by Andrew Leahey & MacKenzie Wilson An alt-country singer/songwriter in the vein of Josh Rouse and Ryan Adams, Matthew Ryan funnels his rasped vocals and passionate lyrics into a steady stream of somber, melancholic albums. Born in Chester, PA, the young Ryan took inspiration from such artists as U2, the Replacements, and Leonard Cohen. He moved to Delaware and logged several years in a series of bands before signing with A&M Records as a solo artist in 1996. May Day was released a year later, drawing comparisons to Tom Waits and sparking a prolific career that often saw Ryan releasing one album every 12 months. His A&M contract slowly dissolved after the label merged with Interscope Records, and Ryan hopped between labels (including a stint with the U.K.-based One Little Indian Records) before aligning himself with 00:02:59. Matthew Ryan vs. the Silver State, his 11th release in 11 years, arrived in 2008.