One would think that being Ryan Adams would be a pretty good deal at the time of this album's release; he had a major-label deal, critics were in love with him, he got to date Winona Ryder and Alanis Morissette, Elton John went around telling everyone he was a genius, and his record company gave him carte blanche to do whatever he wanted. But to listen to Gold, Adams' first solo album for his big-league sponsors at Lost Highway, one senses that there are about a dozen other musicians Adams would love to be, and nearly all of them were at their peak in the early to mid-'70s. Adams' final album with Whiskeytown, Pneumonia, made it clear that he was moving beyond the scruffy alt-country of his early work, and Gold documents his current fascination with '70s ock. Half the fun of the album is playing "Spot the Influence": "Answering Bell" is a dead ringer for Van Morrison (with fellow Morrison enthusiast Adam Duritz on backing vocals), "Tina Toledo's Street Walkin' Blues" is obviously modeled on the Rolling Stones, "Harder Now That It's Over" sounds like Harvest-period Neil Young, "New York, New York" resembles Stephen Stills in his livelier moments (Stephen's son, Chris Stills, plays on the album), and "Rescue Blues" and "La Cienega Just Smiled" suggest the influence of Adams' pal Elton John. Of course, everyone has their influences, and Adams seems determined to make the most of them on Gold; it's a far more ambitious album than his solo debut, Heartbreaker. The performances are polished, Ethan Johns' production is at once elegant and admirably restrained, Adams is in strong voice throughout, and several of the songs are superb, especially the swaggering but lovelorn "New York, New York," the spare and lovely "When the Stars Go Blue," and the moody closer, "Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd." But while Gold sounds like a major step forward for Adams in terms of technique, it lacks the heart and soul of Heartbreaker or Pneumonia; the album seems to reflect craft rather than passion, and while it's often splendid craft, the fire that made Whiskeytown's best work so special isn't evident much of the time. Gold sounds like an album that could win Ryan Adams a lot of new fans (especially with listeners whose record collections go back a ways), but longtime fans may be a bit put off by the album's richly crafted surfaces and emotionally hollow core.
I am already procrastinating on my "healthy year" resolution, which is not about losing weight or going to the gym more or anything (although those are elements, of course). It's cold and gray outside (seriously, I know it's Jan, but I also live in southern CA, this is weird for me) so I don't want to go to the gym for a morning swim. Even though I really should. I should mention that I did A.M...
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In the same way that I had Rhett stored away in my closet I had put both Gold and Demolition away without much thought. Until someone said to me one day, "do you know who I love?" and so I dug then back up (never one to be over done by anyone). What I found was a pompous asshole with a great voice. I'm pretty convinced he's a jerk (and rather self centered at that) -- but in that sort of Be...
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I can't get this song out of my head, or off my Ipod this week, for real.
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My two week stand on Vine and Santa Monica is coming to a close. Nobody will ever have to know that the two weeks were mostly spent desperately looking for some place to live and just attempting to not get hopelessly lost when I was ventured out to get something to eat.When i look back at it years from now, I will totally romanticize it. There will be starlets, scandal, and debauchery tinged de...
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They played Firecracker on satellite radio at my work last night. It's been ages since I've heard this song. I have to add it to my ever changing Ryan Adams favorites mix CD. I have so many versions but I have to say this one from the leaked Suicide Handbook sessions is my choice for tonight.
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BananaramaInexplicably popular in the early 1980's, but few people think to order it now.Lady GagaExcessive consumption results in being unable to find your drink, man, keys, or phone.Skee-LoMalt liquor served in a shot glass; wishes it was a little bit taller.ShaggyLukewarm Jamaican rum; almost certainly contains a roofie.White ZombieBasically a reanimated White Russian.The Wood BrothersCialis...
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Why wait for the 4th of July when you get start shooting off fireworks at 11:30 the night before,right?? I am waiting for a roman candle to come shooting through my window any second now and put me out of my misery.I can't really complain though. Twenty years ago i would have been doing the exact same thing. It's what kids do. And I can't even knock the parents. I had amazing parents,, but we w...
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la cienega just smiled ~ ryan adams la cienega just smiled (live) ~ ryan adams and the cardinals"and i hold you close in the back of my mind,feels so good, but damn it makes me hurt.and i'm too scared to know how i feel about you now,how i feel about you now.la cienega just smiles and says, 'i'll see you around'"(those lines, right there, they mean so much to me)last night my phone rang and on...
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So I haven't been posting much recently, friends. Simply exhausted, really. But, as part of my new job, I get to listen to music all day long. So, as I was listening to my IPod today, I came across this little gem from the BBC. Hope you enjoy.
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Ryan Adams is an insane genius.You never know what to expect at his shows. Things that I have witnessed:1. Playing guitar and singing along to a record of Madonna's "Like a Virgin."2. Filming a scene for one of his current Youtube videos (see below).3. Improving a song about United Airlines damaging his acoustic guitar on a flight to Denver.Things that I have heard about:1. Ejecting a fan from...
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E-Chords has Ryan Adams tabs and now I can play almost all of Gold, Demolition, and Heartbreaker. Haven't checked out their full collection but this is obviously a great site. Here's the link to RA stuff: http://www.e-chords.com/tabs/idartist/3352.htm.
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Tim McWho?I wonder how Ryan Adams feels about the erroneous credit given to the guy who covered it last. And I wonder if he approved of its use to begin with.Here's to the original.Here's a video. It's the original NY, NY edit dubbed over, kind of weird.Ryan Adams' "When The Stars Go Blue"
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Cpunks,Just a little something to commemorate the day.Here's to all the people directly and/or indirectly affected by the heinous events that day 5 years ago.Tak
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"I'll hold you close in the back of my mind/and raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead/neither of you really help me to sleep anymore." Ryan Adams - La Cienega Just Smiled"Give me your coldest shoulder to cry upon."Longpigs - On & On"I know a man/he came from my hometown/he wore his passion for his woman like a thorny crown." Paul Simon - Slip Slidin' Away"I'm in love with the world/through ...
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Is there such thing as a Big Two Seven? I came into this world 27 years ago, almost to the hour...is that reason worth celebrating? I mean it's my late mid twenties, is that an exciting time, anyone been there? I have mix feelings about it, maybe its Nick Drake and Ryan Adams induced tonight, but I really don't know how much I've accomplished thus far; mmmm four years of college basketball, an ...
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In reading a few posts today I was reminded of a couple artists I haven't taken the time to listen to in quite a while. So I had to revisit them and I remembered why I love them so much. I was just thinking that Ryan Adams is one of the most expressive artists I have ever heard and I've never seen him play either, but he's one of the few people who i don't think you have to see to really feel...
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I am already procrastinating on my "healthy year" resolution, which is not about losing weight or going to the gym more or anything (although those are elements, of course). It's cold and gray outside (seriously, I know it's Jan, but I also live in southern CA, this is weird for me) so I don't want to go to the gym for a morning swim. Even though I really should. I should mention that I did A.M...
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