"Mercy Killings is a towering achievement of a record, but there’s no doubt some will be turned off by its stubborn refusal to follow a clear trajectory. That’d be a fair criticism if Scott Ryan didn’t pull off each of his ideas with the aplomb of someone twice his age, but he’s that rare burgeoning songwriter who seems to have found that congenital understanding of how to temper innovation with prudence."

"...even after writing the review and fulfilling that obligation, so to speak, I can’t get enough of this album. This was a no brainer for my [favorite albums] list this year."

"...Ryan’s songs – teeming with tales of disaffection and defeat – are all densely layered works of art."

"His eloquent word choice and sophisticated blend of genres (mostly indie, folk, and pop) come together brilliantly in his first full-length album, The Coldest Room in the House."

"...a stunning debut...'The Coldest Room in the House' is an indie, folk-rock work of genius."