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PATRICK RYAN CLARK

About Me

Patrick Ryan Clark believes it is his calling to impact lives, and to shine light on areas and topics that people often fear exposing. Clark’s new record Translation is likely to do just that, with its catchy hooks and heartfelt lyrics. To Clark, the songs on this record represent “the delicate tension between struggle and surrender” that he has experienced in his life and faith. This up and coming singer songwriter has paved his own way by alluring audiences in coffee houses, pubs, and churches around the US. And due to the overwhelming response of his fans he has earned a place on stages with Switchfoot, Leeland, Phil Wickham, Graham Colton, and Sanctus Real.
Clark’s passion for faith and music began in college with a stolen DC Talk cd. Ironically, on the road home, the next day, he encountered the song What if I Stumble and was brought to his knees. In that moment his life was forever changed by a stolen song. And in a twist of fate, Clark dropped college basketball and devoted all of his energy to his newfound love for God and music. And just as his life was altered through a song, he hopes to give purpose to the lost and hopeless, through his music. Patrick has clearly embraced the idea of mercy, and the inability to live life without pouring out his soul to his creator.
For Translation, Clark teamed up with producer, Cary Pierce, who was enamored by Clark’s willingness to be raw and malleable with his life and music. Pierce brought in the right players for the record, including members from Vertical Horizon, Jewel, and Jackopierce to compose a 10 song album that is chalk full of expressive and unrestrained melodies.
Translation is a collection of songs that expose Clark’s lyrical vulnerability and musical range. The songs effortlessly flow from soaring melodic rock to intimate moments of acoustic folk. The anthemic opening title track sets the tone with its poignant look at a journey from “grace to good and back again”. Heaven and Give it All Away show Clark’s ability to create melodic pop-rock songs, and Mercy will tug at the heartstrings of anyone who recognizes their own need to cry mercy. Translation has already created quite a buzz since its early fall release and Clark will surely resonate as one of year’s most distinguished breakthrough artists.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/16/2006
Band Website: www.patrickryanclark.com"www.patrickryanclark.com
Band Members: PATRICK RYAN CLARK:
vocals, guitars:
:
The new album features the talents of::
CARY PIERCE(Jackopierce)
producer, guitars, backing vocals:
SEAN HURLEY(Vertical Horizon)
bass guitar:
ED TOTH(Doobie Brothers/Vertical Horizon)
drums, percussion:
GREG SURAN(Goo Goo Dolls/Jewel)
electric guitars:
SARA DONALDSON:
cello:
TOMMY B(Prince)
piano, keys:

Buy Translation on ITUNES and CDBABY now!!!!

..

Review: Inner Ear
Patrick Ryan Clark, formerly of Surviving August, releases his solo debut, Translation. An album in the tradition of Goo Goo Dolls, Graham Colton, Vertical Horizon, & Matchbox20, this might well be one of the best independent mainstream pop/rock albums of 2006!

The title track, Translation, sets the mood immediately. This Goo Goo Dolls-ish song is a powerful and excellently performed. This song would've been PERFECT for the movie "Lost In Translation". If they ever re-release that or do a remake they should definitely consider it.

Aftermath reminds me a little bit of Death Cab For Cutie, especially in the early stages of the song. Patrick Ryan Clark, however, gives it a spin of his own and with his clear and powerful vocals he gives it his everything.

Then we hear Heaven. One of the best songs on the album, and definitely a candidate to be a single. ("we all want to get to Heaven, but we don't want to die, and our time is up running, if you want to live this life, you got to learn how to die") Here the man shows he's a very gifted lyricist as well.

Come Together, with a perfomance that rivals Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, Patrick Ryan Clark sings this song with all his heart and soul. Also musically this song is in the same stretch of the genre as Matchbox 20's music. Which should be considered a compliment, since Matchbox 20 is not only one of the most successful groups in the genre, they are also one of the best.

The next song, Break Me, impressed me deeply. I can hear a little Death Cab in it again, but mostly this is Patrick Ryan Clark in top form. Some great use of samples and a great diversity in sound. Perfect alternative pop/rock song, yet still fit for mainstream channels.

All On You, which is another possible single. At first I was gonna compare this with the Goo Goo Dolls, which is still what I think comes closest. But it's not really Goo Goo Dolls-ish. The almost fragile, yet still powerful vocals definitely rival Johnny Rzeznik's though. Also, there's some excellent drumming on this track. Everything falls together on this track. One of the strongest on the album.

The album continues with the beautiful, stripped down Mercy. This really shows how good Patrick Ryan Clark's vocals are. This intimate, personal song, full of self-reflection is a gem on the CD that I think deserves a lot of credit.

Give It All Away, is a little more alternative and somewhat reminds me of Vertical Horizon & Tracy Chapman. Here Patrick shows, that he masters this side of the genre perfectly too. Great guitar work too.

The energetic, uptempo Lose Yourself, is a great powerpop track. I bet this must be a fun track to do live, cause of the energy and because it's a great sing along. Slightly reminds me of Acceptance, Nevertheless, or Time & Distance.

Patrick ends the album with the folky Armor of God. This track might have impressed me the most, musically. Although I do miss a fiddle. But he's performing like a male Alison Krauss. Great guitar work and super strong vocals. Amazing track!

Patrick Ryan Clark delivers a splendid debut album. The songs really fit together as an album, and although one might think that some of the songs have a similar sound, that is also the strength of this CD. One track flows into the next flawlessly. The CD is also well-produced and shows great musicianship and professionalism. And "Translation" is only the beginning. Wait for more to come, because there is more in store for Patrick Ryan Clark, if you ask me.

Review: Melodic.net
Patrick Ryan Clark is the latest artist on the roster of producer/songwriter Cary Pierce’s Foreverything Records (along with the excellent Jon Abel, Creede Williams and Kai Brown), and with an album as good as Translation, it’s not hard to see why.The former Surviving August frontman’s music definitely has a spiritual influence to it, but Translation develops the melodic modern rock style of Clark’s former band and if anything, is even more mainstream. The opening title track sets the tone with its atmospheric ballsy rock, reminiscent of U2, while the hook-laden “Aftermath” continues in the same vein. “Break Me” is another trademark multi-faceted modern rock gem. The poppy “Give It All Away” and the acoustic “Armour of God” show a different side to Clark’s songwriting, but the standout tracks of an astonishingly consistent album are the slow-burning ballad “Heaven” and the soaring rocker “Come Together.”Members of Vertical Horizon and Jewel’s band provide the backing for the songs on Translation, and Patrick Ryan Clark undoubtedly proves that his talent can sit comfortably with such company on a highly promising solo debut.

Kaj's opinion:
I agree with Andrew totally, this is true melodic euphoria for any fan of anthemic rock - I love Patrick Ryan Clark's band Surviving August but his solo album "Translation" is even better. You could say he hit a homerun with this album, just listen to the Larry Gowan sounding title track that will take you to heaven and back. Patrick will touch your heart with his new songs, a must buy!

Pär's opinion Nothing else to add actually. I Just love the bloody CD! It'll end up on my toplist over this years best albums. Marvellous stuff folks.

Review: AlternativeAddiction.com
"Solid songwriting, great vocals, and catchy hooks make Dallas' Patrick Ryan Clark an artist that deserves to be heard. His new album "Translation" is easily one of the most impressive indie releases of the year."

Influences: hope, my wife, life, tragedy, brokeness, heartbreak, love, happiness, sadness, family, history, friends, money, politics, war. All of these different life experiences influence my songwriting. This record is my way of talking about them all.
Record Label: ForEverything Records
Type of Label: Indie

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