediately sense the DIY ethic and indeed, honest nature of Ryan’s work. His second full-length record and first signed to Failure By Design Records, ‘Everybody’s Welcome’<\/em> may have a little more sheen to it than previous material, but the heart of Anna’s Anchor<\/strong> remains.<\/p>\n

There is an endearing scrappiness to the way ‘8 Hours In Stansted<\/em>‘ hurries along, Ryan’s warm baritone elevating the fairly by-numbers emo-influenced guitar and drums. ‘White Washed Corridor’<\/em> and ‘Precautionary’<\/em> both exhibit abundant hooks and the harmonies of Clare O’Brien of Randolf & The Crokers, whose presence on several tracks is complimentary.<\/p>\n

One of those is the highlight ‘Jonny Cash Was a Punk’<\/em>, the best of several acoustic-led moments. A gorgeous melody allows Ryan’s accent to slip through as if briefly opening his heart that bit more. Album opener ‘Executive Summary’<\/em> begins with similarly solo guitar, but the build to rousing crescendo illustrates both sides of Anna’s Anchor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n