Willie Nelson will always be cool (love that song “Screw The IRS, Let’s Get High With Rob Thomas!”), but we never expected this resurgance of relevance among the kids. We’ll forgive Willie’s turn in Dukes Of Hazzard — and that gay cowboy song was more a product of shrewd marketing than anything else — but we can’t wait to hear his new album.
For Songbird (10/31), the Read Headed Stranger teamed up with the East Village Blogger Ryan Adams. Along with the Cardinals, they take on hits from Leonard Cohen, Gram Parsons, the Dead, and Fleetwood Mac. It’s not all covers, though; Ryan wrote a new song “Blue Hotel” specifically for Nelson. And there’s new versions of old Willie classics.
Go to Lost Highway (you gotta sign up if you’re not a member) to preview the Christine McVie-penned title track “Songbird,” “Blue Hotel,” and “Rainy Day Blues.”
And while we’re still waiting for those three Ryan solo albums, we’re happy to report he and Stereogum are finally friends.
UPDATE: Ryan’s official site revealed its futuristic redesign today. (Thanks for the heads up Lawyerlike!)
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How fortuitous, the new Ryan Adams website went live today.
http://www.ryan-adams.com
Don’t you mean Brian Adams?
when will this dude give up already. he records tons of shit, throws it all against the wall to see what sticks. no direction at all. lame
For chrissakes, will Ryan Adams give it a break. Just relax and watch TRL for a few months. Just becasue you CAN play an instrument, doesn’t mean you HAVE to ALL THE FUCKING TIME!
fuck all you haters….
ryan adams is one of the best singer songwriters of his generation….
and you want to give him shit?
who the fuck are you?
and let me know when your album come out….
i’m down with willie & ryan!
love ya,
lucia
ryan adams is one of the best singer songwriters of his generation….
are you the president of his fanclub?
Its Bryan Adams!
A friend of mine was in the studio with Willie and Ryan and of course Willie had a ton of herb with him. My friend actually turned down a joint from Willie Nelson! I don’t smoke but I think I could have made an exception in that case. He did snag some shake and gave it to my brother as a birthday gift.
The “read” headed stranger?
Lucia- I’ve never been a painter, but I can tell when they rush it.
Best singer songwriter of our generation: no fucking way. He’ll be remembered as a mediocre rock star.
Ryan, if you read this, I caught your set at Lollapalooza and can finally judge your music. YOU ARE OVERRATED.
Maya Lucia = Mary Lucia?
*yawn*
not that it really matters, but the website relaunched over the weekend, not today.
people can hate on ryan all they want but all he has to do is just think, “willie fucking nelson asked me to produce his album” and if thats not one of the biggest compliments you could get as an artist then i dont know what is.
oh and another thing, you’re all bitching as if this is ryans album, its fucking willie’s so stop acting as if you have something stuck up your hole and listen to all of the records before you judge.
everytime Ryan’s name is mentioned, people always rehash the same ole tired arguments in effort to explain why he is the worst/best artist in contemporary music. This gets sooo boring.
here are the facts: he’s a really good songwriter who has made a couple of great albums (Heartbreaker, Stranger’s Almanac), many good ones (Cold Roses, most of Whiskeytown, Gold, 48 Hours), a few okay ones (Love is Hell, Jacksonville, 29, Suicide Handbook) and one real stinker (Rock n Roll).
Q: does he release too much material?
A: probably.
Q: are his fans a little too overenthusiastic about his relevance?
A: unquestionably.
Q: is he a total egomaniac prick?
A: yes.
Q: does the above even matter?
A: no.
While we all wish he would release a masterpiece like Heartbreaker every couple of years and spare the unnessary filler…just let the man do what he does and buy the record when he releases one you like.
AND, for the love of god, enough with the lame Bryan Adams “jokes”…those were unbearably old 4 years ago.
whatever, it’s all subjective. i LOVE ‘rock n roll’–it’s my favorite ryan adams album.
I’d be critical, but I wish I could be on Willie’s label AND record an album with him, so Kudos 2 R.A. even if he’s kindof overrated and can’t really sing. I like his Americana phase. For better or worse, I think it’s great that he’s so prolific. Cold Roses (disc one) is some good writing and instrumentation; Might have been better as a one-disc album, though..
If you don’t like the music Mr Adams releases, don’t waste your time bitching about it. Give it a rest and get on with watching MTV.
Ryan Adams is a LOSER wanna be. He should have changed his name because it is too close to Bryan Adams name, who by the way ROCKS!!!!If Ryan Loser Adams wants to make it in the BIZ CHANGE YOuR NAME!!!!!! You are no Bryan and never will be close!!!
Ryan Adams is a LOSER wanna be. He should have changed his name because it is too close to Bryan Adams name, who by the way ROCKS!!!!If Ryan Loser Adams wants to make it in the BIZ CHANGE YOuR NAME!!!!!! You are no Bryan and never will be close!!!
oh guys! have a vodka & relax!
never met him, love (most)of his stuff though – bits of jacksonville ws a bit maah? great live too – saw him at the carling in glasgow.
drunk internet surfin is pretty mental….