A reader sent us this Ryan Adams fansite link asking us if the post (copied below) is bullshit. All signs point to … did you people learn nothing from Jeff Mangum?!
CLARIFICATION: I didn’t mean to imply that Ryan was lying, but that I thought it was posted by an imposter. Amrit investigated beyond my cursory glance and believes it is Mr. Adams, so … this is good news or bad depending on whether you’re a fan.
UPDATE: Ryan has taken some time to respond to your comments. Play nice!
ALBUM NEWS- three new albums again this year (i hope)
Author: whatever its Ryan
7/13/06 5:15:31 AM
First record is getting mixed and mastered while we are on the road. Its the first of three. Its solo.
Its called “Blackhole”. Johnny on drums, me on everythinbg else. lots of raw guitar and kinda sexy/ damaged tunes. My favorite easily.
Second record. I am in the studio as we speak finishing it. Its a double record, meaning around 30 songs. Its called, and I know its bogus but I dont care, its called “War and Peace”. Its about cleaning up my act. I play everything and it has every style, every true guitar part, every type of soing (sometimes within one tune) to express what I have been going thru for awhile. Its hard to listen to back for me lyrically but musically all over the map. punkish stuff, some sabbath garteful mix, some silly pop, smiths disco, and sonic youth vibes and me and the songs on the piano like everything dies, and dont get sentimental and lighthnouses.
the third, CARDINALS, we started this already before our break before rehearsals for this tour, and we have 16 tracks, but half of those are good enough and half arent. “Two hearts” “Two” and a few others people might remember from past live shows are included. its gonna have just 11 songs, just 11 so maybe that”ll shut em” up after rest. no album title for that. might be called “star wars” if we caan get away with it as there is a badass tune called starwars on there. its pretty funny/ stoney.
So everybody thats the word. Time and Label willing and if Jamie C. and I can keep up and I can the art done in time, we are in buisness.
Ill work on the art in the bus before gigs maybe.
again sorr for the web site delay, its coming, there alot of people on it, and Dave, your site is going ace and the folks seem to dig it and get their fun in too. I got yr. email but the password you gave me doesnt work so i just been usuing this.
SPRING US- CARDINALS
CALI- CARDS
FIN CARDS REC> RECORDS COME OUT (fingers crosses)…
FALL UK IRE SCOT SPAIN SWEDEN NORWAY FRANCE SCAND> who knows.
thats all folks.
btw I “HIGHLY” recommend ‘Undewrworld 1″ and “Underworld Evolution” on DVD. total after session fishtanker.
xx
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“play everything and it has every style”
even dance-punk?
i think the best is the shameless self-promoting Dave does for his site: “dave, your site is going ace and the folks seem to dig it”
who wastes this much time writing bogus news?
Too bad Ryan can’t put out one really good album instead of 3 average albums.
if that bastard puts out another 3 albums ill…. i love ryan but only bought worthy (as a single disc) cold roses and 29 (shit except for first 2 tracks) when he did the treble last. he could have made the most amazing double album from all 3.. instead he…well – nothing that hasnt been said before. frustrating genius bastard bitch
in there defense he has posted on there before under that name
I love Ryan Adams, but seriously–another 3 albums? Dude needs to be slapped in the balls. Twice.
Ryan Adams needs to go away and never come back again. Ever.
dude writes some killer tunes, though, kids. and if he puts out 3 more this year – he knows folks like me will buy them. so whatever. he’ll get my cash.
Of the last three, Cold Roses was pretty damn good and Jacksonville wasn’t bad. 29…I dunno, but still, for actually being able to put out two decent albums in one year makes him better than Bright Eyes.
Ryan who? I thought he died in a plane crash right after “Heartbreaker” came out, and never made another record.
Oh, sorry; that’s just what I like to pretend.
Quality is always better than quantity, but Ryan Adams has both. Anyone who says otherwise is not paying close enough attention to his music.
…and anyone who jokes about someone else dying in a plane crash is a sicko. If you don’t like his music, don’t listen to it. He’s not forcing anyone to buy his album or go to his shows.
Has anybody else here heard Tim McGraw’s surprisingly good version of Ryan’s “When the Stars Go Blue”? My vote is for him to become a songwriter /collaborative partner a la Linda Perry, except working with rock and country acts rather than pop. Another three albums of mostly blandness is more than I can handle, although Jacksonville City Nights I will totally stand behind.
Yeah, when he posted before to that board there was mass rampant speculation about an impostor. Even I had serious, serious doubts (I mean, come on). But then everything he wrote about in the post proved true during the next several shows on the tour, and little facts he mentioned in the post were played out in real life.
So my money is on true, and also that Blackhole disc sounds fantastic. I still think Love is Hell is his best work.
i find it very interesting that people, who are in their rights, to critique records, actually spend time/ have the balls to go so far as to judge the process of how records or made, or how often. As if the process and the selection of songs or the concepts were open to the listener, like a record by an artist was a collective expierence even before a record was done.
As somebody who makes records, loves making records in fact, and loves writing songs, I can say honestly that no matter how bad a record may seem to suck or how little it means to a listener, they do not appear as if my magic without a thoughtful process. It isnt as though a person is standing in front of a recording machine thinking, how can i most effectively waste my own time. The MEAN SOMETHING to the person who makes them. And to be inspired to want to create something that doesnt hurt other people and is come kind of expression of their expierence on earth is by far a better way to spend ones time than to be judgemental and threatened by it.
Music is a conversation. Its open. Its not as if by releasing a record someone is banging on your door demanding you listen. its just a record. so as an adult, make decisions and decided if you want to or dont want to listen to someone when they make music. but you know, people can try and be alittle bit bigger than to demonise someone for playing music. funny how it matters so much to people at what rate music is made as if that affected its meaning. my records mean something to me, and some songs mean things to some people and others mean nothing. thats the point. a shared expierence. i wake up to play music and i enjoy every minute and it can be alot to work on that much music at once. i like to think i work as hard on writing than anything else i do. and to have people invalidate what it means to share my expierences in a song because there are “too many” and to hear people say things like- one record would have been awesome, but three was stuipd is really boring and just sounds bitter. its as if you were overcharged. my records dont cost more because there are more songs. in fact cold roses was regular priced and i made sure of it by losing money to make it available to people as one piece of music. its just information. vital to the story i am telling. so its pretty weird to hear people talk about there being too much information and they would be more informed about my mjsic if there were less. alot of music doesnt make it onto records its doesnt fit the theme or is our of context or simply it is crap. i dont put that music out. but i work my ass off and snake my way through so much red tape and fight so hard to put the records i want to reflect who i am into a public forum where people can choose to listen or not. and i am not asking to be rewarded for it, but if its not your scene then cool. but dont go doggin on somebody cause they want to fucking pick up a pen and tell a story. if these people are so eductaed about the recording process and how records should be, then may i ask, “Where is your record”. i imagine there isnt one and if there were to be, they would have to work on it until its perfect. till its 11 songs and they are all essential. so thats my 2 cents. back to the studio. i hope people find their own way and learn to stop hating on everything. hate is the new smart it seems, and the new “smart” is pretty stupid.
have a nice weekend.
ryan jefferson starship double album adams
and yes, its me. i dont fucking care. its not like i have a reputation worth protecting. really.
As the title says – who cares.
http://www.musictimes.com.au
If that’s really Ryan, and I tend to believe that it is, he as point. Do I wish he’d make my job easier by pruning his output? You bet. But it’s not my choice. It’s his record(s), not mine. He’s not a jukebox. If he were I could actually get him to perform a wicked version of “Summer of ’69″, but that’s not going to happen. Instead I have to face the sometimes challenging aspects of being a fan.
I’d rather face the challenge of wading through through the voluminous collection than not have the collection at all.
my personal take on ryan adams is: i generally think he sucks, and then will regularly hear 1 of his songs i don’t know outta the blue and say, “wow that’s fucking amazing!!”
… i believe he wrote that post, and that’s cool, and he has a point, but, as someone who HAS criticized his overly-prolific output at times, i’d say: i honestly can’t judge the 3 albums you put out critically because i haven’t listened to them. i think it’s just about the approach different people have to art.
maybe it’s a dionysean/apollonian thing, but i just feel that an artistic statement can be much more powerful by what isn’t said as much as by what IS said. the powerful and brilliant songs you write are diluted by the mediocre ones you include in their proximity, and the power of the overall album decreases as well. i think a lotta people feel that way …
I still say he’s better than Bright Eyes.
I believe just because I want to always refer to him as “ryan jefferson starship double album adams” from now on.
I like the idea of Ryan more than the reality, but I’m sure if I went and looked through the last few records of his I’d find songs I liked (with the exception of 29 which I did hear and that just sucked) but by putting out absolutely everything Ryan makes it harder than it ought to be. Someone outside of the cult should put together an iTunes playlist or something.
The more the better. Rock on Ryan!
I’ve certainly never doubted Ryan Adam’s love for music, his drive to produce quality songs, or his motivations as an artist. However, I think his response reads as if he assumes most of the world thinks he’s greedy.
But I think he (if it is indeed Adams) misses the point: It’s not JUST quality. It’s how quantity is affecting quality.
Great songwriters, great artists recognize that flooding the industry with available product (no matter the quality of the art) will cheapen the overall message. Because there is a new Ryan Adams album every four months, I don’t hold every new release in such a state of anticipation.
A small part of “greatness” as an artist is determined by hype. And when Adams’ records are so available and numerous, the hype dies quickly.
I think that all three records Adams released last year were sound albums — better than much of the twaddle that dropped alongside it. But what’s the harm in releasing so many so fast?
I meant in that last part: “what’s the benefit in releasing so many so fast?”
I’m glad to get four new Ryan albums a year because even the worst song on any given Ryan Adams album is better than 90% of the shit that gets released every year.
And while I agree that 29 was the weakest album of his entire career (including Whiskeytown albums), “Blue Sky Blues” alone made it worth the price of admission.
I STILL say “Summer of 69″ RULES!!
Ah, but people will criticize?whether it’s to praise or to pan?anything that is released to the world for consumption. However, I don’t think anyone could accuse Ryan Adams’ prolific-ness as motivated by greed. I equate the so-called quantity issue to the attentions of a slightly smothering boyfriend. I veer between thinking, “I’m more overwhelmed than filled with anticipation” and “Well, if I’m not into this album, there’s be another by next week.”
“Jacksonville City Nights” was very much up my alley.
I think that Ryan hit the point that everyone else has been missing – he put out 3 albums last year because of the genres of the albums.
If you think all the albums sound the same then you obviously haven’t listened – very few tracks would have fit onto JCN from CR and vice versa. The tracks from 29 wouldn’t have fit on either JCN or CR but all 3 are quality albums, they’re all just different. Ryan wanted to push out 3 different albums in one year, so he did. It looks like he’s going to do it again so don’t think for a second that all 3 will be the same – he’s already editing the songs that don’t belong, the reason for the 3 releases is because he feels that each album is filled with great songs that fit a particular mood – that’s what making an album is all about.
I also really agree with his statement that those who are bitching really have no idea about what making an album really entails – I’ve made 3 with my band now and it’s painful. We write and write and write then we have to record and cut and record…still, people will tell us we should have cut down from a 15 track album to a 12 because certain songs weren’t strong…all along we though 20 songs were strong enough. Funny thing is, no one can ever agree on what the ‘weak’ songs are.
That’s just my 2 cents, keep on rockin’ Ryan!
What a bunch of crap written by a bunch of people who don’t even know how to apostrophise properly. All 3 albums of last year were perfect. 29 is a masterpiece. Yeah, if you don’t like the records – don’t buy them. But what’s wrong with you people? Don’t you have ears? Are there a bunch of earless people somewhere in some town, posting on this site? I don’t get it.
i think i’ll just wait for the greatest hits…..if you throw enough shit at a wall, some of its gonna stick……
wow. it seems obvious to me that, as an artist, one would want to document their obsession or visions as truthfully and effectively as possible, and multiple songs on multiple albums doesn’t have anything to do with “hype” or “greatness”. Ryan’s music is like a painter’s studio, full of wonderfully realized masterpieces and partially sketched concepts. any great musician or band have these elements. I think Ryan’s music is timeless and stands tall along a horizon of terribly dull music by his peers.
Wow, geez. Take a deep breath everybody. Let the guy put out whatever he wants. If he likes to make albums all quick and spontaneous like, what does it matter to you? Don’t like it, don’t buy it. If he doesn’t OD, he’ll live long enough to make some great albums. Like really great. Listen to heartbreaker and tell me he don’t have skills.
My favorite part: “we started this already before our break before rehearsals for this tour, and we have 16 tracks, but half of those are good enough and half arent.”
Wow, WTF? Since when does he throw songs away? He must have been REALLY stoned when he wrote that shite.
Oh and I love the guy, but let’s not deify him please.
John, I’m confused. I understand that all three records were of entirely different genres. I understand that not only is Adams 100% in his right to produce whatever he wants, but that most of his stuff is tons better than most other crap.
What I don’t understand is what you ignore in your response: why would such a talented songwriter be SATISFIED with “partially sketched concepts” when he is clearly capable of creating masterpieces?
To me, it smacks of arrogance.
And I know that the general response has been, “but if Ryan DIDN’T release all three albums last year, he would have compromised his integrity as an artist!”
All I’m asking is how much Adams’ music speaks for him — how much the quantity of his music affects the overall quality.
Not questioning his right to create, his motivations, or his musical genius.
I wish he would release 8 albums a year. I would buy every single one of them.
The man is amazing.
Agreed. I think he is one of the mos talented songwriters alive, without a doubt. Of the three albums released last year, I loved Cold Roses, loved JCN, and although I wasn’t a big fan of 29, Strawberry Wine was worth the release of the album. It’s a classic.
The man is very prolific, but as a Ryan fan, some of my favorite songs of his are Bsides or unreleased.
Put out whatever you want Ryan. Just stop listening to the douches criticizing you for it.
MY OPINION! MY OPINION! MY OPINION! SOME OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS WHO POST HERE ARE WRONG! MY OPINION! SOME OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS WHO POST HERE ARE WRONG! SLIGHT INSULT TO PEOPLE WHO POST HERE WHO’S OPINION I DON’T AGREE WITH! VAGUE SUMMARY LINE OF THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH FOR THOSE WHO ONLY SKIMMED IT.
I like the idea of Ryan more than the reality, but I’m sure if I went and looked through the last few records of his I’d find songs I liked (with the exception of 29 which I did hear and that just sucked) but by putting out absolutely everything Ryan makes it harder than it ought to be. Someone outside of the cult should put together an iTunes playlist or something.
what are you TALKING ABOUT? did you even read his post? he doesn’t care if you like his songs or not, he just doesn’t want to be constantly trashed for releasing songs that he wrote and recorded because he WANTED TO and because they meant something to him. he’s not putting out 5 million songs because he wants to make money off of them. why would he prune his art so YOU won’t have anything to complain about? make your own damn mix of the songs you like, you spoiled asshole.
clem wrote:
” I like the idea of Ryan more than the reality, but I’m sure if I went and looked through the last few records of his I’d find songs I liked (with the exception of 29 which I did hear and that just sucked) but by putting out absolutely everything Ryan makes it harder than it ought to be. Someone outside of the cult should put together an iTunes playlist or something.”
————————————————-
what are you TALKING ABOUT? did you even read his post? he doesn’t care if you like his songs or not, he just doesn’t want to be constantly trashed for releasing songs that he wrote and recorded because he WANTED TO and because they meant something to him. he’s not putting out 5 million songs because he wants to make money off of them. why would he prune his art so YOU won’t have anything to complain about? make your own damn mix of the songs you like, you spoiled asshole.
I have to go with Blah Blah Blah on this one….
i love ryan adams and all of his work.
i’m a fan, so this is good news if true. thanks for the post.
not all of his stuff is great, but some really is. further, none of my favourite artists – in any medium – have consistently hit home-runs. that’s kind of the point, no? to try different attempts at self-expression, and hope some connect with an audience?
i still don’t get the argument that he releases too much material. if you don’t like him, just ignore it. how is criticizing him for being prolific in any way a valid point? then again, i personally think celine dion is too prolific. way too prolific.
Looking forward to it, actually. And no, he’s not better than Bright Eyes.
let me make it so it is easier to understand. i released three records when i did because,
1. I had enough material written sans music while i was recovering from 6 months of wrist surgery and muscle rehabilitation that i was as prepared to tell a story vital to what led up to my having to go through all of it in the first place. and i lost people i cared about. i felt like sharing that. 29 took months to write, out of endless pages of writing. every song on that record means something to the other and without sounding like it is some landmark record, to call it “crap” or a sound record, well obviously the lyrics are being overlooked. its not crap. its fucking sad. its about myself, an actual living breathing person on earth like yourself who made some music, about dying, about living. i cant believe how little some people think thiws shit means to put out there. and the other two records, which i made with a band that i am in, a band that i love to be in alot, were written WITH the band. where the content goes through 5 filters not just one and means somethingf to everyone in the band. that, in itself, was new and i became as much a messenger as the message. there are alot of really complex and really beautiful moments on cold roses and JCN and sure, some people go “Summer of 69″, thats their answer to 7 months in the rehearsal and studio to prepare for doing something like what we did with those three records. all i can say is i broke myself trying to make it all work and it was about ego or dick swaggering to release a fucking record. there were things to say and jams.
what a great world. why would aanybody want to think of this as the dark aages of music because some people want to get up and do their fucking job they were meant to do?
die in a plane crash, summer of 69, crap, etc.
i wonder sometimes why i give a fuck really. its impossible to keep the faith in times like this when armchair critics and people who have nothing but bad vibes for artists are out there with hunting rifles waiting for the ducks to take off and blast em out of the sky every time they want to express themselves.
music is wonderful and a beautiful process and i wake up every day and i got to work. its what i do and what i love to do and id like to get better at it but as far as i am concerned anyone with enough guts, anyone brave enough, to put anything out into this world, be it a rush cover band, or what ever band the summer of 69 guys have in their moms basement to a rachmaninov compliation, gets the badge of courage. i see alot of bored people doing their small part in poooling their negativity on people who make art and its disgusting. it really is.
i personally like it better knowing i am on the side of guitar that tells the story. not the side that wishes the guy was dead or wouldnt share so much. and weeding through songs must be such a chore. somehow it has been the light of my life to listen to records and to find those songs that mean so much to me coming out of the same shitty speakers over and over sounding like testimony and truth. i guess i just consider myself a believer, you know, i am still looking for that magic moment and the more i listen and the more i write and the more i play the more i feel that same thing i did when i listened to s.y. sister for the first time or elo on thee radio for thee first time. or mr. saturday night special for the first time. some of those people did die in a plane crash. they were on their way to make some music for some people. they were on their way. busy in their life, telling their story.
the free flow and exchange of ideas and people connecting on these strange plateaus and having these transcendental converssations, i guess i just live for that. its beautiful and honorable no matter what part of it you are on. it really is. and there are always gonna be bitter haters. people who are ready to knock it because there is always somebody better or “cooler” or whatever that means.
i didnt learn how to be cool from my records. i learned about who other people were and i learned something about myself from listening.
i guess if i spent more time being negative and dismisssive i might be cool enought one day to unsatisfied enough to limit my view to only myself and what i did not like.
then i could come in here and tell people that their life work, their dreams and what they did with them were meaningless and crap and worthy of only a slap on the wrist.
in the meanwhile, i think id like to continue what i have been doing.
participating.
so like Ian said when he was saying what WIRE said, “stand up and be counted”
so stand up. do something then. make a noise. bring some fucking new ideas.
stop fucking tearing people down. get busy.
thats really all i can say. you know, before someone says summer of 69 or whatever again.
thats all.
i get really disappointed with all this sometimes. its very strange.
take care/ take it easy.
x
DH. maybe you need to get into the record producer buiz since you obviously know so much about what songs go where. cause, having made 8 or 9 albums i obviously have no idea. being a producer myself, i can say this, the meaning changes over time. records are not made with a best-by date. they evolve and the artist evolves. its not about you when it hits the reels kid. its about you and your expierence later, when you have to have a relationship with it. and you take from it what you will.
i am very excited to hear the new starship roject you produced.
why dont you come into the studio with me and be my producer. i never learned anything this whole time. really.
if only i had known there was a guy out there who knew what of my work was sketches and what was the greatest stuff. sheesh. my whole discography wopuld have been so much better. oh well, i guewss i did the beest i could.
nobody is “better” than anybody else. records arent baseball cards where one is in better condition so its better. they are not fucking speed trial. people aare not erunning laps up and down a tennis court. its not football. its not sports. nobody wins and loses. bright eyes is conor. i am me. starship is starship. its ridiculous to think you could compare and contrast a painter with another or writer or musician. its just pointless. they are locked into their world view and your feelings for art aside, it will never be a collective expierence.
there is no collective consciousness. there is only your view. take it in.
and for the record, (ahem…) i dont like the if “he doesnt OD” bullshit. i do not drink or take drugs thank you and am happy to be who i am doing what i do because i love it. i have never released a record because i was fucked up or because of some drug induced idea. they take months to prepare after they are even mastered so its insulting beyong belief, and to be so blase’ about something and heartless is just terribly cruel. how dare you.
everyone should have a chance to better themselves and be who they are and i didnrt see that before it just makes me sick to my stomach personally.
so whatever.
i enyoy sterogum quite alot. i will remember to disregard anything with my name attached to it in the future.
later sktr
Coming from a huge Ryan Adams fan here, I really get pissed reading all the negative comments about him. He is a fan-friendly artsist, in the sense that he has so much material avalible for those who are obsessed. Whether it be the live shows, that we can get fuckin’ soundboard feeds of (thanks ryan), or just the demos and unreleased songs that are just made on a 4-track recorder. I guess you can’t please everyone in this world, but Ryan, you sure are making me happy with what you’re doing
-Lowden
man woody allen really puts out some shit movies. he’s all washed up. instead of making a movie a year why doesn’t he wait till he has a good idea?
cause making movies is what he does. and sometimes you have to get Small Time Crooks out of your head to make room for Match Point.
to me what people don’t like about ryan adams is his unapologetic sincerity. this is a culture of irony. sincerity is sooooooo not cool. fuck that.
can’t wait for all three. and the tour. FOOL’S GOLD!
I have to strongly disagree with Ryan on this. Not all art is created equal. Not all albums are created equal. Not all songs are created equal. Some are objectively “better” than others. They may be written more effectively, recorded in a more memorable fashion, etc., but it is disingenuous to suggest that everything exists on an level plain. Would anyone argue that “Dirty Work” is on the same footing as “Sticky Fingers” or “Let it Bleed”? Does “Pablo Honey” have the same artistic merit as “OK Computer”? This dangerous idea that everything is of equal merit and that there is no “good” or “bad” outside listener preference obliterates all potential for great artistic achievement or recognition of special talent. Of course our individual experiences account for some part of our listening habits, but these feelings are often shaped by the effectiveness and quality of a particular recording or performance. To deny an objective notion of excellence in music is to completely abdicate our role as responsible listeners and connoisseurs.
Ryan, you’re awesome. Thank you for ALL of your work. Don’t forget that a few of the people you’re arguing with on this site likely still wet their Rainbow-Brite beds at night. I think it’s quite clear to everyone who the fools are in these comments and it’s not you, but rather these glib, narcissistic music snobs who wouldn’t know good music if it knocked them right on their asses.
dear ryan,
i can’t wait to fucking hang out with you on the 22nd.
Ryan, there’s a reason I sent Bud Scoppa out to talk to Ethan Johns about “29.” Thanks for confirming it, and thanks for keeping the faith. Don’t let the bastards get you down.
1. jason is totally right. there has to be some objective standard to what constitutes ‘good’ art. you can like what ever you want, but you can’t say everything is equally good. if there was no common ground – no objectivity (and i agree we need to really engage and debate what constitutes this ‘objective’ understanding of quality – how could we even communicate with one another? we’d slide into a relativism where everyone has no sense of social/collective engagement, and people cannot effectively discuss ideas with one another.
2. ryan is an artist in the true sense of the word. he tries different things, puts his records out on his terms, and struggles to improve and re-define his ideas. as he grows as a person, his art reflects it. you don’t have to like his stuff, but you must respect what he tries to do. oh, and objectively he’s probably one of the most important american songwriters today.
3. lastly: holy shit! if that is actually ryan adams posting above – and i think it is – this rules. i read stereogum all the time, and as a huge r.a. fan, this is simply awesome to have a ‘virtual discussion’ with him.
i’m looking forward to hearing all three albums next year, and hopefully seeing a live show. fantastic stuff – keep it up ryan. fans like me are always thrilled to go pick up a new record by you. ok, my fan love-in is over.
I say bullshit. That doesn’t sound like what he would post. it sounds like a blogger nerd to me.
It’s been amazing to see Ryan Adams go through his 20s- yes, just like every singer/songwriter he’s put out some sub par material, but the great stuff is absolutely incredible. Yes, the stuff on Heartbreaker was great, but I would argue that Ryan put out his best material last year. It might have been spread across the three albums, but all of them had at least a couple of incredibly beautiful tunes.
I think it’s funny that people put him down. I mean, it’s just a comments section of music blog but all I can say to people that hear the name Ryan Adams and just tune out because it’s fashionable to hate on him- you’re seriously missing out on one of best singer/songwriters of our time. Not all of the tunes are gonna be for you, but not all of Bob Dylan’s stuff is either.
Well, I guess I’ll be the only one of my friends who’s ever been dissed by a multiple Grammy-nominee.
But I stand behind my point, even though it got trashed by Mr. Adams (quite sarcasically, I might add).
I’m sure when you, Mr. Adams, were an aspiring musician, a teenager with opinions, you felt strongly about things musical. I’m sure that you have passionate opinions about music — otherwise you wouldn’t release such GREAT albums.
So I’m confused why you write off my inexperienced opinion with sarcasm and chill. Just because I haven’t released 8 or 9 albums doesn’t mean I don’t have some basic understanding of art. And if I have some understanding of art, does that not entitle me to an opinion?
And isn’t this a blog — a place where opinions are swapped? A place where (supposedly) ideas are contested and opinions challenged with mutual respect?
I have nothing but respect for you, Mr. Adams. But you — one of the most “fan friendly” artists, according to a poster above — simply write off my criticism with a sneer and harsh overtones.
I ended my post, “not questioning his right to create, his motivations, or his musical genius.” I respect you as an artist; I’m just left slightly confused by your prolific releases. I’m sorry if I offended you – it was not my intent.
So “sheesh” right on back – what have we come to as a society if honest criticism (mixed with honest appreciation of your art) can’t be respected.
I’m 18. You’re older. Your voice is louder. But my message has just as much right to exist as yours.
1. The Norva,last year, Norfolk VA, seeing him just walking down City Hall Ave. taking pictures of magnolia blossoms…then me standing 3+hours on a concrete floor taking in my 16th show..now getting ready for my 17th and hopefully for another 3+hours
2. Friar Tucks, Norfolk Va, Ryan and Caitlin actually taking requests from the SIX people that came to the show–priceless–ask any one of us six if we have bought EVERY thing he has ever put out..
3. Alley Katz, Richmond VA, maybe 15 people there total–that will give him something to write about, huh?
4. The Brewery, Raleigh..drove 3 hours with a whiskeytown “virgin”..hell-bent on impressing her…only to get there, they go on and I don’t even recognize a single song and they played for 2+ hours…prolific indeed, even back then.
5. Just freakin’ LISTEN to the songs..yeah, he’s no Conor alright–THAT sniveling wanna-be, RA coattail rider
6. NOW, I’ve been living on faithless street a hell of a lot longer than any of you….what a bunch of Death Cab-lovin’ haters..
7. Thank you, Ryan, for the soundtrack of MY life..
DH, you’re just like me brother, stand up tell ryan adams to stop oppressing your voice. fight the fight my brother
RYAN LAY OFF THE ADDRERALL A BIT DUDE — YOUR POSTS ARE BECOMInG AS BORING AS YOUR LAST 17 ALBUMS …
Anyone can post under this name.
Latr Sktr
Whatever its not Ryan
you people need to read some Dave Eggers:
http://rachelandthecity.com/archives/2006_07.php#001928
that anyone would even take the time to criticize someone in this way is ridiculous. WHY DO YOU CARE? You might think certain songs Ryan released last year were shite, and they may have changed my life. Three albums a year from him is my wet dream. I’ll gladly wade through every note and connect now with the ones that are relevant to me presently and connect later to the ones that are not.
As someone who listens to records for a living, if you don’t appreciate Ryan’s gift, you just aren’t listening close enough. Few people have the balls today to trash the Beatles, Dylan, or the Stones – even if you don;t like them, if you listen to music, you should be able to recognize their talents. And not every record they made were classics, and I bet you if you’re a fan you would be greatful if they had been more prolific in their heyday, and I guaranfuckingtee you that when it’a all said and done, Ryan will be part of this group.
and this comment should not be read in a shrill, defensive way, but in a monotone, matter-of-fact, some people are so silly kind of way.
Art exists to provoke. That’s what it’s for. When I hear 29 I get it, I just understand it. Lyrically… I just get it, I don’t know. Different things have different meanings to different people. I know that sounds obvious and crass, but there will always be people who listen, who understand, who are absorbed by music. In contrast there will always be the ones who compare and contrast, criticise and look at music as a commodity rather than an emotional experience. Who cares? They are not the people Ryan Adams has in mind when the lyrics come to him, and the tunes get thought up, and the band get involved, and whatever it is he has that makes him want to share what he feels gets cranked up.
There will always be the negative people. Let them do their thing. They don’t need to exist do they? They’re just words on a screen, they can’t keep you from doing what you’re doing any more than you can keep them from doing what they do. How ever high you build that sandcastle the sea will always creep back and sweep it away. Just don’t ever stop building it. It’s still beautiful, its fragility can be scary and unsettling yet ultimately only adds to the beauty.
Let the art exist. If people want to knock it down, that’s up to them, you can only create it and let it go. if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that songs are like people, they are understood in such different ways by the people who hear them that they have infinite meanings. Hang with the believers.
im not sure ryans attitude here is fair given this, like a record, is open and conversive. ryan has confused love for “hate” a little too. people get so frustrated because he is vital and when he creates great work, everyone, especially fans sharpen their judgements next time. when 3 records come at once people assume they were written in the same period possibly the same frame of mind and just inevitably wonder whether he could have planned it a little better, but then you cant put a date on creativity bla bla.
but who knew he’d read this? noone. writing in a forum is too easy a medium to be taken seriously, half the people who dissed him would be starstruck in his company, the other half were probably just in work pissed off. i wouldnt say he ‘showed us just now’, was cool to get his side in for once a little more personally…im sure he doesnt mind getting up peoples noses a bit too. im excited for new stuff
wow, you people are assholes.
no…seriously.
I used to enjoy this blog as well but reading some of these comments lately are a big turn off. The icing on the cake was the well wishes for Ryan to die in a plane crash.
Very classy Jeff. I’m sure your parents are proud to raise such a retard.
exactly.
WOOO, TEAM RYAN
Why all the negative mojo at work here? Ryan releases albums for the people who are touched by his work and want to put in the time to listen to them.
If you don’t like Ryan Adams, then don’t listen to/talk about him–it’s simple.
How anyone can really bitch about a MUSICIAN who has made it his lifes’ work to WRITE and RECORD music for his fans is beyond me. The last time I saw Ryan play live, he played for over three hours, told hilarious stories, took some requests and in general rocked my world, but some people at the show were bitching about him playing for TOO LONG. Um, are you fucking KIDDING ME??? You pay money to see a famous, revered musician perform live, and then you bitch when they play too many songs and try to give you too much of your money’s worth? Pssh. Whatever. That’s why this discussion has no merit and makes no sense, and it proves once again that some people only “like” music so they can fit in with their contemporaries, but when it comes down to brass tacks and it’s time to try to enjoy and understand the music itself, they’re not willing to put in the time.
I think Ryan wants his fans to put in the time.
I’m listening to Cold Roses now, btw, and anyone who says this album shouldn’t have been released is full of shit.
Judging by the new “space”-y theme on ryan-adams.com, I’m inclined to believe this is the real deal.
Although I’m not sure how long I can give all his music a fair listen at this rate. Of last year’s, I’ve only really listened to 29 carefully (mostly because it demands it).
what you people don’t get is that ryan is a true artist in every sense of the word. he is creating and putting his art out there for people to see and to feel. not to try to play the corporate game, not to make as much money as he can. if he was doing that, it would be one album a year and concise, to the point live shows. you people would have told picasso to stop painting. and now there are shows and exhibits of just his sketches. his sketches. that sell for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars apiece. maybe you don’t like every song. get over it. it may be the song that someone else relates to and falls in love with. or falls in love to. if he wants to make them, why do you have to bitch and moan about it? art is subjective. I’m sure he tries to make a masterpiece with every new song he writes. maybe some are, maybe some aren’t. but if he writes something that he deems worth hearing, why can’t he put it out there for other people to hear? that’s what art is about. if picasso tore up everything that was not a masterpiece, we’d have a lot less of his beautiful paintings (and sketches) to admire. but he left a trove of beauty behind for us to admire (and for you to judge). I, for one, am happy for that. as I am happy that ryan gives us as much as he does. why is that so wrong? because you heard he’s tempermental? because some of the most talented songwriters alive have sung his praises? because more than you and your neighbor’s cat are familiar with his name?
get over yourselves. you’re really not that cool.
man, i wish i could be a hipster and be completely apathetic towards everything and anything. that must be a really fun way to live.
(toungue, meet cheek.)
i don’t understand why all these ‘Ryan H8trz’ are bashing him. if you guys don’t like him or his records don’t buy them. honestly, do you think he gives 2 shits about what you, me or the critics say? um….NO. so, grow up and if you hate ryan so much you shouldn’t care if he comes out with 3 more records.
ryan, you are my hero. i wish i had the talent you have. look forward to the record(s).
ps starwars?? that must be some heavy shit? haha.
Ryan,
You rock for posting what you did.
Thanks for responding!
I couldn’t agree more about teaching us not to compare and contrast. Our culture is, unfortunately, set up to do that, and that’s why people go there… that’s why it’s super cool that you are helping to inform folks about other thinking options.
Your music is beautiful, IMO, and has helped me through many a rough patch.
You (and the cardinals,) reflect dark, full, complex situations.
I think that’s important, and I give thanks to you for working SO HARD to put that music out there so people like me can feel less isolated in some of those truths.
Now, isn’t it true that you have drank a lot and done drugs (allegedly) in the past? – People may not know that you’re sober now.
Yes, people may be judging you on what they’ve seen through past behavior, and, lest this entire comment sound too much like a mash note, I think you should acknowledge that past and own up to it as a factor, (at least the drinking), because otherwise, you are paiting a kinda false pic. of who you are as an artist.
Non?
Your writing is so good, that it’s only natural to be curious about what goes into a life that can create something as excellent as “29″.
Just so’s you know, the time and care and acumen of “29″ is, honestly, vibrantly APPARANT upon listening.
IT IS HEARD.
So rest assured that the results of your efforts kicks seeeeerious ass.
Thanks so much for interacting, showing an interest, trying TO REACH PEOPLE, and having the balls to care.
Keep going.
Adele “InTheRed” H
“where is your record”.
exactly!
i wonder if the shit-talkers are the same ones yelling out “hey, we payed for this!” at shows.
extreme overreacting = hilarious.
i like ryan and enjoy his rate of output, but the people being like “ryan bashers are teh suck!!!” ad nauseum are just as lame. and whoever was whining about the plane crash comment, if you took that comment in the literal sense instead of the real meaning (being the person only enjoyed his albums up to a certain point) then you need to reconsider who the retard is.
corey,
I reconsidered. it’s you.
There is a reason why many artists profess that they don’t read the critics. Criticism can be stifling to the creation of art, and it is, in some ways, antithetical to it. And while I don’t think it’s good for artists to exist in enclosed bubbles of praise, it’s not necessarily healthy for them to be steeped in the words of their critics, either.
Inspiration comes and goes, and one might as well run with it while one has it.
Bright eyes sucks, everything he does is an over-hyped let-down. Ryan Adams is the god’ammed man…in fact, somewhere now I hear Jeff Tweddy crying and wining about more shit while Wilco’s next lp looms in darkness until 2010. At least Ryan is treating us like music did in the 80′s, at least an album a year. Jacksonville City Nights is a true freakin’ masterpiece, a flawless album. The last album to be that thoroughly wonderful, (besides Cold Roses), was Rainy Day Music…
His posts might be long, but everything he’s saying is dead truth. I can tell the man loves music the way I love music and I can hear it on every one of his records. What you’re getting when you buy a Ryan Adams record is emotion, and to say he’s pouring out TOO MUCH of it is ridiculous. If you only have LIMITED time to listen to music, you don’t love music the way he does. I’ve liked his songwriting for as long as I can remember, and I can tell you I never once think “fuck, I don’t have enough time to listen to these 3 albums.” It’s not like homework in highschool…you throw them on when you want to hear them…and if you don’t, you go on with your life.
Cold Roses might be the best album he’s ever done, and if you think it needed to be edited down you don’t appreciate songwriting very much. There are a lot of points on that album that literally amazed me the way a song like “You’re a Big Girl Now” by Bob Dylan does…like “how the fuck did he get that feeling onto a record so well?!”
I wonder if some of you think Blood on the Tracks is boring, too.
Directly to Ryan Adams, if you’re reading this one- don’t get worked up by people who don’t get your music. Since it’s a public forum, you know there are a lot of people who just AREN’T fans who wanna throw their 2 cents in. I have a feeling you’ll get what I mean when I say this: there was a point in my life when I fell in love with music, when the needle touched down on one of my dad’s old Beatles records, and in the years after that I got into a LOT of stuff. After I turned 20 there were fewer and fewer record that could get a legit spot on par with the bands that got me into music in the first place, but your stuff is did it, along with Bob Dylan, New Order, the Smiths etc etc…but you gotta admit it’s pretty cool for some kid to put you up there with somebody like Dylan.
Worth a lot more than hate from people who can’t feel music.
ryan adams was designed for music subscription services. with rhapsody, i welcome all 4 albums with no concern.
I love love love Ryan Adams. His music has changed my life and made me enjoy music more than I ever have. I’ve seen him 3 times in concert and everytime he blows me away. I hope that one day I get to meet him and discuss music with him because I think it would be a great conversation. You hear that Ryan? I want to meet you. Let’s get in touch, ok?
2 points I’d like to belatedly add from my perspective:
1.) I don’t know why everyone gets up in arms about any artist’s output, especially when someone is generous enough to put out 3 albums per year. What I find funny is that everyone thinks that Ryan’s output is “exceptional.” In the 1960s, the Beatles, Stones, and Dylan were consistently putting out 2-4 albums per year, plus singles with B-sides. Check out the Beatles output from 1964 alone. I think we’ve become accustomed to 1 album every 2-3 years from an artist due to a combination of record company economics (promotion, payola, . . .) and artistic laziness/ineptitude. I wish more people would put out more music — though we can at least thank the developments in the internet over the last 6-7 years for giving us much more access to a person’s work.
2.) I’m part of the group here that has all of Ryan’s “official” releases, as well as some “unofficial” ones. I also agree that his output can be inconsistent at times (I too found 29 to be lacking melodically in parts). But that’s what I love about Ryan, and music in general. Maybe it is because I’m such a huge Dylan fan, but I’d rather an inconsistent, mercurial artist who shares with the public his imperfections, allows us to debate “what he should have done”, and has us grow and stumble along with him. For most of its career, U2 has put out spectacular sounding, near-perfect albums every 3-4 years — which is what some commentators here seem to prefer from Ryan. I find U2 to be boring because of this (I think Bruce Springsteen can be criticized in a similar way, as his “Tracks” were often much better than the safer stuff on his regular albums). Much like I’d rather listen to Dylan’s “Street Legal” than some allegedly perfect Dylan album like “Highway 61″, I’d rather have 3 albums like Ryan put out in 2005 than some better-than-Heartbreaker ideal.
it’s a fascinating phenomenon to observe when people choose to get upset about things they choose to confront themselves with instead of choosing to stay away from them.
if you don’t like stereogum i guess you could come here and read it every day and leave negative comments about it, but i’d say, personally and who am I really, that it’d be a more positive approach to just not read it. gives you extra time to make chocolate chip cookies or others things you dont have to bitch about
or apply it to ryan adams, of course
The more Ryan the better. I can’t get enough of his music.
am i allowed to read this website if i don’t shop at paul frank or own a pair of plastic frame glasses?
hey ryan,
just wanted to say thanks for stepping in out of nowhere last year with the decemberists in asheville for that guitar solo on “chimbley sweep”. that was awesome. made me feel like i was witnessing something special.
keep at it dude.
-another fellow ryan
“Basically, if your fave artist is putting out too much material into the public consciousness, you too might get sick of it.”
ummmm, then don’t buy it?
“Hasn’t too much of a (good) thing gotten old after a while?”
not if its still a good thing. see, that phrase only makes sense if the thing that was originally good is no longer deemed “good.” like take 5 candy bars. you might be stoned and think, “damn, a take 5 might taste really good right now.” so you walk down to the piggly wiggly and they have a promo of “5 take 5 for $5″ (see how that works?). so you think its a great idea to buy all five. and maybe you get through two of them and realize you suddenly don’t want any more right now. so you put them on a shelf somewhere and next time you’re in the mood for take 5, you grab one and its as amazing as ever.
there’s a good number of people posting herein who think its “cool” to be apathatic and lack passion about things. and that somehow those that are passionate and truly want to soak in this art that speaks to them are somehow “uncool.” if that’s how you want to live your life, by all means enjoy yourself. but don’t rain on our parade just because you haven’t found anything you care about.
Whatever, Ryan. I like your music and all, but I really wish you had a bit of quality control. Just a bit. While I enjoy your music, I honestly wish that you didn’t release three albums a year. If you really want to release these songs, fine, go ahead; I understand where the creativity/artistic side thingie comes from. Just don’t make me pay for an album with three or four stellar songs and a bunch of crap on the side. It sucks. Just because artists are always changing doesn’t mean that you have to release every little snippit of your changes. Don’t you feel that desire to release something… perfect? Or at least as perfect as you can get it? Heartbreaker, to me, was honestly borderline perfect. It remains one of my favorite albums to this day. Every song was cohesive, and they meshed together wonderfully. Your latest albums have been all over the place, with a piano ballad, then rock guitar, then a nice acoustic love song… Seriously. WTF. I play guitar and I’m just starting to try and write songs myself (they’re not very good, but still) and that cohesive beauty is what I strive to create… Take some time off again or something, please. Make a record with a definitive statement like Heartbreaker, that actually blends together, instead of 3 albums with songs that are all over the place. If you want to release those songs, fine, just don’t make me pay for them. Because I’m prolly going to end up buying them anyway.
P.S.-Strawberry Wine kicks ass.
“Don’t you feel that desire to release something… perfect? Or at least as perfect as you can get it?”
i think, i’m not sure, but i think that artists believe the true representation of what they’re thinking and going through is “as perfect as you can get it.” but that’s just me.
“Your latest albums have been all over the place, with a piano ballad, then rock guitar, then a nice acoustic love song… ”
yes, because heartbreaker didn’t have sweet lil gal, to be young, and call me on your way back home on it.
do you even read this inane arguments before you hit post?
“If you want to release those songs, fine, just don’t make me pay for them.”
that’s pretty nice of ryan adams, though, to come and pay you that personal attention. i mean, sure, he’s holding a gun to your head MAKING you buy his records and all…
True, he’s not MAKING me buy his records, but since I’m a fan, I’m going to probably buy them anyway, just because I want to hear what he’s putting out. I LIKE hearing those wonderful songs that are few and far between on his latest records. And while Heartbreaker did have some songs that were definately not like the rest of the record (Sweet lil gal and call me on your way back home are NOT them, btw. Shakedown on 9th street would be, a rock song in the middle of a bunch of acoustic songs? come on…) I just wish he’d make something that’s all quality, not just filler music, with spats of genius thrown inbetween. Good job being a sarcastic ass, by the way. Not many people have that ability these days. Especially on the internet.
thanks dude, i try real hard.
your argument is retarded. so lets take cold roses for example; since that’s the longest i’m supposing that is one you have issues with. how many songs do you think were “filler”… 2? 3? 6? which ones? in the spirit of sincere discussion, i’m curious.
wait a second, did you just say you thought shakedown on 9th shouldn’t be on heartbreaker? screw the sincere discussion, i think i just lost a little too much respect for you. but i will say this; if an album has 14 songs on it that you find phenomenal and yet another 3 that you could take or leave, does it somehow diminish how good those 14 are? i don’t think so.
I can’t stress enough how Ryan Adams makes me happier than anything else.
brill fucking iant.
do i have tickets for 9/8, 9/9 and 9/10 to see ryan in anaheim, san diego and hollywood bowl respectively?
you bet i do.
I’m going to assume that the people who think it’s “cool” to bad mouth Ryan Adams are jealous. Remember what mom used to say..”the boy that pulls your pigtails is the boy that has a crush on you.” That would be all of you about Ryan. If you don’t like someone’s music, don’t F*cking listen to it. The sophomoric behavior of certain critics, websites, and people who are just not fans is beyond pathetic. It only fuels the fire for anyone to think it’s “in” to bad mouth Ryan. Making an artist feel the need to constantly defend themselves is just wrong and stupid..like all of you.
I just realized that someone said “very classy Jeff” about the plane crash thing. that was Ryan Catbird, not me, just to clarify.
This “Ryan Adams” poster seems suspicious though. I might have been able to believe it initially, but the person who said “I don’t drink or do drugs” is full of it. Ryan Adams drinks, and smokes weed, and isn’t shy about saying so. Just read his Pitchfork interviews.
according to recent reports ryan doesn’t drink anymore (i don’t know about the marijuana situation now)
admittedly, he has in the past.
people can change.
If that is true, then good for him.