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Thanks to the power of eBay, I recently completed my Ryan Adams full-album collection on Vinyl.

The Cardinals’ Everybody Knows [EP] was a UK-only release. The 12″ is essentially Follow The Lights, but with ‘Everybody Knows’ from ET leading off, thus pushing each track back one spot. I figured why not pay a little more for that extra track and get the bonus of having a far more rare disc.

Sometime last year, Bloodshot Records got with the picture and reissued Heartbreaker on a 12″ gatefold double vinyl. I only learned of this while browsing the site with the intention of purchasing Midnight At The Movies earlier this year. So I snagged Ryan’s debut LP about a month before the elusive LIH 10″ gatefold showed up on eBay.

As you probably know, Love Is Hell was originally issued as two EPs – parts 1 & 2 – in late 2003. The collections were later combined and released as a double 10″ containing 15 tracks. Five months later, the album was released in CD form and an alternate version of ‘Anybody Wanna Take Me Home’ was added. The extra track, clocking in at nearly a full minute longer than the original form, was a strange addition, but being one of the softer tracks on Rock N Roll, it does feel in place here.

In my ongoing Ryan Adams spotlight, I try to approach each album/session with open mind and ears. We all know the best way to get the feel of an album is to hear it in its intented form – high fidelity analog. So the aquisition of this last disc comes at a perfect time as Love Is Hell is next in line. Until then, I’ll wet your ears with that mysterious extended track added to the LIH CD.

Anybody Wanna Take Me Home (extended version)

My quest will continue for as many 7″ Vinyl Singles as I can get my hands on. I already own this Whiskeytown EP and the bonus 7″ from Cardinology. En route via eBay is the ‘Hey Parker It’s Christmas’ 7″ and the ‘Wonderwall’ 7″ single.

If anyone wants to begin a collection of their own, check out this eBay auction for a great start. You get:

• Demolition
• Cold Roses
• Jacksonville City Nights
• Easy Tiger (orange vinyl)
• Cardinology (with 7″ single)
• Hey Parker It’s Christmas 7″ Single
  

With under 4 days left, the bidding is only up to $10.49!!!

Rock N Roll…. loud, unfiltered, adored, maligned, epic.

But before I get into all that, you must know that Rock N Roll was not intended to be the follow-up record to Demolition (neither was Demolition Ryan’s proposed record, but I digress). In 2002, Ryan began a transition, some might say a regression, toward a heavier sound. Full electric lineups turned up to 11. He formed yet another punk band, The Finger, with Jesse Malin and a few others under a pseudonymous shield. Ryan (Warren Peace) provided dirty guitar. They released 2 EP’s – which I have – but will spare your ears the posting of them (check out the answeringbell.com page for full artwork/credits).

Sensing the inevitable sound transformation, Ryan wanted to record one more (last?) down-tempo, sentimental album. Love Is Hell was recorded in New York in 2002 – more on this in the future – but was not accepted by Lost Highway. They reportedly complained that the collection was “too alternative,” “incredibly depressing,” and “not your best stuff.” Again, the label wanted Ryan to recreate the success of Gold, most-likely telling him to create more of a rock and roll sound. Ryan took that and ran.

Straight back to the studio with a group of friends, Ryan recorded what would be a metaphorical slap-in-the-face to Lost Highway: A record spitefully entitled Rock N Roll. The set is blatant, forceful rock that is the furthest overlap of Ryan’s therapeutic but never-serious side projects into his ‘real’ work.

“Rock N Roll is unadulterated–it’s the way I play guitar live. It’s the exact sound I always use when I make the demonstration recordings for my records. The other albums are concept records a little bit, but I wasn’t trying to reference anything here.” – Ryan Adams

Present in the studio during the two-week recordings were Smashing Pumpkins/Hole bassist Melissa Auf de Maur, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong – whom Ryan shockingly resembled during this time – and his then love interest Parker Posey.

R&R isn’t shy in expressing it’s contempt, both lyrically and musically. Powerful guitar riffs become instant classics in songs like ‘Shallow,’ ‘Wish You Were Here,’ ‘So Alive,’ and ‘Do Miss America.’ Most songs on the collection end in huge crescendos of drums, vocals and reverb. That is, except one. Keeping with the sarcasm theme, the title track is the only cut to not feature amped-up guitars. This depressingly slow ballad features only Ryan on piano and vocals:

“Everybody’s cool playin’ rock and roll.
Everybody’s cool playin’ rock and roll.
I don’t feel cool, feel cool at all.
I don’t feel cool, feel cool at all.”

‘Rock N Roll’ concludes with a grainy voice mail from a terrified Courtney Love. The barely discernible audio may have helped to spurn the recent lash-out from the troubled songstress in which she accused Ryan of draining all of her daughter Frances Bean Cobain’s trust fund. The money was allegedly used to fund studio costs, guitars, expensive dinners at Nobu, and plenty of speedballs. She claims that the costs added up to a cool $858,000 and goes on to completely bash the album itself, calling it “one of the worst recordings [she's] ever heard.” Read the entire, ridiculous thing here.

Ryan’s left-handed sarcasm shows through only in somewhat lackluster writing. Nearly every song concludes with repetitions of cliché rock phrasing – “just like magic” “wish you were here” “the drugs ain’t working” “taking me higher!” This element is frighteningly similar to the problems I had with Cardinology, but on Rock N Roll, it all works to add up to an effective statement of defiance toward authority. And that’s the ultimate goal of rock and roll, right?

“Well, I wasn’t arrogant in the beginning; I was naive. I didn’t know to not speak about my music like I totally believed in it.”

Read the whole interview, conducted by Parker Posey.

————————————

Now for the good stuff: Bonus Tracks

Rock N Roll [UK/Japan Bonus Tracks] Nov, 2003

Hypnotixed
Funeral Marching – posted here

So Alive [International Single CD1] Jan, 2004

Ah Life
Don’t Even Know Her Name

So Alive [International Single CD2] Jan, 2004

I’m Coming Over

So Alive [International 7" Single] Jan, 2004

Luxury

This Is It [Single] May 2004

Red Lights
Closer When She Goes
Twice As Bad As Love

Seems as though I can’t think for myself lately, or at least can’t come up with anything original. So here’s another news-worthy snippet courtesy of some other website.

Word from Pitchfork (once again) is that Akashic Books has yet another work from Ryan Adams in its final production stages. Hello Sunshine will be Ryan’s second literary work – following Infinity Blues – a collection of short, dark poems.

So just as Ryan can release albums with his hands tied behind his back, it seems he can also type with his feet. The announcement of his second book comes more than a month prior to the official release of his first. The first batch of Infinity Blues was shipped out before Christmas, but the collection will hit bookshelves in April. I’m about halfway through my copy, and I can tell you one thing: poetry is not my bag, baby. The pieces are always interesting, but I just can’t seem to follow them. The book initially received great reviews from some power names (Steven King, Cameron Crowe, Eileen Myles), so that just proves I should not review literary works.

The new one is listed as a mix of “poems and short fiction from Ryan Adams.”

The publisher goes on to say “with the release of Hello Sunshine, Ryan Adams breaks literary ground far beyond what he accomplished with his critically acclaimed first book. Where his debut was characterized by the bitterness of heartbreak, Hello Sunshine is a graceful, sensual assertion of the other side of the emotional coin. This is a 2009 fever dream–inside Ryan’s heart and mind–replete with unforgettable verse that will shock and delight those expecting a mere continuation of where Infinity Blues left off.”

Ryan, as ever, claims his newest effort to be his “best work yet.”

Read more, including some comments from Ryan himself here.
Check the page again on May 15th for ordering information.

This news has got me wanting to get back into the first one so I can make a better judgment regarding it. I stopped reading it when I ordered a copy of the (so far) only biography written on Ryan – Michael Heatley’s aptly titled Ryan Adams (2003). The bio was short and sweet, offering lots of quotes and inside-the-studio intel. But the premature effort stops just short of the good stuff. It abruptly ends after the release of Demolition with the hanger being the question of what is next for Ryan, to which the only answer Heatley has is I don’t know. The life of this prolific songsmith will no doubt spawn many better efforts further down the line.

Ryan Adams (Lost Highway) released a Valentine’s Day EP, Extra Cheese, today available on iTunes for $3.99.

Really?!?

With stacks and stacks of Ryan’s unreleased gems, they decide to rehash 5 previously released studio cuts. Oh, but they included one bonus track of a semi-unreleased tune. If you’ve been coming here for a while, you would’ve gotten the whole evolutionary story behind Hey There, Mrs. Lovely/These Girls a long time ago. Try to keep up, Lost Highway.

So, today I offer up an alternate version of this love song EP. And this one’s completely FREE!

Extra Pepperoni:
1. Two - early version The Elizabethtown Sessions (2005)
2. Blossom - live acoustic version Arlington Theatre (1.21.08)
3. Answering Bell - alternate version The Suicide Handbook (2001)
4. Evergreen - extended live version Ambassador Theatre (11.8.08)
5. My Love For You Is Real - Cowboy Technical Services (2001)
6. Desire - live version The Paramount Theatre (10.13.08)
7. Hey There, Mrs. Lovely* - The Destroyer Sessions (2000)

*It sounds like this is the same version as on the iTunes release, but don’t tell Lost Highway…

Oh, how I love the internet. If you spend enough time just trolling around, little nuggets of gold can be found. I was under the impression that I had collected, reviewed, and posted all of the studio sessions that helped form Ryan Adams’ Demolition, but if you look back at that post, you’ll see that one song, ‘You Will Always Be The Same’ was not credited with a session of birth. That tune was originally recorded in October of 2001 during what would the final studio session needed to complete Demolition.

Ryan took some time during an overseas tour to stop in at Nord Studio AB in Stockholm, Sweden and lay down yet another album’s worth of tracks. The Swedish Sessions rival 48 Hours as the best unreleased album in his repertoire. Hell, this one may even go twelve rounds with Heartbreaker. The Swedish Sessions are in fact very reminiscent of that solo debut. When Ryan is plaintive and full acoustic, it’s downright heartbreaking. But somehow, he can mix in a screaming harmonica fueled jam in the middle and it just works.

The two lead-off tracks were unfortunately the only survivors from the session. ‘For Beth’ was later renamed ‘Friends’ and became the final track on Cold Roses. ‘Dear Anne’, a song dedicated to Anne Frank, is an obvious standout with Ryan’s classic vulnerable yet so emotive soft vocals.

Track 4 busts in the room with a slick groove and even a great joke thrown in the lyrics: “Why’d the boat get drunk? Pier Pressure.” Ryan also offers up one of his best attempts at a true blues number with both takes of ‘Madeline.’ The rising pressure in the song never seems to fully escape, but you gotta give him credit for staying true to the style and not overcooking it.

‘Oh, Charles’, a prison letter ballad drags you right into the dark cell with the narrator. Offering a glint of hope and beginning the ascent back up in the album is ‘Come Monday’ that leads into a slightly humorous ‘Not In Love’ showcasing expert fingerpicking. ‘Friendly Fire’ shows Ryan building to the melodic perfection that was Cold Roses. The Swedish Sessions ends with an acoustic groove as good as ‘Choked Up’ or ‘Monday Night.’

1. You Will Always Be The Same buy Demolition
2. For Beth (aka Friends)
3. Dear Anne
4. Poor Jimmy
5. Madeline I
6. Madeline II
7. Oh, Charles
8. Come Monday
9. Not In Love
10. Friendly Fire
11. Fool For You

Swedish Session ZIP

Check out more Ryan Adams:

• Took Me Long Enough: Whiskeytown
• Heartbreaker
• Gold
• Exile on Franklin Street
• The Destroyer Sessions
• Whiskeytown: The Missing Bridge
• The Pinkheart Sessions (1)
• Panning For Gold
• Evolution: These Girls
• The Suicide Handbook
• 48 Hours
• The Pinkheart Sessions (2)
• Halloween Promo
• Demolition
• Music In High Places
  

show all

I figured the best way to get back in the groove of posting was to begin with a little Album Release Forecast. I’ve had this in mind for a while, but kept putting it off because so many of the expected releases I know of don’t have much substantiating evidence. Thanks to MySpace for keeping me in the loop with most of these bands’ happenings, but as you can see, there are many details still left to be determined.

February 2009

Dan Auerbach ~ Keep It Hid (2/10/09)

Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach has decided to step away from his rhythm-making partner for a solo album. The tracks I’ve heard show a style more geared toward the vocals – which are quite smooth – but still as groovy as anything from The Keys.

1. Trouble Weighs a Ton
2. I Want Some More
3. Heartbroken, in Disrepair
4. Because I Should
5. Whispered Words
6. Real Desire
7. When the Night Comes
8. Mean Monsoon
9. Keep It Hid
10. My Last Mistake

Pre-order the Cd/LP here.

Ryan Adams ~ Extra Cheese – Valentines Day EP (2/10/09)

Looks like Lost Highway is gonna suck everything they can out of their contract with Ryan. This rehashing of old love songs from Ryan will only appease those people that actually enjoyed Cardinology. It will only be available through iTunes ($3.99). Stay tuned here and I may just post these tracks before it comes out.

1. Two
2. Blossom
3. Answering Bell
4. Evergreen
5. My Love For You is Real
6. Desire
7. Hey There, Mrs. Lovely

March 2009

Justin Townes Earle ~ Midnight At The Movies (3/3/09)

Dropping in March is the new one from JTE. HearYa.com had the pleasure of hearing this album early and wrote up a little review. There will also be a limited edition vinyl version of Midnight At The Movies. Here’s the song that I mentioned hearing (and adoring) at his show back in December made available on the Bloodshot Records website.

1. Midnight at the Movies
2. What I Mean To You
3. They Killed John Henry
4. Mama’s Eyes
5. Dirty Rag
6. Can’t Hardly Wait
7. Black Eyed Suzy
8. Poor Fool
9. Halfway to Jackson
10. Someday I’ll Be Forgiven For This
11. Walk Out
12. Here We Go Again

The Roadside Graves ~ My Son’s Home

Folk outfit The Roadside Graves’ new one is scheduled for a Spring Release on their new label Autumn Tone Records. Although no release date or tracklist has been divulged, more info can be found here.

My Son’s Home(Demo)
Far & Wide

April 2009

The Felice Brothers ~ Yonder Is The Clock (4/7/09)

Hoping to make 2009 as big a year as ‘08 was for them, The Felice Brothers have a new album scheduled for a spring release as well as a slew of tour dates – including some with Old Crow Medicine Show. I’m planning on attending the New Orleans show on February 13th. Here’s the tracklist for their upcoming album which will also be available on vinyl:

1. The Big Surprise
2. Penn Station
3. Buried In Ice
4. Chicken Wire
5. Ambulance Man
6. Sailor Song
7. Katie Dear
8. Run Chicken Run
9. All When We Were Young
10. Boy from Lawrence County
11. Memphis Flu
12. Cooperstown
13. Rise and Shine

Slaid Cleaves ~ Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away (4/14/09)

Slaid’s last album was released in 2006 and was a covers compilation. I, therefore, have extremely high hopes for the songs that will make up this new one.

1. Cry
2. Hard to Believe
3. Beyond Love
4. Green Mountains and Me
5. Run Jolee Run
6. Dreams
7. Black T Shirt
8. Tumbleweed Stew
9. Twistin’
10. Beautiful Thing
11. Temporary

Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers ~ Songs In The Night (4/28/09)

Samantha’s first full-length album is one of my most anticipated releases to be mentioned yet. Likewise, she’s gaining quite the critical buzz around the net. From the mixture of songs I heard at this show and the ones she did for Daytrotter (which is more than half), Songs In The Night should be a stellar debut.

1. Rising Sun
2. Songs in the Night
3. Long Division
4. Get the Fever Out
5. Bananafish Revolution
6. Scissor Tales
7. Devils In Boston
8. Bullfight (Change Your Mind)
9. Calm Down
10. You Never Know
11. The Dam Song

Other Notes:

Reigning This Mornin’… album champion These United States stated briefly in a MySpace bulletin that they have a new album in the works – no details or release date though.

The Avett Brothers have mentioned that their next full-length release on American (Columbia) Records, produced by Rick Rubin, will see a Summer Release.

Bombadil told us that their next album for Ramseur Records will be produced by Scott Solter.

The Fleet Foxes mentioned today that they have begun preparations for recording their next album – in a rented house in Port Townsend, WA.

Ramsuer Records has reported that The Everybodyfields hope to get a new album out “later this year.”

Band of Horses have not given out an album title or release date, but I’ve heard that they have done some recording at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama as well as Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC.

It’s been six years since the last Gillian Welch album, but rumor still has it that there is one due this year.

Thanks to an anonymous commenter, I received word that Ryan put up a serious post at The Cardinal Cave this morning.

“i am excited to finish this wonderful time i have had with the cardinals and whatever new adventures may come after march. atlanta will be my last venture with the band and i am grateful for the time we have had and maybe someday we will have more stories to tell together. i am however ready for quieter times as i think it is very evident i am struggling with some balance and hearing issues.”

Holy Shit.

Does that mean quit forever??

Take the time to go read the whole thing, as it truly does sound like a farewell letter.

Ryan also vowed to cease work at The Cardinal Cave:

“also it is kind of ridiculous to blog as i am a musician and anything i say here just gets reprinted at some point out of context. i say NOT FAIR but it doesn’t matter what i say anymore or what is fair anymore really does it- the 21st century media has it’s own rules about what is true and what is not. it is not a life- not one i want to live anyway and i don’t really care to participate in narcissistic over-indulgent behavior anymore- that was never my intention- i just wanted to fight for my right to make music and to be given the benefit of the doubt.”

Now that part is totally understandable. But just to quell any disbelief, here is how he signed off:

“maybe we will play again sometime and maybe i will work my way back into some kind of music situation but this is the time for me to step back now, to reel it in and i wish everyone peace and happiness and if music is your dream, or if just dreaming is your dream, may you find your way through the rough patch with ease and i hope you let go and it takes you all the way there-

loving kindness to all.

R”

Weezer – Say It Ain’t So

Bob Dylan – Baby Please Don’t Go

Robert Plant & Allison Krauss – Gone, Gone, Gone

I’m honestly speechless. Please comment.

In the summer of 2002 riding the wave created from Gold, Ryan was asked to go to Jamaica and film some live acoustic recordings. Music In High Places is a recurring DVD/Television program that features bands playing live in exotic places – others included are bands like Goo Goo Dolls, Deftones, and Unwritten Law.

Firecracker:


The Rescue Blues:

Touch Feel & Lose:

The DVD was released in 2003, and yes, I have a copy. There are some limited behind the scenes shots that I especially enjoyed – Ryan shopping in Jamaican markets, meeting Toots Hibbert, and teaching some locals to sing harmony. Ryan performed Firecracker, You Will Always Be The Same, The Rescue Blues, Touch Feel & Lose, New York New York, Hard Time Situation (with Toots), and Answering Bell. The special also aired on MTV on in August of 2002.

Firecracker (live in Jamaica)
The Rescue Blues (live in Jamaica)
Touch Feel & Lose (live in Jamaica)

The other day i got a request for a re-post of a song that showed up on my Ode to the Vinyl Record. Instead of just re-linking the Ryan Adams’ If I Am A Stranger vinyl rip from an old 7-inch, i thought i’d make a post with some interesting news. Thanks to Christmas, i now have a new toy to help supply my faithful readers with some extra musical goodness in 2009:

Not only is that a badass new record player with great sound, fast playback, and an iPod dock, but it has a USB cable that allows for easy ripping of that Vinyl sound. So many of those Vinyl-only tracks i possess will be making their way to the digital world and onto the pages of This Mornin’ I Am Born Again. This comes just in time for the part of my Ryan Adams Spotlight fast approaching that will now include many Side D’s full of great bonus tracks.

Ryan Adams – If I Am A Stranger (Vinyl Rip)