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Back to the roots for Jay and the Cooks!

Blues, Rock, Country, we get a peek of the atmosphere of the Black Keys. At times it’s the shadow of Nick Cave that appears or the breath of a disillusioned Tom Waits.
The sexagenarians don’t beat around the bush: they express themselves loud and strong without digression, the subjects are simple and direct with tracks like “Poor Everybody” or “Dried up Hearts”. All the songs are inspired by real life stories or very close to reality.

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Back to the roots for Jay and the Cooks!

After having released 4 albums during the last decade, one of which totally in French, Jay Ryan is coming out with “Dried Up Dreams”

Following up on the April 2021 release “Le Cœur Sec” Jay Ryan, singer guitarist of Jay and the Cooks, is back with a new album, entirely in English this time, his native language. The album is a collection of 9 original Rock and Blues songs along with the famous “I Just Came to Tell You That I’m Going” a cover of “Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M’en Vais”, by Serge Gainsbourg.

The idea for the album came about because Jay wanted to talk about his experience as an immigrant. Grouping songs with a blues feel sprinkled with country reminds him of the country of his younger years, “Dried Up Dreams” alludes to various subjects going from simple pleasures such as reading or the cuisine to politics, and the people around him. One of the album’s attractions are the heavy, imposing drums and bass that reminds one of some 70’s recordings. Take note that the album was recorded on analog vintage equipment.

Most of the musicians who accompany Jay Ryan on the record are expatriates, like himself, originally from The United States but have been residing in France for many years. The lineup is incredible because they have played with the likes of Chuck Berry, Percy Sledge, Tony Allen, Ray Lema, Eliot Murphy, Jeff Healey; Jim Murple Memorial, Barry “The Fish” Melton…

Blues, Rock, Country, we get a peek of the atmosphere of the Black Keys. At times it’s the shadow of Nick Cave that appears or the breath of a disillusioned Tom Waits.

The sexagenarians don’t beat around the bush: they express themselves loud and strong without digression, the subjects are simple and direct with tracks like “Poor Everybody” or “Dried up Hearts”. All the songs are inspired by real life stories or very close to reality. In “Frontline Worker Blues”, Jay Ryan presents courageous working people mowed down by the virus. He denounces the fat cats that send workers to the slaughterhouse at the height of a pandemic. But the album isn’t completely dark either.

With humor, in “Organic Lush” he touts and flouts the new organic trends in nutrition. In “Chew the Cud” heated discussions over drinks try and change the world, sometimes in scattered directions. Jay tells us the story of a personage, an Afro-American worker he befriended in Austin in the 70’s: Alton McCarver who worked on the same construction site as he could easily be a worker in St Denis, France where Jay wrote the record. Jay Ryan also tackles the tough topic of the difficulties of integration, a subject he understands well, and the importance of rejecting righteous preachers and extremists. In simple terms DRIED UP DREAMS reflects society as it is. It’s the story of news stories and history that repeat themselves.

Alton McCarver
Frontline Worker Blues
Chew the Cud
I Just Came To Tell You That I’m Going
Poor Everybody
Deaf Water
Organic Lush
Dried Up Hearts
Empty Glass of Love
Confederate Son

All lyrics and music by Jay Ryan (Éditions Amoc) except « Frontline Worker Blues » lyrics by Jay Ryan and music by Stéphane Missri (Éditions Amoc), « Empty Glass of Love » lyrics by Jay Ryan and music by Christian Drapier (Éditions Amoc), « Confederate Son » lyrics and music by John R.Clark (Éditions Amoc), « I Just Came To Tell You That I’m Going » lyrics and music by Serge Gainsbourg (Melody Nelson Publishing)

Jay Ryan (Vocals, guitars)
Stéphane Missri (Guitars, banjo)
Paul Susen (Fiddle, mandolins)
Christian Poidevin (Harmonica, Dobro)
Marten Ingle (Bass, double bass)
Marty Vickers (Drums)


DRIED UP DREAMS is dedicated to Bernard Rousseau who passed away just after the recording of this album.  Bernard was our in house photographer; he’ll be greatly missed.

Produced by Paul Bessone for Juste Une Trace Recorded,
Mixed et masterised by Arnaud Bascuñana | Studio 180
Photographs by Bernard Rousseau and Jay Ryan
Design by Corinne Garino

With support : SCPP | SACEM
Release date : 18-03-2022