With Eyes of an Enemy, Paul Ryan teams up with Olivia Thomson for an album that slowly reveals itself, moving through acoustic folk, introspective lyrics and moments of fragile beauty.
It feels like one of those albums that wants you to sit with it rather than dip in and out. The split into “Eyes of an Enemy” I and II instantly made me curious. The opening part does its job as an intro, but the acoustic guitar pattern repeats so much that it started to blur into the background for me.
“Burning Neon” is where the album really wakes up. The imagery in the lyrics, city lights, burning hotel signs, highways slipping into dawn, gives the song a strong sense of movement. I really loved the way Paul’s voice sits up front while Olivia Thomson floats around him in the harmonies. That said, when the vocals drop out and the guitar keeps circling the same idea, I found myself wishing it would go somewhere new instead of staying in that loop.
“Longed for Life” jumped out immediately because there’s no warm-up, the vocals just arrive. Lines about being “a waitress by the day again, a poet when turning dark” give the song a restless, slightly worn-down feeling. Paul and Olivia singing together the whole time works beautifully, even if I didn’t always catch every word. It’s more about their chemistry while singing than the storytelling details.
“Worth the Know” really hit for me. The Americana feel suits Paul Ryan, and the lyrics about needing “a place to grow” feel honest without being heavy. I just wanted more Olivia here, as her voice always adds something to the music when it appears.
“Sofia Stands so Near” and “Heart Sunk Without You” are both nice listens, with some lovely lines and melodies, but they didn’t fully stick with me afterward.
For me, “Train on Wrong Rails” was a standout. The title alone sets the mood, and lyrics about being bound, lost, then found give it a cinematic, drifting quality.
Then, “Drinking Wine” shifts the mood again and brings more energy. It feels looser and more immediate, with references to memory, youth, and scribbling lines late at night. It’s one of the moments where the album feels the most alive. “Charles Bukowski” didn’t do much for me personally. The idea is clear, but musically it felt more straightforward than the rest of the record.
Ending on “Carry Me Home Again” works really well. It’s warm, reflective, and grounded in friendship and shared history, a gentle way to close an album that spends a lot of time circling memory, doubt and belonging.
Overall, Eyes of an Enemy feels like a slow burn. It has its quiet stretches but when the lyrics and voices line up just right, especially on tracks like “Burning Neon”, “Worth the Know” and “Train on Wrong Rails” the album really shows what it is made of.
ENJOY? READ MORE REVIEWS FROM RGM HERE