As some of you might be aware, the latest single from Hospital Music is The Devil’s In Your Details, which I co-wrote with Ryan Dahle. Ryan has, over the last year, been working on a solo album that’s due to be released soon, so I thought I would feature a few tracks here on the site because I think he’s come up with something very special. Ryan has given his permission for me to do so, so if you like what you hear be sure to visit his Myspace Page for more information.
Featured Songs
Agoraphobe
Eek It’s Halloween (is utterly awesome)










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I didn’t know it was the new single! That’s great! I actually have it as my cellphone ring.
Thanks for the links.
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Both of these are great. Can’t wait for the album now.
Though I dug the original agoraphobe demo infinitely more — this shall do.
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Ryan’s stuff is awesome I liked it! :) I always like to hear new things Thanks
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Thanks Matt and Ryan. I liked both these tracks - especially the harmony on Agoraphobe (which I thought was a fear of sweaters but that’s angoraphobe). The intro to Eek it’s Halloween reminds me of a Stone Temple Pilots song…I can’t put my finger on which one right now though. Cool banjo too.
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i prefer the version of agoraphobe that you and ryan did together.
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Well I’m sold
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That was WEIRD listening to agoraphobe…
Sounds Great though!
Will the album be available on iTunes? and if so, any idea when?
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AWSOME
I miss Limblifter though. Is Curt playing on the new record I wonder ?
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sweet, thanks for posting this–i loved limblifter, and i didn’t know he was still making music–new stuff sounds awesome :-)
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I really enjoyed the MG/Ryan Agoraphobe, but I’m kind of leaning towards this version. Very impressed! Eek sounds pretty top notch as well ( banjo=great things ). Thanks for the heads up about this album, I may have missed it otherwise!
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This is great. I have been actually reading up to see if he has anything coming out soon. I check in with Meegee to see but usually nothing. I can’t wait!
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Wouldn’t a Matt/Ryan tour be great?
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I’d LOVE a Ryan/Matt tour. I can’t wait for his new album to come out, I love the 4 tracks on his myspace, theyre awesome!
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I’ve always loved Ryan Dahle’s music. Limblifter’s I/O is one of my favourite albums so I’ll definitely watch out for Ryan’s solo one. Thanks for the songs although I still have a preference for the Ryan/Matt version of Agoraphobe. Your voices just sound so hauntingly beautiful together.
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Awesome music! I’m gonna listen to agoraphobe in someone else’s house… :S
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Definately a fan of I/O, a great sunny-day album.
New version of Agoraphobe really seems to have some wedding ceremony strings going on, in a good way.
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Great stuff.
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Ooooooooh no time to listen right now but just wanted to say that I have been a fan of his/AOE/Limblifter since 1990 when they played California Dreamin in New West…… I used to hang with their biggest fan/groupie so got to meet them after one of their shows there, one time…. awesome guys…. Congrats about the new single.. I guess if I would stop playing my HM cd in the car, I would actually get to hear the song on the radio.. lol.. we don’t get radio where I live in Coquitlam so I only get radio when I drive.
p.s. have you ever mentioned on here how you know Ryan? Are you guys old school buddies? or did you meet in the industry? Would be hilarious if I stood right next to you at an Age of Electric concert at CD’s in New West many a time in the 1990’s….
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Very awesome…. very cool folkie old rock kinda sound….
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Thanks for posting those Matt.
And thanks to Ryan for allowing it. Tell him he has a new fan (and soon to be more as my friends will also love his stuff)
:)
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I’ve been all over this for at least a week or more. REALLY good stuff. Though my friend request was only accepted today. rofl
And I was the first person to comment on his page! HAR HAR!
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I also liked the Agoraphobe demo you two did together a lot better, but I’m a bigger fan of your voice. Though, by the end I noticed that the effects done on the vocals are similar/the same as in the older version. Which begs the question: how much of that was Ryan Dahle trying to find the right sound during the demoing process, and how much of was you trying to find the right sound for yourself which he liked so much he decided to use in the final version as well?
And I’m pretty sure I just over complicated a simple question.
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Ooooooooooooh I love Agoraphobe, Ryan’s version, as well as the original….. beautifully done.
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I have to agree that the original was much better
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Very cool. Thanks to you both for sharing.
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Winner winner.
Agoraphobe is my favorite of the two.
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Awesome. I really like it. I remember Agoraphobe when it was released under Pillowhead Jack, or whatever it was.
I will definitely pick this album up.
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Wanted to also add that it was very good.
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he’s a wonderful songwriter. i feel a real connection to agoraphobe, its a beautiful song.
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i rather enjoyed “Eek” too. The piano line is kind of reminiscent of Bruce Hornsby.
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I think the original is much shorter? no?
I honestly have no idea how anyone can just automatically like the original better. I love them both equally.. This new version is fantastic …but I guess that’s just moi…
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Geez, I guess I should pay attention more…I really love(d) AOE and have been listening to Untitled on my *cough* (cassette) tape in my car a lot lately…a great driving song. Awesome.
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Kind of peculiar because lately, I’ve been wondering (repeatedly) whatever became of Agoraphobe. Now I know and I’m glad something was done with it. ‘Eek’ is hugely cool; I could see that becoming a fast favorite. I’m not sure if it is more subdued, darker or has more resolve. Thanks for the heads up on this.
By the way, this would be a great time to re-post the ‘Agoraphobe being born’ video of you and Ryan. I recall silliness and you tossing in a ‘use the compressor’ with an oh-so-fab accent. (Or something of the sort). That made me laugh.
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Ooh, I like…now I’m super curious about this original duet version of Agoraphobe…and yay for banjo music! Thanks for sharing.
The Devil’s in Your Details, great song, good call for the next single.
Music (and dancing) could save us all if we’d let it happen…I’m sure of that, if nothing else.
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Fantastic tunes! I always appreciate recommendations from those whose work I already enjoy. It’s like I’m venturing outside my little musical bubble while still staying safely within the confines of something familiar…
As for “The Devil’s In Your Details”, I’m anxious to hear it on my local station.. One of the DJ’s has been announcing that “I’m A Window” was from the album “Born Losers”. I was forced to correct him in a scathing email, but he never replied and I haven’t heard it played on his show since.. Whoops…
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Man, I love it. I will buy it right away.
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Wow! Good stuff ! Especially the vocals. I need to Google Ryan-How did I miss this guy???
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really awesome stuff. can’t wait for the album
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Quoting Con:
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude, the shame……. that is money is the man’s pocket.. tisk tisk. lol
I have to admit, I only just heard of Agoraphobe about 2 months ago.. I posted about it on the Facebook MG fan page but later removed my post I created because I’d mentioned a friend msn’d it to me and thought I’d get in shit for that.. so, here I have it on my computer, the orginal version . how does one go about hearing the original if they don’t have it?
Deb, got your email…….. what is your favourite AOE song? Mine is Enya… I”m curious if Afrodisiac Smile is floating around out there somewhere… I searched for it on youtube, but no can find…… That was the song that did it for me back in the 90’s. And it was a new song they were playing at the time I heard it… eeeeeeeee, I heard it first!!!!! Is it true that Todd Kearns is now in Faster Pussycat? My god, those guys are still around?
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Quoting Robert R:
You could google him, or you could also google ‘Age of Electric’ or “limblifter’.. he’s been arould for quite some time…… I first saw him when we were both kids, pretty much… he was the ‘adorable’ kid with the red hair that probably wasn’t old enough to be hanging in a bar in New West that had Hell’s Angel’s jumpin up and down to the sounds of Afrodisiac Smile.. Oh the freakin good ol days, man….
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Thanks, T=Lee…….
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Thanks for that Matthew – I can’t wait to get the rest of the album from iTunes. You are supercool to share this!! You guys are so lucky over there…*sigh*… all this wonderful music I have never even heard before. For sure, I know Josh Ritter Josh Rouse, but I will definitely look up Limblifter – any thoughts on what I should listen for / buy as a taster anyone?
(Meanwhile, here in Dullsville, England, it’s the same old shit…except for Coldplay’s new single – get it free off their website…a harder, rockier sound that’s a welcome relief). BUT…back to Ryan – I feel some cool sounds for summer coming on already!!
xx
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Wow…..great tracks. Great writing and like Matt said….really special. Great arrangements on the tracks also - can’t wait to hear the rest. Congrats to Ryan on this - it’s amazing.
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really awesome!
thanks for sharing!
i was thinking about age of electric the other day, missing ‘remote control’
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I simply cannot wait for this record! Limblifter are one of my favourite bands of all time, and Ryan is such a nice guy. These songs sound fantastic, thanks so much for sharing them.
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Awesome!!!!!!!!! Is there also a new Limblifter record coming soon?
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Oh, excellent, new music. I will definitely give these a listen. Thanks!
…Where was this MG/RD version of Agoraphobe? How come everyone seems to have heard it but me? Hrm.
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No prob ROBert……
Foresthouse, I will find out where my friend got it from and let ya know…. although I think he stole it from an ex girlfriend who had it on cassette…. not sure where she got it from….. the beginning is much different….. I love both songs but looooooooove the beginning of Ryan’s version. LOVE.. If you add me on facebook, later (after work), I will see if I can add the original to my page. am i allowed?
Martel, I’m guessing it’s always a possibility, since I realized last night, on his myspace page that limblifter has an official website.
The boys have been around for a long time…. I would never have guessed they were doing something else… once a musician always a musician?
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Love them! I really like EEK It’s Halloween!!
Thank you for sharing!
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These are quite good… I actually like this version of Agoraphobe better.
When is this coming out??
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Great songs, I’ll try to get hold the album once it’s out.
I just ended up booting up my old PC to listen to the original version of Agoraphobe and have found the free download song that you did with Ryan. In the light of the recent post about demos I think there’s definitely a need to resurrect it - it would make a great addition to the new album :)
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ETA: And I am now completely addicted to Target Practice. Which isn’t one of the ones you can download. *sniff* I’m just going to have to keep myspace open all the time, huh?
T-Lee, that’d be awesome if it’s ok. How can I find you on Facebook? :)
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Let me just say that Ryan Dahle’s wikipedia entry is 11 shades of hilarious.
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I also prefer both Ryan’s original Agoraphobe demo and the Matt/Ryan version better than this one. I could go without the strings at the beginning, and those harmonic lady backup singers just freak me out. Its still a good song though. Eek is really good.
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Ryan’s original Agoraphobe demo? um, really? How does one go about hearing that one? I have never heard…
foresthouse, sorry I just have a file on my computer, I would have to first post it somewhere and I’m really thinking I’m not allowed to do that because it’s not my song… soooooooo on that note….. any other thoughts on how he can hear the original, guys?
Actually if you add me on msn I can just send you the file.. me allowed to do this?
Add me on facebook and I’ll give you my msn address privately. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520732208
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Aaaaaaaw, Ryan is so cute in this video… I always thought he was so adorable…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0xmz6LXsJs
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Very Tom Petty-esque. Shipping from CA to USA is gonna be stinky. But I’ve been a fan of Ryan and Meegee’s since we talked at your Toronto show in ‘04.
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agoraphobe is such a great song….the original, the rawness of it is my favorite, but I sure like the new one a lot as well….
ive been a fan of ryans since his days touring underage with Electric, playing places like the windsor in red deer alberta…looking fwd to his solo experience!
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gotta say on agoraphobe, there’s been a major upgrade in the lyrics and i love that strings line early on… all in all, dahle is sounding great, love to see a tour with you two sharing the stage…
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That would rrrrrrrrrock……
p.s. I can’t believe I asked if you guys were old highschool buddies.. helloooooooo AOE weren’t even from here(I guess I automatically think playing a club in New West means they are Vancouver boys)……. And I call myself a fan… my god….. giving my head a shake as we speak..
wiki is great eh? DOH!
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It’s nice to hear the finished product of Agoraphobe. I have two different versions of it from the demo stage. I really like the touches Ryan put into it, even if it seems you’ve been removed from any part of the song.
And Eek It’s Halloween is fantastic, I agree.
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Also, I wasn’t aware that Ryan had co-wrote “details” with you. I’ll have to find the CD case and see if it says as much; must have missed that. It’d be nice to hear more from you two as I think your voices and styles mesh nicely.
Congrats to Ryan.
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Quoting Nameless:
Jen, I talk to so many people from the island who looooooooooooove them too… They used to play the Forge, or somewhere close to there, in Victoria…. I think….
Ryan will always be the cute one, to me.. I love the red hair….. I hope this album is a success and Agoraphobe is finally played on the radio soon….
p.s.. the first line of the song is really pulling at my heart strings… “You’re at home with your accident”… oh the thoughts running through my head about that one…. guess we will never know.
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So is Limblifter officially done then? Shame. Will definitely pick this one up though, I’m a huge fans of the Dahles (just saw the New Pornos a few weeks ago)
And AOE = classic.
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Will “Black Helicopter” ever be a single?
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Julz, I don’t think any band is ever truly done… everyone gets back together for reunion tours at some point in their careers…. or some members come back, etc… I’m waiting for the Journey reunion tour. lol
I want Metal Airplanes to be the next song, although I’m thorougly enjoying the new one… Matt if the reason you released that song at this moment in time, was to coincide with Ryan’s release, then you are f******** cooler than I even once thought……You rock dude.