Friday, July 18, 2008

Ryan Adams-Heartbreaker


Year: 2000
Record Label: Bloodshot records
Track Listing:
01. (Argument With David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey)
02. To Be Young
03. My Winding Wheel
04. Amy
05. Oh My Sweet Carolina
06. Bartering Lines
07. Call Me On Your Way Back Home
08. Damn Sam
09. Come pick Me Up
10. To Be The One
11. Why Do You Leave?
12. Shakedown In 9th Street
13. Don’t Ask For The Water
14. In My Time Of Need
15. Sweet Lil gal
Ryan Adams Heartbreaker begins with Adams and Rawlings arguing about a Morrissey song 'Suedehead' and which album that it’s on.
A strange way to start an album, but something that is typical of Adams. It’s really hard to pinpoint what genre to describe Adams. He’s a country boy with a dark attitude, and his music tends to crossover into many different genres.

Personally I would describe him more as a folk singer with rock, blues and country flooding through the blood in his veins.
Maybe, even go, as close as to describe him as a modern day
Bob Dylan, if I dare.

If you’re feeling down and out then this probably isn’t the best album for you to listen to. Dark, deep and melancholy, Adams oozes heartbreak, indefinite sadness and bitter anger. All these things he does very well, and as always “Heartbreaker” is another well-written Adams album.

There are upbeat songs on the album, such as the second track 'To Be Young' and 'Shakedown on 9th Street' but as the titled album suggests this album focuses on broken relationships and the aftermath.

'Come Pick Me Up' is just brilliant with it’s lines, “Steal all my records, screw all my friends…why stop there?” which is the tale of a breakup gone badly.One of the most beautiful songs on the album is My Sweet Carolina, in which
Emmylou Harris sings harmonies.
Adams has a few different guest vocalists on his album, including Kim Richey, Harris, and Allison Pierce.
One of the things I love best about this album is Ryan Adams gravally voice. Not only does he share with us the darkness and anger through his lyrics, but also through his voice.
Expressive in every song, you really can feel his emotions in particularly on “Oh my sweet Carolina”, as he talks about home. Truly Beautiful music.
If you love the likes of Jack Johnson, Damian Rice, Adam Cohen and John Mayer than Ryan Adams really should be checked out.
This is some of his finest work and a real infusion of rock, county, folk and blues combined together to create something special.

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