If Love Don’t Break You
Self-Released, 2026
9/10
Listen to If Love Don’t Break You
The Colorado singer-songwriter Ryan Dart pens a very personal album, where themes of love, loss, resilience, time, and healing have been affected by divorce, loss of property, new love and life as a single father.
The title track opens with much warmth, where Dart’s expressive voice is met with Nate Barnes’ thumping drums in the country fueled climate, and “Dirt Road Woman” follows with Richard Bowen’s well timed fiddle that adds much to the flowing melodies of the cozy delivery.
Further along, the intimate “These Horses” finds an emotive place to reside amid Katie Mingle’s soft voice and the dreaminess, while “Masters Of Time” recruits meticulous guitar and a heartfelt appeal that radiates positive energy.
Near the end, the bare and poetic “Wild Sea” offers a wise and reflective moment of subdued beauty, and “This Is How It Ends” finishes with just Dart’s sincere voice alongside light acoustic guitar.
It’s pretty clear that Dart has done a lot of soul searching lately, and he turns some personal tragedy into relatable songwriting that’s gritty, authentic and touches on the human spirit with a rootsy flavor that will always be relevant.
Travels well with: CJ Hooper- Over Yonder; The Unfaithful Servants- Fallen Angel