Ryan Allen - Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge (2025) Hi-Res

Earlier this week, Ryan Allen posted a live video of an early ’90s Teenage Fanclub performance. It featured a rowdy, hard-rockin’ version of God Knows It’s True, and Allen commented: “It’s weird that the older Teenage Fanclub get, the less they want to sound like this—while the older I get, the MORE I want to sound like this.” That says a lot. Deep down, Allen is still that 15-year-old kid hungry for new sounds, excited to discover and rediscover the magic of loud and catchy guitar music. And that’s why we at Add To Wantlist keep returning to his work, every time. It’s also why we recently broke our “no single tracks” rule just to premiere a video from his new solo album—his seventh!—Livin’ On A Prayer On The Edge, which is out today.

Despite being rooted in teenage energy, this record sounds mature, accomplished—and yes, like a full-on ’90s throwback made by someone who lived through that era and never let go of what made it special. Allen calls this his most “ME” album, and it shows. He fully leans into his love for crunchy guitars and alt-pop hooks, all while writing about what’s close to him: the joys of domestic life, the struggle to leave a creative mark on the world, the pull of DIY values, and also the harder stuff—anxiety, corporate monotony, and existential unease.

The album opens strong with I Should (But I Don’t Really Wanna), a sharp and relatable power pop anthem that sums up the human condition in under three minutes. Lost In A Daze keeps the flow going with the kind of seemingly effortless songwriting that would be infuriating if you were trying to do it yourself—but it’s a joy to hear. Then come more standouts: Anxious All The Time, After I’m Dead, and the rugged jolt of Devil’s Juice, which had me checking if my player had jumped to Daniel Romano’s Outfit. The surprises keep coming with The Construction Man and the goosebump-inducing acoustic closer In The Next Life.

Livin’ On A Prayer On The Edge may have started as a personal record, but it plays like a love letter to all of us—kids of all ages who still care deeply about guitar-driven pop music with heart and soul. Ryan Allen is a true believer, a hopeless romantic, and the world is better because of it.