Ryan Adams. Uninspired copycat or the future of rockn'roll?

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No thread on him on ILM yet. Unbelievable. I saw him last week live in Frankfurt and he and his band "The Sweetheart Revolution" rawked. They did country ballads as well as punk songs with three guitarists. And everything sounded authentic. One of the best concerts I have ever seen. Pure energy and emotion. What do you think? Will Ryan save rock music?

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

and please do not mention "The Strokes" in this thread...

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

the words "coffee" and "table" spring to mind.

― Reckless, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm curious as to what you mean by "authentic" here Alex. Authentically punk/country? Or just "authentic" in a general, existential sense?

― Tim, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It means 'sweaty'.

― Dr. C, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tim, I mean authentic in the sense that they played country as a pure country band and punk as a pure punk band. There was nothing artificial or unnatural in there. What they played seemed to me heartfelt. But please let us not discuss about words but about Adams and his relevance for today's rock music.

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

...about Adams and his relevance for today's rock music.
Please God, don't let him have any...

― Arien, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sweaty.

― Dr. C, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

He does what he does very well. Whether what he does is of any import, I'm not so sure.

― Pete, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Heartbreaker is one of the finest records of the last ten years and if I didn't have a European Law lecture I would explain why. Maybe later. [Cop out].

― powertonevolume, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Who needs Ryan Adams in the wake of Paul Westerberg?

Ryan needs to wash his hair.

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Seeing the cover of "Gold" immediately made me dislike him. Reading about him made me dislike him. Thanking Adam Duritz in the liner notes really made me dislike him. But a friend really insisted that I give him a listen and it's quite good actually. I wish I could separate sound and image, but it's impossible for me not to consider the whole package. When I see Ryan Adams, "authentic" is the last word I'd use to describe him. Of course, maybe he really is a sincere fellow and it's just the way they're pushing him.

― alex in montreal, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

He probably is an arrogant conceited ass-hole but the music he makes is phantastic. Especiall live though the two solo records are very good as well. In the concert he said to someone in the audience: "Sorry that your girl-friend has a crush on me." But he somehow can get away with this. He also got away with being 2.5 hours late.

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I mean authentic in the sense that they played country as a pure country band and punk as a pure punk band

Why, did they ride horses through ghost towns half the time and gob on the Queen the other half? Authenticity and purity are as phony as any other label you can paste on pop.

― fritz, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I will resist the "save rock music" blah blah.

If anything, he'll achieve a Stephen-King-esque ubiquity, with FIVE ALBUMS currently in production. Robert Pollard ain't got nothin' on him.

― David Raposa, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Is that the first time all three Alexs have posted in a row on the same thread??

― Tom, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You mean it's not just one person assuming different names?

― powertonevolume, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Authenticity and purity are as phony as any other label you can paste on pop.
Maybe I should have said refreshing instead of authentic. In any case Ryan Adams music sounds like music you have already heard but it is not hackneyed at all. There is something very youthful in that music. He sounds almost better than the originals be it The Stones, Springsteen, Neil Young or whoever.

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't really like commenting on albums unless I have them sitting in front of me wafting around the room - when I comment in a state such as this I normally get things wrong and look a fool but... The sparse guitar on HB and Ryan's knack of melody reminds a lot of Kurt Cobain's way with a simple chord progression. Also Ryan's lyrical nous is often underrated (or under-observed) - the use of language on HB is nothing short of strange, awkward, clumsy, inspired on HB which all combine to help trace the line from Ryan's break-up (oh yes, this is the break-up record) to the suicide handbook.

And that voice like a brillo pad dipped in honey.

There's more, and more, and more to say about this album but I don't have it here. Damn.

― powertonevolume, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Gold on the other hand feels like Ryan has spent all of one hour on each composition (from writing the song to recording it). The lyrics are consistently banal, the guitars try to shimmer but fizzle awkwardly - the lazy monthlies (starting with Uncut and snowballing) all said it played like a Where's Wally of Sixties/Seventies Rock (side question: can so many reviewers all come to the same conclusion, consistently OR do they all just read and copy the first insightful review of the album?)

It's wrong to say that Ryan is the new David Gray (not only because its wrong to say anyone is the new anyone) as the comparison doesn't hold other than that the songwriting on Ryan's Gold is as mind- numbingly dull as any of Gray's songs.

But those Whiskeytown albums, oh man. And Heartbreaker - where HB came from I'll never know. I don't think it can be extrapolated from the Whiskeytown albums. Let's hope that Ryan pays a bit more attention to his next batch of songs (and applies some of that self- editing that davd q rightfully says that singer-songwriter's require).

― powertonevolume, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Argh, doesn't Ryan also thank Alanis Morisette about fifteen times in the liner notes as well? Argh! What an ASSHOLE! Negating *ANY* implied Punk Rock hipness by also thanking founding Circle Jerk Keith Morris and ex-Nashville Pussy bass-babe, Corey Parks.

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.twintone.com/mats-scrapbook/gh84/gh84_paul2.jpeg

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Isn't there a fourth Alex out there somewhere? Are all the Alexes male?

I'm sorry, the Alex phenomenon is much more interesting to me than Ryan Adams.

― Arthur, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Alex in SF to thread! :-)

― Jeff W, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Uninsipired copycat and the future of rock'n'roll.

Fear the future.

― Sterling Clover, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Actual Future of Rock'n'Roll.....

http://www.sputnik7.com/sitelet/site-osc-dis/images/s7tv- standby.gif

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yesterday I was going to post a thread called "Just How Many Alexs Are There?" but I decided against it.

― Mitch Lastnamewithheld, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Maybe Adams is just a normal bloke like you and me. Check this interesting interview from the Daily Iowan. He says: "I'm just some guy from North Carolina with a guitar and some songs." I am still waiting for a substantial post of someone who does not like Ryan Adams. I must admit that my way of putting the question was extremely clumsy. But nevertheless most of the answers in this thread are total bollocks. Has anyone of the critics ever seen Ryan Adams live? Or did at least listen to Heartbreaker and Gold (incl. bonus disc!)? I Love Music becomes more and more destructive. And I find that quite sad.

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Is that authentic, I mean, for real, oh, genuine, you know, DOES THAT SPUTNIK 7 THING ACTUALLY EXIST alex in nyc? Blimey how rockist am I? As if Dr Teeth and the Electirc whatevah are any less "real" that the Stones or NSync or Sunny Ade. What I suppose I mean is , are there or will there be Sputni 7 recording I can actually listen to, instead of just imagine? Anyway it looks fab and I hope to consume something soundwise v.soon. Ryan A = pub rock for arenas.

― mark s, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"I Love Music becomes more and more destructive. And I find that quite sad."

― Tim, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ryan A = pub rock for arenas.
Listen to Heartbreaker Mark and you'll change your mind.

― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Mark S.

Get thyself to www.madcapsulemarkets.com

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

From that "Daily Iowan" interview you lined to:

"Gold was written about a lot of things, but it is also a very personal record and can be looked at as a letter to Winona," kind of undercuts the "authenticity" of "I'm just some guy from North Carolina with a guitar and some songs."

― fritz, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Subject: Bryan Adams. Future of Uninspired Rock'n'Roll?
Cool...now Generation Y has its own Billy Joel!

― Lord Custos, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Isn't madcapsule those 3 japaneese guys (?) in shiny white plastic Gundam armour? The Imperial Stormstroopers of J-Rave?

― Lord Custos, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

he wrote a letter to winona = he is alright by me (ps this is nonsense i nevah listen to any of my soul asylum rekkids these days)

i am a bit extremely bawed with the wall-to- wall hate also alex2, so i may check him out on a chuck eddy-type tip (yay mellencamp etc); i think he looks a twerp mind you where those capsule ppl look top

― mark s, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, the Mad Capsule Markets are an insane Japanese trio who dress like imperial Stormtroopers. Sort've a cross between Gwar, Kraftwerk, Atari Teenage Riot and H.R. Puffn'stuff.

AND......they covered Killing Joke's "Wardance," which means they -- and rightfully so --- HONOR THE FIRE!

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

taking sides: r.adams doing wardance vs b.knowles doing wardance?!?

(m.jackson doing wardance wd be SUPERB!! but not i suspect going to happen)

― mark s, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Michael Jackson meeting a swift and untimely death by having his bizarre head lopped off by a big, rusty machete would be SUPERB.

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

haha you said untimely your true feelings reveal themselves!! honor the wacko!

― mark s, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Gold's slower, softer tracks i.e. the most Heartbreaker-esque ones, seem the most effective. The rockin' ones with the exception of "Gonna Make You Love Me" fall flat or just drag on and on, or are marred by some backup singer who won't shut the hell up. If Gold were like 8 or 9 tracks, it'd be a beaut. Heartbreaker I adore.

― bnw, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not sure if he's "the future of rock n roll" but I think he will likely have a long, successful career. He is a superb songwriter. All 3 Whiskeytown albums are Classic and the solo stuff isn't bad either. I like Gold better than Heartbreaker though.

― Mark M, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i must be missing something because for a roots rocker it seems he should have some sort of emotive voice but he is just a dull sort of raspy who consistently misses the mark, his rock songs don't rock and the quiet ones are too often ruined by his lack of a sensitive touch. really the most dreadful thing going currently. i'd take bryan adams anyday, 'cut's like a knife' and 'summer of '69' easily outshine all 87 ryan adams records.

― keith, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

There's a reticence in his voice that bothers me. Like he's "aiming the pitch" instead of "just throwing it". Johnny Cougar doesn't have this problem so I like him better.

But Alex (in the Man-hizzy) may have something with this "future of rock n roll" thing.

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Two concert accounts I found on the usenet:

In the first one from Melbourne it says:"I have never been to a concert by such an artist that comes across so unrehearsed in a good way if you get my drift" (that's what I meant by authentic: improvised and direct)

The second account is from a concert in LA. The reviewer says: "After the first set, Adams had the whole place in the palm of his hand. He comes out for a second set, and the crowd was ready to be blown away; he could've killed us all with a blast of defiant rock." But Ryan then decided to play his calmer Heartbreaker stuff on solo guitar.

― alex in mainhattan, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Powertone is on the money about Heartbreaker. I don't give a shit if Adams is going to save rock and roll, or if he is a dickhead, or if he needs a haircut, or about any of the stupid crap he comes out with. Heartbreaker is an amazing album, and at the risk of sounding cliched, "you all should go out and listen to it before you knock him". Or don't. I don't mind.

― Ronan, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, the Mad Capsule Markets are an insane Japanese trio who dress like imperial Stormtroopers. Sort've a cross between Gwar, Kraftwerk, Atari Teenage Riot and H.R. Puffn'stuff.
Are we *sure* they aren't really just Shonen Knife in disguise. That armour only lets you see their eyes...barely...and then only up close. The Moment they lower their visors, you won't even be able to tell they are people at all.
AND......they covered Killing Joke's "Wardance," which means they -- and rightfully so --- HONOR THE FIRE!
So, eventually they'll get in their robeast e-frame exoshell and decamp to Iceland right before the Archon invasion fleet destoys human civilization, yes?

― Lord Custos, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

i think when the box set is released and more people listen to the suicide handbooks sessions and 48 hours and stuff they're gonna change their minds about RA's voice. those records are so emotive and he's using his voice in so many different ways. he's such a versatile singer and he's just getting better. i think his next releases will be him recapturing the rawness of emotions from heartbreaker and the experimentation from gold and trying to meld them into something cohesive and affecting.

― Holly Barnes (teardrop), Sunday, 14 September 2003 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

i think when the box set is released

I whimper in terror.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 14 September 2003 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Holly, his falsetto is annoying. In fact, his whole upper register is annoying. I find it cloying. I don't find it emotive at all, I think it sounds like he's trying too hard.

He, like Stephen King, has always needed a better editor.

― don weiner, Monday, 15 September 2003 00:16 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

biggest knobber around...

X-clusive: Ryan Adams Goes Mental At Xfm
http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=17091

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 22 January 2004 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

After a quick rehearsal the singer then stormed out of the studio claiming his vocals "Sounded shit",

imagine that.

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Thursday, 10 March 2005 19:35 (twenty years ago)

I liked him a lot better back when he did "Summer Of 69", "Run To You" and "Somebody" ;)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 11 March 2005 01:54 (twenty years ago)

I saw him at Bridge Benefit a couple of years ago, he bored me to tears.
But then I heard his cover of Wonderwall on the radio a while back, & decided to give him another chance. I have Love Is Hell Pt.1, and there's just something about his writing, or singing, that makes me not quite ready to dismiss him out of hand. But he's a complete spaz, so who knows.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 11 March 2005 04:08 (twenty years ago)

I like Heartbreaker but fuck the rest.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Friday, 11 March 2005 05:24 (twenty years ago)

Is there a thread on the phenomenon of pidgeon-toed guitar pose? You know, like on the cover of Adams' RocknRoll album? It was cool when Elvis Costello did it, but no more. If I ran things, folks'd get their feet chopped off for pulling that shit.

― Heidy- Ho, Friday, 11 March 2005 09:05 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

only one of these people have gone platinum, if even gold

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 5 June 2005 15:23 (twenty years ago)

Is it Kelly?

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Sunday, 5 June 2005 15:27 (twenty years ago)

Meg.

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 5 June 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

I knew. Wz joking. Yay Meg.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Sunday, 5 June 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

http://www.bobgruen.com/potda/0902/ryanadams/Ryan8028813_Gruen.gif
Ryan's passion comes through in his music and I wanted to capture that in the images I made for him.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 5 June 2005 15:33 (twenty years ago)

Ryan's twattery comes through in his music and I wanted to capture that in the images I made for him.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Sunday, 5 June 2005 15:34 (twenty years ago)

Ryan 'Hugely Punchable' Adams

― dame Aunt Sally (dameauntsally), Sunday, 5 June 2005 15:44 (twenty years ago)

...as his mother calls him.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Sunday, 5 June 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

Marianne and Ryan were joined by Rufus Wainright & Melissa Auf Der Mar for a chat about painting and art.

It's almost like a children's book.

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

Ryan and the Creative, Sociable All-Good, Very Hip Day

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

Ryan: "So I was just finishing my new painting when I ran out of Number 3."

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:45 (twenty years ago)

I've never wanted to kill a photograph before, but I'm feeling homicidal over that Ryan/Craig/Kelly Osbourne photo

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

I'm thinking about photoshopping my head from this halloween photo onto Ryan in that Kelly Osbourne/Meg White shot.

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

Please tell me that Bob Gruen page isn't real. (I mean, it is, but I want to beat him now.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:56 (twenty years ago)

Ryan Adams is really just a hipster Lynndie England, isn't he

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 5 June 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

Does that mean he can excuse his actions via mental incompetency? I'm not having that.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 5 June 2005 17:00 (twenty years ago)

it means he rapes his listeners aurally and then mocks them with a jaunty cool-pose!

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 5 June 2005 17:01 (twenty years ago)

And what does Ryan do after weeks of partying and a long night at his art opening? He goes back to a studio at 2AM to finish his new recording project!

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 5 June 2005 17:03 (twenty years ago)

recording project = drunk dialing sun-times offices

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Sunday, 5 June 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

Okay, this page is the Greatest Find of All Time. At least this morning.

Is it just me, or does this shot give Kelly O. a more-than-passing resemblance to Emperor Palpatine?

http://www.bobgruen.com/potda/0902/ryanadams/KellyCraigRyan.gif

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Sunday, 5 June 2005 17:11 (twenty years ago)

haha I originally found it way back when google pic'n for Kelly. *blush*

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 5 June 2005 17:26 (twenty years ago)

MEMORIES of YOU! - Ryan Adams gig - w4m - 30
Reply to: anon-77113592@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-06-05, 1:23PM EDT

Howdy ho hello there - this is a complete long shot but what the hey...

I was standing next to you last night - you were wearing a green shirt and jeans...and you answered my Q about "Memories of you" - wanted to say "thanks cute boy in green!" gonna go pick up the album today...if you happen to read this I'd love to get together and chit chat about music! YAY!

* this is in or around Starland Broom
* no -- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

― Cool Hand Luuke (ex machina), Sunday, 5 June 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

He had this to say in Today's Pitchfork Interview:

"I wish I were the Swans, but I'm not."

Despite points off for the direct article, this namecheck made me like him more. I don't believe it, of course. Sounds like a placeholder for "cool in a lower-east-side way." But it made me like him more anyway.

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Monday, 25 July 2005 21:19 (twenty years ago)

like him more or hate him less?

― Fetchboy (Felcher), Monday, 25 July 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

maybe a little of both...

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 05:15 (twenty years ago)

"I like that Lightning Bolt is just two guys. It doesn't sound like two guys!"

― lightning bolt's lightning bolt, Tuesday, 26 July 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

woah!

― N_RQ, Tuesday, 26 July 2005 12:11 (twenty years ago)

I wonder if alex in manhattan ended his life after posting to this thread.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

how long til Ryan Adams makes his

trip hop album?
crunk album?
grime album?
'77 punk album?
noise album?

etc
etc
etc

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

"Adams: I mean, don't do that! It's not nice. (laughs) I'm not always nice, but fuck. I think if I could start treating this whole thing like I was in the entertainment business, put on more of façade, get the songs down to just the ones that are remotely popular, because I won't have any hits-- I mean God, imagine that-- and only do those, and do them the same way, and always say (in European accent, again): "Hello, welcome, good evening!" And get some color-coordinated outfits, and a cool logo, and maybe I would fare better. But something tells me that the schtick is that there is no schtick. You know, just little old, bipolar, off-balance me. And whatever fucking romantic grumbling I'm on about."

Entertaining interview, though...

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

Pitchfork: Do you like Wolf Eyes?

Adams: Oh yeah, fuck, Wolf Eyes! Didn't someone just die from that band?

Pitchfork: I don't think so. Do you mean Guitar Wolf?

Adams: They did a record on Ecstatic Peace, right? Thurston's label? I mean, they're pretty severe.

Pitchfork: Yeah, but they're on Sub Pop now.

Adams: Are they?

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 26 July 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

Okay, this question might have been more appropriate to the conversation here (Can I please, please, PLEASE start a Ryan Adams "Cold Roses" thread?), but I cannot get enough of Kelly O as Emperor Palpatine...

Anyhoo, has anyone heard the new Ryan Adams single ("The Hardest Part," pre-released on iTMS August 30)? Curious whose shoes he's trying on this time around...

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 05:20 (twenty years ago)

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