Ryan Wayne - Functioning Dysfunctionals (2025)

Ryan Wayne makes a powerful return with his second album, Functioning Dysfunctionals.

Building on the success of his 2023 debut Crow Amongst The Sparrows, this new release feels even more personal and hard-hitting. Wayne dives headfirst into the messy beauty of life—exploring love, loss, addiction, and the quiet hope that follows heartbreak.

With rich Americana and roots-rock textures, and a knack for vivid storytelling, he delivers songs that are both deeply introspective and universally relatable.

The gripping title track, “Functioning Dysfunctionals,” stands out as a searing portrait of emotional wreckage. Wrapped in intense instrumentation, it captures the turmoil of a love gone wrong, where regret, resentment, and alcohol mix in a haze of heartbreak. Wayne’s razor-sharp lyrics and haunting chorus turn chaos into catharsis, setting the tone for the album’s emotional depth.

Other standout tracks include “Between These Walls,” a haunting reflection on impermanence and isolation, and “Love’s Lost Languages,” an atmospheric ballad that delves into the ache of disconnection and unspoken heartbreak. Together, these songs highlight Wayne’s ability to craft moments of quiet beauty and aching truth, solidifying his place as a master of deeply felt, soul-baring songwriting.

Overall, Functioning Dysfunctionals is a bold, unflinching album that doesn’t shy away from vulnerability. Ryan Wayne’s return is not just a comeback—it’s a reclamation of voice and purpose. With poetic grit and emotional honesty, he delivers a body of work that feels both timeless and urgently of the moment.