Unfortunately, I haven't heard any of 29, even though I went out of my way to listen to the first two albums of 2005. I wish I could help, but alas...

However, I did really love Cold Roses. I thought it was just wonderful. Jacksonville City Nights was slightly less up my alley, but still fine, I guess.

When you say that 29 is his weakest of the three from 2005, where would that place it in the larger pantheon of albums released by Ryan Adams?

I loved Cold Roses, too. It REALLY grew on me after repeated listenings. The Cardinals are a great backing band for him. When I listen to Carolina Rain, it sounds as though it could have come right off of Cold Roses...even has references to a Rose...the main character.

I am a little reluctant to rank 29 in the pantheon because so often his stuff just suddenly clicks for me, and I love it. I think the only other Adams album that disappoints me initially MORE than 29 was Demo-lition. That is still the one I listen to the least. Again, it still has some redeemable songs, though.

Anyway, pick up 29, you won't regret it if you liked Cold Roses...just for the sake of Carolina Rain.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

I wonder if, like me, Ryan Adams ever breaks out a copy of Heartbreaker and thinks to himself, "What the hell happened to Ryan Adams?"

What he did with that site is f'-ing hilarious.

I have enjoyed all of Ryan's solo work. What impresses me the most about his albums is that each one has a different style. If you don't like the style, you probably will be disappointed. But, whatever style he tries, he pulls it off.

Heartbreaker was a rambling singer-songwriter sort of album.

Gold was southern rock.

Rock 'n Roll was more alternative/grunge.

Cold Roses was alt-country

Jacksonville City Nights was pure country

29 was more like folk rock (err, having a little trouble classifying it).

If I had to rank his albums, I'd rank them like this:

1. Heartbreaker
2. Cold Roses
3. 29
4. Rock 'n Roll
5. Gold
6. Jacksonville City Nights.

(I don't have Demolition. I don't know why, but I just never got it).

When I hear the comments about Ryan needing an editor, I think of early Elton John. Elton John put out 13 albums between 1969 and 1976, two of which were double albums. Critics often said that he needed an editor and that his work was uneven. But, if you listen to those albums today, the quality of the work was astounding. I would much rather an artist be prolific than have to wait 4 or 6 years between albums.

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:
What he did with that site is f'-ing hilarious.

I twas so insane and... Idk I went through the songs once laughing, confused... but I enjoyed it. Would never buy any of it.... but it was so ridiculous that it was great.

I'd have to agree with the general concensus that he peaked with 'Heartbreaker' but 'Cold Roses' had a few good tracks like 'Magnolia Mountain' & mmmm....that's about it.

I've got to disagree that he peaked with Heartbreaker. Its a journalists concensus.. and a lazy one. He's the best since mitchell, dylan and young.

They've all been great albums, trust your ears.

quote:

Originally posted by Chadders:
I've got to disagree that he peaked with Heartbreaker.

I would wholeheartedly disagree as well. Adams' peak? Stranger's Almanac

quote:

Originally posted by Maximum Jack:

quote:

Originally posted by Chadders:
I've got to disagree that he peaked with Heartbreaker.

I would wholeheartedly disagree as well. Adams' peak? Stranger's Almanac

Are you saying Heartbreaker was weak or that Almanac is head and shoulders above the rest? Or neither?

It seems to me that most music journalism is cut and paste nowadays and there is a global concensus around Ryan Adams.
He peaked with Heartbreaker and then.... too prolific, or a pastiche or its not edited.. and now he's rejuevenated with Easy Tiger, its a return to form. I just don't buy it, I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself but every album has been great. Cold Roses... wow. He's the Kiddie.
Put not your trust in Princes

Sad to say but I've yet to hear one Ryan Adams song. I've been meaning to check out his stuff for ages but never seem to think about it when I'm in a record store.

On another note, this post also makes me sad that pE isn't around anymore. He helped turn me on to Robyn Hitchcock and Matthew Sweet.

quote:

Originally posted by Chadders:
It seems to me that most music journalism is cut and paste nowadays and there is a global concensus around Ryan Adams.
He peaked with Heartbreaker and then.... too prolific, or a pastiche or its not edited.. and now he's rejuevenated with Easy Tiger, its a return to form. I just don't buy it, I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself but every album has been great. Cold Roses... wow. He's the Kiddie.
Put not your trust in Princes

I'll agree that much of his work isn't given the credit that it deserves, but not everything is great. I wasn't that into 29, for instance.

But yeah, Cold Roses is amazing.

quote:

It seems to me that most music journalism is cut and paste nowadays and there is a global concensus around Ryan Adams.

So very true. Although I've only heard a couple of the new Smashing Pumpkins songs (decent but not great in my opinion), I get the feeling this album was going to get pounced on regardless. Corgan has peaked, thus he'll only release shit from here on out. It even happens retrospectively, as it seems critics want rewrite history to fit the story. Case in point, with Corgan, he's been on a steady and inevitable fall since Mellon Collie. Most of the new reviews laugh off the whole "Zwan incident", yet another step down the ladder for Corgan. However, check out the Metacritic score... they all f-ing loved it save for a couple. The same average score as, um, the new Feist! Oh well, there's always gotta be a story, which is heightened by drama, which requires an arc... same goes for Ryan Adams.

Just when I was beginning to believe the hype that came with the press for Easy Tiger, good ol' Ryan shows up again:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/28/people.ryanadams.ap/index.html

I thought he was off the drugs and alcohol and was a reformed man.

I really like the guy's music, but he does make it difficult with his antics. I can't say that I'd ever go to see him do a concert.

What is the probability that this is all just for publicity? Or to construct some sort of persona? Or he's just a dork?

Anyone heard him doing Is This It?

quote:

music, but he does make it difficult with his antics. I can't say that I'd ever go to see him do a concert

My brother just saw him last night in Santa Barbara and said he was very good. He has been known to be too drunk or high at times to put on a good concert though.

Whiskeytown are IMHO second only to Wilco and Uncle Tupelo as an alt-country act. Although Ryan has made lots of bad music, I can forgive him for anything he's done, because Pneumonia and Heartbreaker are brilliant, brilliant albums. Ryan Adams is a smug jerk in real life, but as I said he made Pneumonia. That's all I need to forgive and acredit him with hero status.

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