The Enigma That Is Ryan Adams

Singer. Song-writer. Performer. Juvenile. That pretty much sums up what I know of Ryan (Don't Call Me Bryan) Adams. He is a wonderfully gifted musician. His lyrics, while sometimes very personal, cut to the bone. He also carries on a tempestuous relationship with just about anyone that will joust with him; including critics, fans, & record labels. While this behavior should not prevent anyone from giving his material a solid listen, it does place barriers in Adams' way as far as scoring more mainstream success.

Ryan Adams is another one of those artists that can't be defined by genre. "Alternative Country" is one of those labels given frequently, but if you've read my previous posts you know where those labels can be unceremoniously placed. Adams is a very solid acoustic & electric guitarist, plays the harmonica Dylan-style, and has a very soothing voice. He's been influenced by artists from Patsy Cline to Husker Du. You can tell he makes music from within, which is very underappreciated in the times in which we live. What gets Adams introuble is that his impetuous personality has driven his career to the point where he no longer has a record deal. Adams tours & records with his backing band, The Cardinals, and also contributes to various other projects, most notably Willie Nelson's 2006 Songbird. He's dated Parker Posey & Mandy Moore. He's done the whole drug rehab thing. He paints & writes poetry. Interesting guy...

I was given a couple of CD's a few years ago by my sister (this seems to be a recurring theme for some RHT contributors) who lives in Knoxville, TN. I'll admit, at first I was skeptical - I like to keep the "emo" out of my music as much as possible. But I gave it a try on vacation down in southern North Carolina (Jacksonville, NC is Adams' hometown, ironically enough) and fell in love with it. Much of his catalog is either "over my head" if you were asking Adams, or simply self-ingratiating if you ask me...but nonetheless I have found a good-sized body of his work to wrap my ears around. Some of my favorites include "Come Pick Me Up," "English Girls Approximately," "Burning Photographs," "Hallelujah," and "Two."

What really caught my ear though was a bootleg of Adams' 7.25.06 show in Knoxville from my sister, who was also in attendance. Adams was currently embroiled in one of many battles with his record company, and the show ended abruply as the UT crowd started shouting requests mixed with insults at the stage. In posterity, what was left was a fantastic set of songs that includes "Trains," "He's Gone," "Blue Hotel" (written for Nelson), a raucous "Shakedown on 9th Street," and a "dead-on" version of the Grateful Dead classic "Franklin's Tower." Note: Adams performed on several occasions with Dead Man Phil Lesh in 2006.

Well, there you have it. Ryans Adams: talented yet troubled. But who am I to call someone else "troubled?" One man's troubles are another's tribulations. What he is is true to himself, no matter how conflicting those inner voices are. That also seems to have hurt his career. There I go again, who am I to say that either? Maybe that's the way he wants it? Anyway, hurry back Ryan. And don't suck...