Sherry Ryan


MAVERICK MAGAZINE review:
Wonderful Cures
Self-Released

Spellbinding release of distinguished quality.

From Newfoundland with the voice of a spirited Lucinda Williams, this second album by the hugely successful Sherry Ryan proves further evidence to the claim that Bob Harris has of the high number of great artists coming out of the Canadian woodwork right now; Sherry should by all means be counted in that musical camp for certain.

The emotionally provocative Heap of Human Kindness will surely be listed in the top-ten tracks of all time by those who hear it. It has a counterculture feeling about it due to the style of the picking, which it seems at times transports its audience to the not-too-distant past. As with many of the tracks on the album, Take it Anyway effortlessly creates an aura of peace about it which I’m sure Sherry was writing at her happiest. When her childhood home was the tranquil Newfoundland, who can blame this happiness still existing in Sherry and finding itself on such tracks? Downtrodden Hampshire in England somehow doesn’t quite compare with the picturesque Canadian territory. Drown the Blues has the loudest and grooviest sound of the eleven tracks that includes some traditional blues and rock and roll in its mix. It gradually builds up from a musical cocoon until the butterfly of vitality that is this song is truly able to fly from its previous mellow instrumental and harmonic tendencies.

An artist to prove that Canadian music just keeps getting better and better, this album is further proof that life becomes more enjoyable when hearing such tracks and makes living that little bit extra special. RH


"Sherry's musical personality reflects that wondrous blend of Newfoundland influences that kick any kitchen party into overdrive through the wee hours of the morning; her voice powered by the haunting spectre of Patsy Cline and Kitty Wells."
Exclaim! [ full article ]


"With the instrumentation of Lucinda Williams, the heart of Gillian Welch and the potential legacy of Ron Hynes at her feet, Ryan is certainly ready to make mountains out of molehills"
Chartattack [ full article ]


"Sherry Ryan's sophomore album is a great accomplishment. The songwriting is solid, the tracks are varied, the instrumentation is dead-on, and Ryan's beautiful vocal performance seems effortless. "
Andreae Prozesky The Scope




Raised on a land fertile for songs and storytelling, Sherry Ryan has proven herself a gifted musician and writer who leaves the stage with a small piece of your heart every time. But that’s Ok - you get a big piece of hers with every song.

Growing up on the same land her great-great-grandfather farmed in Middle Cove, Newfoundland, Sherry roller-skated to piano lessons on Saturday mornings, listened to Carol King records on rainy afternoons, and put on her long dress to dance to the Irish Rovers television show on Sunday nights.

To showcase Ryan's evolution as a songwriter, producer Mark Bragg chose to work with less musicians in a live setting for her latest release, Wonderful Cures, creating a more soulful, stripped down record. This folk-rock-soul blend has Up! Magazine naming her ‘St. John’s answer to Lucinda Williams’. Described by Exclaim! as “clearly not one to be tied down stylistically” Ryan has musical influences from Soul, Classic Country and Appalachian Music. These sounds are combined with a strong undercurrent of Irish from Sherry's musical upbringing in a place where traditional Irish music is a powerful and vibrant force.

It is said that the best songs take something personal and make it universal. Sherry Ryan has been perfecting this art for years. With potent songs and a voice “so good - so distinct - it’s absolutely unforgettable” (Exclaim!), Sherry has earned nation wide attention, extensive radio play and showcases across Canada and the US. She was named Newfoundland & Labrador Female artist of the Year for 2006 & 2008.


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