Ryan E. Morris
Austin, Texas, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"Fluoxetine Sleepless Nights Water Rights This one's for all the in-betweeners fluttering in uncertainty. Though still grounded in the beery, roots-rock atmospherics of its 2008 debut, Fluoxetine's second album summons the contemplative phase of the buzz. The part where you long for people and things you probably don't even want to revisit. Ryan Morris nails this ambivalent nostalgia on "Your Hometown" when he sings, "You can never go home again/Anyway you don't want to." "Strange Disease" is a harrowing meditation on love's agonies that culminates in a smoldering guitar solo from Landis Armstrong. "Look Around This Room" is an existential chip off the block of George Jones' "The Grand Tour," while the heady flange-pop of "Last Night You Rang" is more akin to latter-day Badfinger. Perhaps Sleepless Nights revels in heartbreak, defeat, and generalized disconnectedness a bit too much for its own good, but the standout songs provide the same brand of solace as a steadfast drinking buddy." - The Austin Chronicle
"Fluoxetine Sleepless Nights Water Rights This one's for all the in-betweeners fluttering in uncertainty. Though still grounded in the beery, roots-rock atmospherics of its 2008 debut, Fluoxetine's second album summons the contemplative phase of the buzz. The part where you long for people and things you probably don't even want to revisit. Ryan Morris nails this ambivalent nostalgia on "Your Hometown" when he sings, "You can never go home again/Anyway you don't want to." "Strange Disease" is a harrowing meditation on love's agonies that culminates in a smoldering guitar solo from Landis Armstrong. "Look Around This Room" is an existential chip off the block of George Jones' "The Grand Tour," while the heady flange-pop of "Last Night You Rang" is more akin to latter-day Badfinger. Perhaps Sleepless Nights revels in heartbreak, defeat, and generalized disconnectedness a bit too much for its own good, but the standout songs provide the same brand of solace as a steadfast drinking buddy." - The Austin Chronicle
"They call it roots rock, the harder edge of the Americana genre. Fluoxetine may never become a household name (mostly because it’s hard to pronounce) but their Sleepless Nights Water Rights album is a stone delight. This Austin band features singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Ryan Morris and a drummer with four names, Ronny Michael Groover Haas, with guitarist Landis Armstrong and bassist Amy Hawthorne (who they met at breakfast one morning: she cooked their eggs at a restaurant called The Omelettry). Ryan and Ronny met at a Dylan concert before going their separate ways for many years. Ronny went to Paris, then returned to Texas to write his doctoral thesis (Fluoxetine is generic Prozac). Ryan wrote and wrote. As produced by John Bush, Sleepless Nights Water Rights, their second release, rocks large with rhythmic shuffles and satisfying curveballs of asymmetrical surprises. If the lyrics sometimes feel like you’re sitting next to a guy at a bar who’s constantly complaining, just " - The Aquarian
"Fluoxetine - Sleepless Nights Water Rights (Independently released CD, Pop) Our first reaction to Austin, Texas based-band Fluoxetine was...Hey, these guys kinda sound like The Rutles...! Being big fans of Neil Innes from way back, this immediately helped us to warm up to this band's ultimately friendly sound. Fluoxetine is comprised of Ryan Morris (vocals, guitar), Landis Armstrong (electric guitar), Amy Hawthorne (bass), and John Bush (drums). Some of these melodies...and certainly the vocals...will remind many listeners of Innes' warm inviting voice. But these folks aren't copying anyone, although their simple guitar-driven tunes recall a great many classic artists from the past. Songs are what matters most with any artist..and songs are what make Sleepless Nights Water Rights such a rewarding spin. By keeping their tunes simple, these folks force listeners to concentrate on the basics. And when the songs are this good, that's really all you need. This twelve track album is resilien" - Babysue.com
music
Texas Top 10s
Fri., Jan. 2, 2009
Texas Top 10s
2008 MUSIC TOP 10S
Prove It All Night
Preaching 2008 and beyond
BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ
Top 10s
BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ
Top 10s
BY AUDRA SCHROEDER
Critics Poll
National Top 10s
Texas Top 10s
Off the Record
Counting down 2008 in lists and casting the first ballot for the annual Chronicle Music Poll
BY AUSTIN POWELL
GREG BEETS
1) White Denim, Exposion (Transmission Entertainment)
2) Alejandro Escovedo, Real Animal (Back Porch/Manhattan/EMI)
3) Future Clouds & Radar, Peoria (The Star Apple Kingdom)
4) The Krayolas, La Conquistadora (Box)
5) Gretchen Phillips, I Was Just Comforting Her (Seasick Sailor)
6) Fluoxetine, Two Weeks & Holidays
7) Shootin' Pains, Pray Like Crazy
8) Adam Ahrens, Fond du Lac (Trampa)
9) Alexander's Dark Band, Music to Stand by the Fireplace To
10) The Devil Bat, Lingers Like a Ghost (Sister Skull) - The Austin Chronicle
Despite being named for the generic form of Prozac, Fluoxetine exhibits none of its moniker's medicinal properties. Which isn't to say there's no therapeutic virtue in the local quartet's warm, jagged barroom rock augmented by flashes of Neil Young guitar immolation, crisp AM radio pop, and ad hoc philosophical wordplay. Much of Two Weeks & Holidays is offered in a spirit that alternates between commiseration and resilience. "Reclaim Your Vices" channels Rust Never Sleeps as frontman Ryan Morris unleashes a pained indictment of genteel indifference. By contrast, McCartney-style gem "I Think It's Gonna Rain" is a finger-popping exercise in making the best of bad things. Ace lead guitarist Landis Armstrong (McLemore Avenue, Small Stars) crosses Mark Knopfler's flow with the high desert tone of Giant Sand as he tears through "In This Room." If forging a compelling sound from the sum of its influences isn't enough to cinch the deal, Fluoxetine also goes great with domestic beer. - Austin Chronicle
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
What's Up?
Ryan spent the better part of April traveling the backroads of the American southeast in support of his first solo EP, "Gem and I." Playing 12 dates in 14 days, from northwestern Arkansas, to Athens, GA, Ryan wowed audiences with his interpersonally based rock-Americana, spinning yarns of broken hearts and really great decision-making.
The Near Future
This august Ryan will be touring the northern Europe between gigs at The Copenhagen Songwriters Festival and Nordic songwriters retreat. Before jetting off to Denmark, he will be making several Austin appearances, as well as a short tour of western Louisiana.
"Where I'm Comin' From..."
Schooled in "the classics" by his father's '60s music reel-to-reel collection, Ryan E. Morris has been writing authentic rock songs since 2005. He plays solo and full band shows with the all-star-band, Fluoxetine, backing him up. Ryan and Fluoxetine have been gracing the stages of Texas for many years in classic rooms such as The Hole in the Wall, Momo's, Ego's, and the ever dingy, Trohpy's.
The Story
Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ryan E. Morris met drummer, Ronny Michael Groover Haas in utero at a Bob Dylan concert in 1974. As they aged, they honed their rock skills on the mean streets of south Texas, running tacos for beer across the Mexican border, spanning the Rio Grande from Reynosa to Nuevo Progreso. Their paths took them to separate corners of the globe for a period of years. Then, in 2005, Ron returned to Austin, TX from Paris, France in order to write his doctoral thesis, and Fluoxetine was born. Wedged between the pink granite boulders of Enchanted Rock, Ron and Ryan, employing sunset and madness, birthed Fluoxetine into this material plane. Ryan started writing songs, playing them with Ron in the music room they set up in Ryan's fashionably dilapidated eastside abode.
The duo started playing sets at legendary hole in the wall, Trophys. After a few successful gigs, Ryan invited longtime friend and guitar player, Landis Armstrong, to help him record some home demos. Through no fault of his own, Landis learned the songs, and was bamboozled into joining in on the Tropys gigs. Finally, one day Ryan and Landis were taking their breakfasts at the Omelettry where bassist Amy Hawthorne cooked the best pancakes this side of grandma's house. She wrote her number on a old claim check, served it up to Ryan, and four pieces had Fluoxetine. When Ron rode a gold horse north, to the rhythm of the setting sun, Fluoxetine recruited John Bush and so it goes.
The Manifesto
Our grandparents had the war, our parents had marijuana, and we have prozac. It's not much, but it seems like the theme of my generation is, "eat what they feed you." Gone are the days when the youth took to the streets in hunt of live culture. Gone are the days of revolutionary art. Maybe, unchecked idealism was a failed policy, but at least they tried.
Not long ago, kids would stalk artists for years; hungering for the fresh meat of a new release from a band that had something to say. Today, we can rest in the comfort of our underwear, caressing our wireless optical mice, resting our fingers on supple ergonomic keyboards, and drowning in the stagnant waters of passive entertainment. Well I've had enough! I want to bite into a steak of raw guitars. I want the chemical smells of seared strings. I want to be enthused, hell, I want to be ecstatic about the release of a new LP.
Where do we go from here?
What is important in life? Is it rock and roll? Is it network television? Is it possessions? Marketing experts instruct us to buy more. Does your head ache? Take this pill. Is your life meaningless? Buy this television. There's nothing like the high you experience from exchanging money for goods or services. It never lasts. You get home, setup your new television, and you're still not fulfilled. Are we, as a society, ready to accept the pursuit of happiness as a means to an end, or will we always view those who seek meaning in life as egocentric lunatics?
Stay alert. Stay present. The life you save may be your own! This is not a public service announcement, this is live action rock and roll. It's coming soon to a town near you. Are you ready?
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