Ryan Adams
October 1, 2014 1:39 PM Subscribe
An alt-country wunderkind who hates country music, a restlessly prolific songwriter stifled by his label, a reformed hell-raiser determined to maintain privacy in a celebrity marriage. For 20 tumultuous years, Ryan Adams has done things the hard way, but thanks to a thriving new studio-cum-clubhouse — and a surprising amount of pinball — he’s finally at ease.
Not to be confused with Bryan Adams. Always enunciate clearly.
Also, Easy Tiger is amazing.
posted by Fizz at 1:51 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, Easy Tiger is amazing.
posted by Fizz at 1:51 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh, he's doing the "distance myself from the dreaded 'alt-country' word" thing just like the Old 97's and Wilco did. *eyeroll*
Whiskeytown was one the greatest bands of the 90s, but everything after the first two solo records is Yawn City. (You see what I did there?)
posted by entropicamericana at 1:53 PM on October 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
Whiskeytown was one the greatest bands of the 90s, but everything after the first two solo records is Yawn City. (You see what I did there?)
posted by entropicamericana at 1:53 PM on October 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
Amen on Heartbreaker, lattiboy. I listen to that album more than most anything else in my collection.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to really get into the last few Ryan Adams records. He seems to me to have lost the roughness he had and is settling into typical middle-aged musician mode where he can still write and play but there's something missing. I'm not saying he should still be writing songs like he was 20 years ago, but the new stuff just doesn't speak to me as much.
posted by downtohisturtles at 1:55 PM on October 1, 2014
Unfortunately I haven't been able to really get into the last few Ryan Adams records. He seems to me to have lost the roughness he had and is settling into typical middle-aged musician mode where he can still write and play but there's something missing. I'm not saying he should still be writing songs like he was 20 years ago, but the new stuff just doesn't speak to me as much.
posted by downtohisturtles at 1:55 PM on October 1, 2014
I would say his voice still sounds best when he has someone like Caitlin Cary to harmonize with.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:58 PM on October 1, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:58 PM on October 1, 2014 [5 favorites]
Not to be confused with Bryan Adams.
Honestly, that was one of the reasons I first downloaded a Ryan Adams record. I saw the cover in HMV on fifth avenue, and then went back into the office to download it. This was back in the Limewire days, I think.
But yeah: I thought then, and I still think that it was just excellent that the guy had enough sand to say, "Fuck it. My name IS Ryan Adams, and I'm good enough to carve it out so eventually people will mistake HIM for me."
It doesn't hurt that he has written more good songs than I have had hot meals. The fact that he has written so many songs in general is a wash, but still. I'm a fan.
posted by dirtdirt at 2:01 PM on October 1, 2014
Honestly, that was one of the reasons I first downloaded a Ryan Adams record. I saw the cover in HMV on fifth avenue, and then went back into the office to download it. This was back in the Limewire days, I think.
But yeah: I thought then, and I still think that it was just excellent that the guy had enough sand to say, "Fuck it. My name IS Ryan Adams, and I'm good enough to carve it out so eventually people will mistake HIM for me."
It doesn't hurt that he has written more good songs than I have had hot meals. The fact that he has written so many songs in general is a wash, but still. I'm a fan.
posted by dirtdirt at 2:01 PM on October 1, 2014
New York, New York is still one of my favorite songs.
posted by SisterHavana at 2:08 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by SisterHavana at 2:08 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
I've always been rather partial to The Bar Is A Beautiful Place (especially that coda).
Not to mention Easy Hearts.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:15 PM on October 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
Not to mention Easy Hearts.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:15 PM on October 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
His references are all Star Wars and sci-fi, superheroes and ‘80s pop culture. Sometimes he’ll bark out his words in imitation of Pee Wee Herman or Grover. And when he’s particularly proud of something he’s done or discovered, he’ll punctuate the announcement of his achievement with, “MmmmBooom!”
I feel like he would do very well on MetaFilter.
posted by KGMoney at 2:15 PM on October 1, 2014 [5 favorites]
I feel like he would do very well on MetaFilter.
posted by KGMoney at 2:15 PM on October 1, 2014 [5 favorites]
Cannonball Days is one of the BEST songs he's written.
posted by stltony at 2:24 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by stltony at 2:24 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't listen to much music and I've never even heard of Ryan Adams before, but this is wonderful. He deserves good things, I think.
posted by JHarris at 2:36 PM on October 1, 2014
posted by JHarris at 2:36 PM on October 1, 2014
I've always run lukewarm on Adams' solo efforts (and not through lack of trying) but the Faithless Street and Strangers' Almanac came out at a time when I was feeling trapped in the South but somehow he made it better for me.
posted by Kitteh at 2:48 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 2:48 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
I feel like he would do very well on MetaFilter.
He would have to/get to come up with a bitchin' new username, since RyanAdams is taken.
posted by clavicle at 2:55 PM on October 1, 2014
He would have to/get to come up with a bitchin' new username, since RyanAdams is taken.
posted by clavicle at 2:55 PM on October 1, 2014
Oh wow, I wore out Heartbreaker when it came out, that album was a revelation to me. One of the best shows I've ever been to was Ryan Adams at the Orpheum in Boston; the audience was completely, 100% silent during his set aside from applause between songs. I loved everything through Demolition, then kind of drifted away after that, but this is a nice reminder to check out everything I missed... and then put Come Pick Me Up on repeat.
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 2:58 PM on October 1, 2014
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 2:58 PM on October 1, 2014
I've never been a big devotee of Adams' stuff, but I've always respected what he seems to be trying to do and his willingness to put his heart on the line in his songs. I've been glad to see him sort of stepping back into the spotlight lately and keep thinking I should start giving his work a closer look. Where's a good entry point to really getting a feel for what he can do with the album format?
posted by saulgoodman at 3:02 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by saulgoodman at 3:02 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Where's a good entry point to really getting a feel for what he can do with the album format?
Start with Heartbreaker.
posted by axiom at 3:29 PM on October 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
Start with Heartbreaker.
posted by axiom at 3:29 PM on October 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
Oh god, those first two albums and Heartbreaker especially are possibly the closest records of all to my heart. I've bullied almost everyone in my life into listening to them and I've always been thanks (at least *eventually*, goddamit).
Beyond those he got so prolific it felt like he lost focus, and now... I'm super happy that he's doing better, genuinely, but there's definitely a fire that's gone out somewhere.
Still, those two records. Man.
posted by ominous_paws at 3:33 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Beyond those he got so prolific it felt like he lost focus, and now... I'm super happy that he's doing better, genuinely, but there's definitely a fire that's gone out somewhere.
Still, those two records. Man.
posted by ominous_paws at 3:33 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
A couple years back, I was listening to historically-cool-but-now-just-another-corporate-behemoth WXRT in Chicago, and they started playing Ryan Adams's cover of Wonderwall during morning drive. Just as I was thinking, "Man, they haven't played anything cool in a while....", they did the digital equivalent of a needle scratching over a record, and the Oasis version started from the top.
Way to be bold, XRT.
posted by hwyengr at 3:38 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Way to be bold, XRT.
posted by hwyengr at 3:38 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you're an old-time fan that gave up and moved on in the last few years, check out the new record! It's probably better than you think it is, and some might call it good!
source: well I kinda like it anyways, and you can't stop me.
posted by DGStieber at 3:54 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
source: well I kinda like it anyways, and you can't stop me.
posted by DGStieber at 3:54 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
"Excuse Me (While I Break My Own Heart Tonight)"
I just love that fucking song.
posted by spitbull at 4:06 PM on October 1, 2014 [10 favorites]
I just love that fucking song.
posted by spitbull at 4:06 PM on October 1, 2014 [10 favorites]
By which I mean, that is not a song by someone who hates country music any more than it asks to be hated as an aesthetic choice.
posted by spitbull at 4:07 PM on October 1, 2014
posted by spitbull at 4:07 PM on October 1, 2014
Wunderkind? The man is almost 40. He didn't really achieve success at 14 or 15.
posted by discopolo at 4:35 PM on October 1, 2014
posted by discopolo at 4:35 PM on October 1, 2014
The only album I have of his is Demolition but I have listened to it a lot. Keep meaning to check others out.
posted by curious nu at 4:50 PM on October 1, 2014
posted by curious nu at 4:50 PM on October 1, 2014
When I moved to RTP, I wound up working in a printshop with a guy who was "managing" Whiskey Town before the record companies got interested. I went to a show and somebody would probably sue me if I told you what happened that night. They were just impossible to manage. Glad everyone is still alive.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 5:51 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr. Yuck at 5:51 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'd trade him my user name if he wanted to join Metafilter.
posted by waitingtoderail at 6:17 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by waitingtoderail at 6:17 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ryan Adams is one of my favorite artists. Heartbreaker always gets the most love, but Cold Roses deserves more love. This new self titled album is wonderful as well.
posted by SarahElizaP at 7:47 PM on October 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by SarahElizaP at 7:47 PM on October 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
He knows how to knit and crochet? I'm impressed.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:40 PM on October 1, 2014
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:40 PM on October 1, 2014
Heartbreaker is my favorite (as mentioned above), but Love Is Hell holds a special place in my heart just because it was the album that got me into Ryan Adams. I love albums that have "a sound". Love Is Hell sounds like it was recorded late nights in a studio after a lot of long days. Dim lights. Everyone's tired. But they're recording until 4 in the morning anyway.
posted by downtohisturtles at 9:42 PM on October 1, 2014
posted by downtohisturtles at 9:42 PM on October 1, 2014
Let it Ride is the song that got me liking him. I saw him a few years ago at the Commodore in Vancouver. He was snotty and drunk, but he put on a hell of of a show.
posted by dougzilla at 10:00 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by dougzilla at 10:00 PM on October 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Whenever I'm in a bad/sad mood that demands a full force wallow, I throw on Heartbreaker and listen to Come Pick Me Up somewhere just shy of "ad nauseum". I cannot imagine how much more focused his catalog could be with bit of gentle steering to prevent the post Whiskeytown tsunami of released material.
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:58 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:58 PM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Good article -- thanks for posting it. It makes me really happy to know that Adams is in a good place now. I've not kept up with his most recent albums (clearly I need to fix that!), but his early-00s records are very dear to me. A good friend and I saw him perform in 2004, the gig before the one where he smashed his wrist. It was a good show but he did seem pretty out of it; I remember feeling nervous when he climbed up on the speakers and wobbled there.
posted by daisyk at 5:47 AM on October 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by daisyk at 5:47 AM on October 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
I can't believe he bought that Krull machine!!!
OK, I guess I can, but still: wow.
posted by Theta States at 9:48 AM on October 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
OK, I guess I can, but still: wow.
posted by Theta States at 9:48 AM on October 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thanks for posting this. I literally read it, got up from my desk, and took the subway to the West Village to buy his new record. Excited to get home and give it a listen.
I'm not usually one for caring about the personal lives, or really any details, about musicians I enjoy, so I've never read a profile of Ryan Adams. I really enjoyed this one. That said, I really disagree with this writer on some of his records.
I think Rock 'n Roll is incredible. I think the whole damn album is strong, but Wish You Were Here should be argument enough. Heartbreaker is also amazing, and was an early point of bonding for my wife and me. For me, Ashes and Fire is a little limp. There are some decent songs, but it never really grabbed me.
A couple of years ago we saw him live at Carnegie Hall. Now, the sound in that room is legendary of course, but even in the cheap seats it was an unbelievable show from an audio perspective. He was playing solo for most of it and his voice was crystal clear. I honestly felt like I was sitting four feet away from him. Unfortunately my wife and I are both tall people and I think the upper deck at Carnegie was designed by a masochistic engineer. It was absurdly uncomfortable and there was no way for me to sit without my knees jammed against the seat in front. We couldn't make it through the entire show, which is really just a shame.
If I had one critique of Ryan Adams, and I do, it's that he suffers the same problem as Joseph Arthur. They are both absurdly prolific but don't do enough editing. I'd be thrilled with fewer, but higher quality, albums from both of them. When they're on, they're perfect, and you really can't touch Heartbreaker or Come to Where I'm From.
Lastly, if anyone has a yen for RA's more country style, I might recommend Jason Isbell, formerly of the Drive By Truckers. He put out a solo album last year that is on constant rotation in my house. If you need to be convinced, check out his song Live Oak.
posted by staccato signals of constant information at 11:23 AM on October 2, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm not usually one for caring about the personal lives, or really any details, about musicians I enjoy, so I've never read a profile of Ryan Adams. I really enjoyed this one. That said, I really disagree with this writer on some of his records.
I think Rock 'n Roll is incredible. I think the whole damn album is strong, but Wish You Were Here should be argument enough. Heartbreaker is also amazing, and was an early point of bonding for my wife and me. For me, Ashes and Fire is a little limp. There are some decent songs, but it never really grabbed me.
A couple of years ago we saw him live at Carnegie Hall. Now, the sound in that room is legendary of course, but even in the cheap seats it was an unbelievable show from an audio perspective. He was playing solo for most of it and his voice was crystal clear. I honestly felt like I was sitting four feet away from him. Unfortunately my wife and I are both tall people and I think the upper deck at Carnegie was designed by a masochistic engineer. It was absurdly uncomfortable and there was no way for me to sit without my knees jammed against the seat in front. We couldn't make it through the entire show, which is really just a shame.
If I had one critique of Ryan Adams, and I do, it's that he suffers the same problem as Joseph Arthur. They are both absurdly prolific but don't do enough editing. I'd be thrilled with fewer, but higher quality, albums from both of them. When they're on, they're perfect, and you really can't touch Heartbreaker or Come to Where I'm From.
Lastly, if anyone has a yen for RA's more country style, I might recommend Jason Isbell, formerly of the Drive By Truckers. He put out a solo album last year that is on constant rotation in my house. If you need to be convinced, check out his song Live Oak.
posted by staccato signals of constant information at 11:23 AM on October 2, 2014 [2 favorites]
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Also, Heartbreaker has my vote for best country album of the last 30 years.
posted by lattiboy at 1:48 PM on October 1, 2014 [8 favorites]