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January 9, 2009

Ryan Adams Sings While His Black Cab Drives A Straight Line

thumbnail icon: Ryan Adams Sings While His Black Cab Drives A Straight Line

The Black Cab Sessions latest posting features a session with Ry, joined in the backseat and on additional guitar/harmonies by Cardinal mate Neal Casal, singing Cardinology cut "Sink Ships." It's pretty and straightforward from a viewer's perspective, and was also literally straightforward from the cabbie's perspective. The Black Cab kids write:

There was a slight concern at the start of the Session though: Ryan gets car sick. Ryan's manager warned us of this and asked that, as much as possible, we drive in a straight line. It's definitely one of the stranger requests that [cab driver] Jason's ever had...

Ryan Adams being strange. I can't believe it.

I don't have anything to back this up aside from the implication in Black Cab's accompanying blurb, but this appears to the first time a cabbie actually requested an audience with one of the Session performers. Cabbie Jason was in Nashville on some unrelated business, learned of the series, went back and professed his Ryan Adams fandom and got himself the fare of his dreams. Strange request sure, but that guy's never been so happy to drive a straight line in his life. Cute story. Watch here. Also, check out this take on "Red Moon" by the Walkmen, which was my favorite song on one of last year's best albums. Ham looks a little distracted, but whatever.

Posted at 11:01 AM by amrit in
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23 Comments

Why is he playing one of the most ignorable songs off Cardinology?

Posted by: Tandrew profile link at 01/09/09 11:47 AM | Reply
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if i had $1 for every time i got sick in a cab from txting i would have around $10 (in the last 4 years) this happens usually on the way home from the bar.

Posted by: boris at 01/09/09 12:31 PM | Reply
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Burnt Dirt

Good song. I need to listen to more Ryan Adams. So many albums, I just don't know where to start.

Posted by: Burnt Dirt profile link at 01/09/09 1:14 PM | Reply
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Start with Cold Roses.

Posted by: michelle profile link in reply to Burnt Dirt's comment at 01/09/09 2:09 PM | Reply
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In agreement with michelle. I'd go with:
1) Cold Roses 2) Heartbreaker 3)Jacksonville City Nights

Posted by: Digital-Derek in reply to michelle's comment at 01/09/09 4:46 PM | Reply
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Cold Roses is really good. So Michelle isn't wrong to reccomend it. I'd got with Heartbreaker, myself. but you'll be happy with either purchase.

Posted by: wldrpretnd in reply to Burnt Dirt's comment at 01/09/09 2:58 PM | Reply
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Get Cold Roses

Posted by: anon at 01/09/09 2:44 PM | Reply
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Start with 'Heartbreaker', his first record, and go from there through his catalog. You'll see how much he has matured as a songwriter.

Posted by: Rod at 01/09/09 2:44 PM | Reply
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Start with Faithless Street. Then stop at Heartbreaker. Do not pass Gold. Do not collect lloR N kcoR

Posted by: SDonsky at 01/09/09 3:18 PM | Reply
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I don't agree. but that was damn funny.

Posted by: wldrpretnd in reply to SDonsky's comment at 01/09/09 3:39 PM | Reply
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Heartbreaker, Love is Hell, Cold Roses and anything by Whiskeytown.

Posted by: Tandrew profile link at 01/09/09 5:34 PM | Reply
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Go see him & the band live. Great stuff. Can't wait for his '09 solo album. I'm a new-ish fan of RA and can't get enough of most of his stuff. In order, my fav's:

Cold Roses
Follow The Lights EP
Heartbreaker
Jacksonville...
Demolition
Love is Hell
Cardinology
Easy Tiger
Rock in Roll
29
Gold

Posted by: patrick at 01/09/09 6:56 PM | Reply
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Mine would be...

Cold Roses
Demolition
Heartbreaker
Love is Hell
Jacksonville City Nights
Gold
Rock N Roll
Follow the Lights EP
Cardinology
Easy Tiger
29

Not a fan of the most recent stuff. Whiskeytown is probably still the best stuff he's done though...Stranger's Almanac is really his best work.

Posted by: Stephen B profile link in reply to patrick's comment at 01/10/09 2:24 PM | Reply
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what a humble birthday wish Ryan had - "just drive straight"

gotta love that kid

Posted by: L5 at 01/09/09 8:44 PM | Reply
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oh, boy, patrick... i know you say you're a newish fan, but "gold" at the very bottom? for shame. la cienega, stars go blue, firecracker, answering bell, rescue blues, harder now that it's over... great record. or are we hatin' on it 'cause it had his one semi-hit (ny, ny)? ;) i keed.

Posted by: mc at 01/09/09 9:15 PM | Reply
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crackrock lobster

fuck, this guy gets 'car sick'.... i knew there was a good reason i never gave his shit a chance.

Posted by: crackrock lobster profile link at 01/10/09 4:17 AM | Reply
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And I don't give people who double-post comments a second chance.

Posted by: Chris in reply to crackrock lobster's comment at 01/10/09 8:32 AM | Reply
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Luckily, the cab driver drove straight.
If he had turned a corner or two, Ryan may have launched into "Summer of '69".

Posted by: FrostBiteBoy at 01/10/09 9:52 AM | Reply
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No, no... Start with the Replacements. The, skip Ryan Adams and his ego and go straight to Wilco.

Posted by: Chris at 01/10/09 11:44 AM | Reply
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Here's how i'd rank of all his work. Full disclosure, I am an Adams fanboy. I aboslutely love everything he's done except Cardinology, which kind of sucks.

Pneumonia
Heartbreaker
Stranger's Almanac (If anyone is thinking about buying the deluxe version that came out in last year, its definitely worth it - even for a casual fan)
29
Faitheless Street
Easy Tiger
Jacksonville City Nights
Love is Hell
Cold Roses
Gold
Rock n Roll (yes, this album is actually good)
Demolition
Follow the Lights EP
Cardinology

I'd start with Hearbreaker, then move to Whiskeytown, then tackle his solo stuff. Then all his unreleased stuff.

Posted by: Joe profile link at 01/11/09 3:22 AM | Reply
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Ryan's recent stuff is so good. Don't get stuck in the past people - the new music is so much better than anything he did with Whiskeytown.

Start with Easy Tiger (accessible)
Cold Roses (possibly his best)
Cardinology
Heartbreaker
Follow the Lights
29
Gold
Jacksonville
Love is Hell
Rock n Roll
Demolition

Posted by: scott at 01/11/09 1:57 PM | Reply
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he needs to play more Rock n Roll stuff live. i saw him on that tour and it was killer.

Posted by: dra-mamine at 01/12/09 9:01 AM | Reply
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Forget it all. Every song you want is on Heartbreaker.............oh wait, maybe not...include Cold Roses as well......................be sure to hit "English Girls Approximately," "This House is Not for Sale," and 'Come Pick Me Up,'..the ultimate breakup song..............................

Posted by: dana at 01/12/09 6:26 PM | Reply
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