8/10

Ryan Cassata’s 'Greetings from Echo Park' wear its heart on its sleeve, tears it open, and then lays it bare. With his debut full-length on Kill Rock Stars, the genre-fluid artist delivers a searing collection that lurches between fury and fragility, stitching together folk-punk grit, blues swagger, and pop-punk urgency into something wholly his own.

Throughout this new release, Cassata drags personal trauma into the spotlight with songs that pulse with raw immediacy. Previously shared tracks like 'a Knack for Overthinking' and 'i feel like throwing up' tap into a nerve-rattling honesty, pairing racing thoughts and bodily illness with textures that echo the chaos inside.

There’s blood under the fingernails of these songs. Written while navigating chronic illness and the ever-present weight of systemic marginalisation, 'Greetings from Echo Park' captures the exhaustion of existing in a world not built for you. But for all its anguish, there’s defiance in the bones of this record. Cassata’s voice becomes a lifeline for those listening who know exactly what it feels like to be left out in the cold.

Still, it’s not all storm clouds. On tracks like 'He’s My Man' and 'Bad Things', he leans into love with open arms and unflinching pride. These moments feel like reclamation of joy and queerness as resistance. Not just music for trans and queer folks, he’s carving out a space where their full humanity can be celebrated. In his own words, queer love isn’t just tender, it’s radical.

Musically, the album’s breadth is staggering. From driving punk breakdowns to the woozy, bruised edges of Americana, 'Greetings from Echo Park' bends genre without ever losing its centre. Whether backed by sludgy riffs, lo-fi acoustics, or haunted slide guitar, Ryan Cassata never strays from his mission to speak truth, no matter the cost.

Ryan Cassata has always blurred the line between artist and activist, but on 'Greetings from Echo Park', the two become inseparable. This is the sound of someone refusing to be erased. Bruised but unbroken, vulnerable yet unshakable, his latest material is a testament to the strength it takes to keep showing up.