Brian Ritchey is a singer/songwriter currently living in Nashville, TN. He has released 3 solo albums to critical acclaim. The Brian Ritchey EP is a alt-country record drawing comparisons to acts such as Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Ryan Adams, The Jayhawks, Nick Drake and more.His sophomore effort, If I were a Painter is a melting pot of garage rock, alt-country and classic singer/songwriter genre's. The Tennessean proclaimed that, "BRIAN RITCHEY'S GARAGE ROCK IS REAL!" while also drawing comparisons to indie rock god's WILCO. No Way Out of this House, released in Nov. 2010 is a concept album that found Brian eager to abandon his alt-country roots. The album filled with muddy guitars, lush string arrangements and dramatic vocals led to some complimentary reviews by his peers. The Nashville Scene said.
If you’re a country- or roots-influenced artist living in Nashville, it’s a difficult exercise to make singular, unique records. If you’re talented and you’re operating in the Americana wheelhouse whatsoever, you’re likely going to either blend into the landscape or find yourself adopting the Country Music Machine conventions — and thus potentially losing your soul. Local singer-songwriter and Korean Is Asian frontman Brian Ritchey, however, has managed to eschew the more tedious Nashville conventions — super-slick production and predictable song structure, to name but two — without having to sacrifice tuneful arrangements or emotionally revelatory subject matter. “No Way Out of This House,” the titular track from Ritchey’s brand-new full-length, is a powerfully poignant number that climbs from heartrending ballad to sweeping, bombastic anthem, as Ritchey belts his anguished vocals over swelling strings and a wall of gritty, mid-tempo instrumentation. Ritchey bears a slight physical resemblance to alt-country icon Jeff Tweedy — he could probably pass for Tweedy’s younger cousin — but vocally, the two could be brothers. Somehow both beautifully powerful and vulnerable, Ritchey’s world-worn croon is his most potent asset, be it delicate and broken on songs of spiritual reflection or triumphant and booming on tunes about personal torment.
— D. Patrick Rodgers
ALBUM RELEASE LIVE SHOW REVIEW (BLUE TICK MUSIC)
One of Nashville’s out of sight and most brilliant talents, Brian Ritchey, held his recent CD release show at The Basement on Friday, Nov. 5.
The new concept album, “No Way Out of This House,” marks his third effort and latest release since 2008’s “If I Were a Painter.” On par with past work, Ritchey’s melancholy spirit is embraced on the album as lyrics paint a picture of inner struggles and an exploration of the spiritual side.
Adding strings to his arrangements that displayed another layer of emotion, Ritchey played the new album in its entirety while opening with “In The Morning” and transitioning into “No Way Out of This House.” Other high notes for the night were the shuffling “Murdering the Pavement” and “Take Me to the Garden” as Ritchey landed vocal help from Jordan Caress on occasion.
After playing the new material, fans were eager to hear some tunes from the back catalog as time was expiring for the night. Dipping into earlier work, Ritchey set a more rocking tone with “Which Way is Hell” and “If I Were a Painter” before closing the night down with the warm and moving “Apology” with Caress on backing vocals once again.
(BLUE TICK MUSIC 2010)
