You may have missed him of the day.

Ryan Adams. Yes ~ not Bryan Adams ~ Ryan Adams.

Most notable for such pop-stopping hits as New York, New York. Well, he's uuuber'd himself into whatthafuck oblivion. And I, for maybe the only one, love it. His coordinates in NYC street-lore may have never met, but he's a righteous sonnabitch.




This live version of La Cienga Just Smiled ~ and just wait for it, it gets going ~ is from the 2001 GOLD release. I think Ryan, nee David, deserves songwriting, stage-presence and general wherewithal to be who he is and was. It's fuckall easy to write bad press for someone who tends to ex, and, implode simultaneously on a vision. I mean, listen to his songs. But I certainly enjoyed the journey.

Following his marriage and departure from the Cardinals, Ryan announced~ as we in the press are privy ~ that he left music in March. However, Ryan has completed and released his first book of free-verse poetry, Infinity Blues in early April of 2009. His second book of shorts and poems, Hello Sunshine is due for release in December. Judging by the titles, I have to say that it sounds on the up-and-up. Perhaps there is a reason for Mandy Moore after all...

I jest.

Or do I? Hopefully I do. But what he had the capacity to create and record from 2000 - 2008 : eleven albums, 3 in 2005 : is quite a cannon to behold. Take him at face value or throw him out the window. He couldn't care less and would want you to listen anyway. Conundrum'd to the end.

May I recommend:
Heartbreaker 2000
The Heartbreaker Demos 2000
Gold 2001
Demolition 2002
Rock N Roll 2003
Cold Roses w/ The Cardinals 2005
Jacksonville City Nights w/ The Cardinals 2005
29 2005




That video was from 2005. He was tinkering with sobriety, but I wasn't. And I didn't mind him not looking at the audience, telling us to shut the fuck up, or his general hate-rages. To be young!



He also plays mad piano. And began blogging for The Awl in September of 2009.