Ryan Adams

[aboutagrrl]

I have a problem, I can't stop buying his albums even though I haven't *really* loved anything he's done nearly as much as i loved Heartbreaker. I do feel like there are a few gems on Gold unlike most who seem to think the whole thing is crap.
Still why did I buy Demolition, listen to it maybe once or twice and then never again but am unable to sell it for some reason. It just sits and collects dust. And why when there is so much good new music coming out now did I go to the store this weekend and buy both, Rock n' roll and Love is Hell pt. 1? Maybe I'm just hoping in vain to hear what I heard when I put on Heartbreaker for the first time, maybe it's my school girl crush on the cheeky bastard but damned if I wish I would stop it.
Neither of his new ones are what I would call great but Love is Hell pt. 1 strikes me as the better of the two. It has whisperings of Heartbreaker and Jeff Buckley and a stellar cover of "Wonderwall." For $5.99 I suppose I shouldn't complain but I just have this weird feeling that after a week I won't listen to it much. Rock n' Roll seems very thrown together and lyrically very sub-par, sample "it's all a bunch of shit."In some ways it seems like it could've been a genius idea, a rock n' roll album emulating the artists Adams loves and has been influenced by, complete with song titles from great bands that are changed slightly, "this is it," "she's lost total control," and "the drugs not working." But it seems to fall just short of genius as Adams is prone to do in his rush to record as much music as inhumanly possible. I find myself having to force myself to listen to it to find redeeming value.
Does anyone else have this problem that I have? It seems like a need an Adams Anonymous group or something and I'm just curious to hear other thoughts...

[coreyhemp]

Go join AA

[DaysWithoutEnd]

Although I enjoyed Heartbreaker, Gold, and Demolition to various degrees, I have to agree with you. I too picked up both of the new releases and was equally unenthusiastic. Decent stuff, but definately not anything exciting. Just pretend its Bryan Adams, and you'll pleasantly surprised.

If you start a support group, I'll join.

[zippy]

maybe this'll help..

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/a/adams_ryan/rock-n-roll.shtml

[sadgirlseven]

i like rock n' roll after a couple of listens. i haven't heard the new EP. i like ryan's stuff, but i think he's a jackass. i have a hard time giving my money to people i don't respect. heh.

[aboutagrrl]

maybe this'll help..

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/recor...ck-n-roll.shtml

I actually agree with nearly everything they have to say ("feels sloppy and stupidly rushed" is definitely true) and disagree only slightly with some statements ("entirely lifeless"). Even though I agree with them there is still a weird part of me (perhaps an abusive streak? ha) that still finds it enjoyable on some levels. Maybe I've just allowed it to grow on me. LIKE A FUNGUS!

[marshallnesta]

yeah, ryan adams is a douche, to put it as eloquently as possible. but ima still buy rock n roll. have it burned and love it. and the new e.p. is stellar in my opinion. don't buy it expecting heartbreaker, but it is very bleak. it was worth the 8 bucks for the wonderwall cover alone. breathtaking.

[earthcapricorn]

Aww, I have a soft spot for Ryan Adams. He may not be the amazing genious that some people make him out to be but I would hardly rank him down at "douche" level, a level I preserve for the likes of John Mayer. Adam's has some okay music. He may not go down as an all time classic but I certainly wouldn't reject him from my playlist.

[XmeepX]

See, oddly enough, the only Ryan Adams album I own is Rock N Roll, and I really enjoy it. I know his other stuff is different but i'm yet to hear it, and would like to. What does it sound like in comparison to anything else, or even style wise, and what other album should I buy first?

[DaysWithoutEnd]

R'n'R is much louder and 'rawk' sounding. The older stuff is more acoustic or alt country oriented. I would recommend Gold as the one album to get for a little of everything. Heartbreaker is softer and super mellow. Demolition is similar to Gold , but not as good.

[3rd Silo Record]

Originally posted by sueque222
I'm not gonna lie: I own several Ryan Adams CDs as well. (Don't worry sadgirlseven, they're all burned 'cause I wouldn't give my money to that jackass either!) Don't have Rock N Roll , so I'm not writing to contribute to the review or anything. Just wanted to say: where's the love for Gillian Welch? She was the other half of Whiskeytown, and that brat Ryan gets all the attention and hype. Welch is talented, authentic, and seems down to earth (this assumption based on an appearance on World Cafe). Just something that annoys me, that's all.

You're thinking of Caitlin Cary. To the best of my knowledge, Gillian Welch and Ryan didn't work together until after Whiskeytown ended.

Everything you said about Welch applies to Cary, though.

[Pretend Girl]

Jesus Christ, why didn't somebody tell me...?

Everyone's been talking about Ryan Adams for a while but I thought he was just another John Mayer type...

I went to the Exchange yesterday and paid five dollars for Heartbreaker because it's one of my friend's favorites. I can't stop listening to this, this is the best album I've heard in a loooong time.

(Other good finds: A Joan Jett album for 2.50 and Fruit Bats - Echolocation for five dollars. I rule.)

[3rd Silo Record]

Originally posted by Pretend Girl
Jesus Christ, why didn't somebody tell me...?

Everyone's been talking about Ryan Adams for a while but I thought he was just another John Mayer type...

I went to the Exchange yesterday and paid five dollars for Heartbreaker because it's one of my friend's favorites. I can't stop listening to this, this is the best album I've heard in a loooong time.

(Other good finds: A Joan Jett album for 2.50 and Fruit Bats - Echolocation for five dollars. I rule.)

Heartbreaker is why most RA fans remain fans....waiting/hoping for him to reach that level again.

[LindseyRainbow]

The only Ryan Adams cd I own is Gold, and I think it's excellent. I've never heard Heartbreaker, but I'll check it out for sure. He's really cute, but why does everyone keep calling him a jackass? Did he do something or say something? I do agree the "douche" title should be only for the likes of John Mayer. The only time I ever had any respect for that dude was when he toured with Guster. I saw a picture of an Oscar-Meyer hot dog truck, and they had it say, "Guster-Mayer." That was hilarious....

[Pretend Girl]

I hate Guster. I was pushing for NERD/Black Eyed Peas as the big concert on my campus this year, but Guster won the vote. LAME. At least the Strokes came in second, that's not so bad :/

[wdwrongforum]

I bought the new Ryan Adams last week. One or two songs aren't bad. It's not amazing by any means, I guess it could fall into the allright catagory.

[marshallnesta]

wondering if anyone bought love is hell pt. 2? i di and it's much better than pt. 1, which is also quite good...

[ScottMU21]

I have both part 1 and 2 of Love is Hell. I like them equally I'd say. I really enjoy his Wonderwall cover. As far as listening goes, Rock N Roll is a good disc to throw in, especially the songs "1974", "Burning Photographs", and Note to Self: Don't Die". I tend to like his more uptempo rock sounding songs better, which isn't to say I don't like his slow depressing stuff. I think overall though, Gold would probably be my favorite Ryan Adam's album, given its well roundedness. For some reason Heartbreaker doesn't do wonders for me, maybe I need to give it a closer listen.

[Ahankara]

I just got Rock N' Roll for christmas and i think that it is excellent. i like the more rock sound that it has compared to the other albums that I've heard. I like almost every song on it, actually I like every song, just some are more standout.
i also own Gold and Demolition. "cry on demand" is one of my favorite Ryan Adams songs, but i think that Gold is better than Demolition.

[sadgirlseven]

i finally bought both love is hell EPs a few weeks ago and listened to them over and over. they remind me of being in new york last february...there's something snowy about the songs.

but anyway, i really like his more down-tempo material. love the cover of "wonderwall," love "english girls approximately," love "the shadowlands."

i remember the first time i heard "cry on demand." shiv played it on futureworld. and i remember thinking, "god, i wish i'd written this song." sometimes ryan has moments of pure genius. it's too bad he shows us his obnoxious side more often than not.

[classicgrrl]

I agree. I really like Ryan Adams' songwriting but I wish he would get a sense of humor.