When I first checked out L.A. native Ryan Bingham’s MySpace on the suggestion that I ought to … well, check him out, my angry journalist eyes, weary and bloodshot from a day spent attempting to meet deadlines, found one specific thing to focus on. A song titled “Hallelujah” was encased on the playlist before me on my laptop screen. Of course. He recorded the cover song of cover songs. As my brain swirled with potential word combinations to convey textual acid, I hit play so I could authoritatively state why this needed to not happen. And then I was pleasantly surprised, by a song that is definitely not the song of yore that indie singer-songwriters go to when they need set filler. My mood softened and my rage quelled, I dared to listen through the rest of Bingham’s tracks, with my stokedness increasing exponentially with each one that passed. Gritty Southern rock that feels atmospheric and cinematic with Bingham’s weary and twangy delivery, each of his songs provides the soundtrack to that awesome summer road trip you wish you could quit your job to partake in. - Brien Overly