Ryan Bray
Consequence of Sound
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Past articles by Ryan:
Jeff Tweedy’s Love Is the King Conquers Anger and Fear with Happiness: Review
Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy's new solo album, Love Is the King, is the work of a songwriter with clear eyes and a full heart. → Read More
Van Halen's Top 10 Songs In Honor of Eddie Van Halen
From "Panama" to "Eruption", the legend always kept us dancing the night away. Grab a mic and sing along to these blockbuster hits. → Read More
Classic Album Review: Miles Davis' Bitches Brew Stands as Pop Music's Greatest Crossover
A life-changing record for anyone curious enough to listen with full ears and no expectations. Read our review ahead of the new season of The Opus. → Read More
Pearl Jam Knew What They Were Doing on No Code, Even if I Didn’t
Pearl Jam's 1996 album, No Code, originally alienated most fans. In hindsight, Ryan Bray explains why the album exemplifies the band's best qualities. → Read More
Ranking: Every Wilco Album from Worst to Best
Wilco's entire discography gone through with a fine summer tooth'd comb. See where Ode to Joy stacks up among the band's beloved catalog. → Read More
Album Review: A Refreshed Wilco Lean on Their Strengths on Ode to Joy
Jeff Tweedy and Chicago's finest rock band stick within a rich comfort zone on their 11th album. Read Ryan Bray's full review: → Read More
Let It Be vs. Tim: What’s The Replacements’ Best Album?
An age-old debate that's a little left of the dial with a dose of thunder. → Read More
Album Review: Iggy Pop Defies Simple Categorization on the Introspective Free
Punk legend Iggy Pop proves he's not going anywhere on new album Free. Read Ryan Bray's full review: → Read More
Album Review: The Black Keys Can't Quite Return to Their Roots on Let's Rock
On "Let's Rock", The Black Keys duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney take their place as modern masters of classic rock and roll. → Read More
How Beastie Boys, Weezer, and Spike Jonze Reinvented the Music Video
In 1994, young filmmaker Spike Jonze directed videos for Weezer's "Buddy Holly" and Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" that changed the genre forever. → Read More
Inside the Ramones’ Earliest Gigs (or Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers)
Ramones, to say the least, were the definition of a hard-luck band. For 22 years, the pioneering punk outfit survived near-constant infighting, drug and alcohol addiction, paltry record sales, and heavy touring, all with few of the tangible rewards heaped upon the legions of bands they helped inspire. But for one summer, their last as a functional band, Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Marky got the… → Read More
Big Star, Radio City, and the Downside of Being a Cult Favorite
A look at the legacy of Big Star as Radio City celebrates 45 years of cult status. → Read More
Band of the Year: Pearl Jam Refused to Back Down in 2018
Pearl Jam have been named Consequence of Sound's Band of the Year for 2018. Ryan Bray spoke to Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz and Mudhoney's Mark Arm, both of whom played onstage with Pearl Jam live this year, to find out what makes Pearl Jam the best band on the planet. → Read More
10 Years and 10 Questions with Jeff Tweedy
On the heels of both releases, the Midwestern singer-songwriter recently talked about band breakups, Wilco’s many artistic evolutions, starting a band with his son, and the process of writing songs vs. writing a book. → Read More
The Strange Legacy of The Offspring’s “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”
Revisiting a ridiculous detour that helped create a viable road map for punk music in the new century. → Read More
Album of the Week: Jeff Tweedy Settles into His Past on WARM
The Wilco frontman proves as capable of breaking your heart with an acoustic guitar as he is bending musical styles to his will. → Read More
The Failed MP3 Player That Changed the Music Industry Forever
Attempts to shelve the Rio PMP300 led to the first legal victories for modern file sharing. → Read More
Album Review: Elvis Costello Brings a Swanky, Sophisticated Cool to Look Now
The songwriter and his Imposters return with an intricately detailed and meticulously crafted affair. → Read More
In Utero at 25, Nirvana’s Insubordinate Masterpiece
Having reached the pinnacle of the pop music landscape, Nirvana were now trying to come crashing back down to Earth. → Read More
Album Review: Spiritualized Dream Up Something Beautiful on And Nothing Hurt
Jason Pierce and band add yet another chapter to their wild, dreamlike musical legacy. → Read More