Two Different Worlds, Ryan Koenig, LP

Vinyl LP pressing. 2017 release. To say that Ryan Koenig loves country music is not enough. Whether he is on the road with his full-time gig as a multi-instrumentalist with Pokey LaFarge or at home inside western themed trinket-covered walls of his St. Louis bungalow, you will most likely find him affectionately immersed in the genre's fashion, history, and culture. Koenig's debut album, Two Different Worlds, is an expression of his love of country music as well as a reflection of the deep understanding and appreciation he has for even the smallest piece of the country music puzzle. But Koenig could never stand to be two-dimensional. He is a charismatic artist with depth and an unmistakable voice that has been honed by years of study and life experience. His songs touch upon gentrification, mortality and the dichotomy of romance and violence, which are interspersed throughout classic country tales of heartbreak and longing. Two Different Worlds is tastefully layered with some of the strongest musical voices in roots music that Missouri has to offer with contributions from John Horton (The Bottle Rockets), Gary Hunt, Jr. (Son Volt), various members of Pokey LaFarge's backing band, and a host of Big Muddy Records regulars including Jack Grelle and Koenig's wife, Kellie Everett (The Hooten Hallers). This multitude of talent coalesces into a colorful palette that brings Koenig's rich and textured vision of country music to life.