by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
If you don’t know Ryan Hamilton, he was the dude who was in the little-known but uber-talented band People on Vacation with Bowling for Soup’s Jaret Reddick. Knowing that, what you can expect from Hamilton is the catchiest melodies you can gnaw on, somewhat snarky lyrics but in the case of his own band, Ryan Hamilton and The Traitors, it’s all a bit more expansive.
The band also features on bass Rob Laney, who, besides being the Bulletboys European touring bassist for a bit, was also in the decidedly underrated Pop Punk band Teenage Casket Company and who has done his own thing with his brilliant Straight to Video releases, which one of those albums features Reddick singing Soul Asylum’s “Misery.” Looks like an oval was drawn before we even came full circle, kids …
The new EP begins with “I’m So Glad,” a melifluous and soothing ode to youth. “I was young and dumb but I never recovered.” That’s sort of all of us. Hamilton has an innocent vocal ability, somehow even less severe than Reddick; you’d have to take a cheese grater to his vocal chords to give him some grit. (Or maybe buy him 60 shots of Wild Turkey, whatevs …)
“The Ghost of James Dean,” at least in the guitar passages, sounds more like Bowling for Soup. That’s not bad. Boo-hoo if the gents go platinum; what a travesty. This really has a sort of Lit, Simple Plan, Good Charlotte vibe, but it’s not forced. This is Hamilton being honest; who cares if he wears his influences on his sleeve. So do cutters when they pull their sleeves back.
“Stranger Across the Street” is by far the strongest song on the release. That’s because Hamilton got rid of the glitz and the niceties and channels Social Distortion. Yes, it’s still a song dripping with melody, but when he sings, “I want a girl, but I want who’s scary,” you believe him. The drumming is frantic and perfect, it’s a short and sonic concussion, and if he learns to mix it up against songs like “I’m So Glad,” he’s well on his way.
It all ends on “Say My Name,” a cocky anthem that just seemingly knowing Hamilton from his YouTube videos, his interviews, his concert clips and social media posts … he’s not really that cocky. “Got me feeling so good that I almost feel bad … not quite!” is pretty funny, though.
All in all, if you like Modern Rock, you’d be a bit daft not to pick this up. It’s everything good about Modern Rock and it doesn’t have any of the faults. Knowing he’s likely a Butch Walker fan, though, next go around, maybe diving into the darkness with a track akin to “Joan” wouldn’t hurt. Unless he’s just super happy all the time, and then good for him … and good for us!
Genre: Rock
Line-up:
Ryan Hamilton – lead vocals, guitar
Rob Laney – bass, backing vocals
Other musicians
Tracklisting:
I’m So Glad
The Ghost of James Dean
Brand New Man
Same Page
Sick and Tired
Stranger Across the Street
Say My Name
Label: Independent
Online: https://www.facebook.com/RyanHamiltonandTheTraitors
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8 / 10)
