November 6, 2008

Ryan Adams confirms that “a bedroom full of metaphysical booty” is not a bad thing

Last week, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals stopped by the Austin, Texas studio of KUT Public Radio and performed two songs off Cardinology: a gorgeous slow piano version of “Fix It,” one of my favorite tracks on the new album, and the sweet sorrow of “Go Easy.”

In between songs Ryan discusses the Cardinals shimmering in the sunlight of purity, and how anyone who sees his ex-ex-girlfriend should run.

Fix It (slow piano) / interview / Go Easy – Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

But in terms of viscerally potent performances, I can’t stop watching the way he sings the line at 2:23 –Look what I did to you, look what you did to me — FIX IT!” (two days later on Letterman). If only wishing that much could make it so.

Finally — according to his marvelously random blog, work is underway on songwriting for the follow-up to Cardinology (shocker!). He writes:

i have been working on sketches for our next record. The paperback dictionary you see here, and the (if you squint) book next to it, are old-school. I have used that little dictionary when song-writing since my first solo album and strangely pack it without thinking from time to time. when i do new songs come round.

the book next to it has all the new songs in it. i found it at the chelsea street markets recently. it’s falling apart some but i don’t mind. so am i.

[thanks for the audio, thebalvenie!]

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September 24, 2008

Let’s listen to a little Cardinology (Ryan Adams)

My friend Tom, who is awesome, went on a scavenger hunt and dug up some live versions of new Ryan Adams & The Cardinals songs that are showing up on the tracklist for Cardinology (due out October 28 on Lost Highway). I’ve added to it, let’s have a listen! Shocking, it’s a little jammy.

CARDINOLOGY TRACKLISTING
Born Into A Light
Go Easy
Fix It
(first single, hear it here)
Magick
Cobwebs
Let Us Down Easy
Crossed Out Name
Natural Ghost
Sink Ships
Evergreen
Like Yesterday
Stop

Ryan and his Cardinals are on Letterman the day after the album is released, October 29.

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May 28, 2008

Ryan Adams at SXSW in 2001

In early 2001, Ryan Adams was riding high on the critical acclaim of his debut solo album Heartbreaker (Sept 2000), while simultaneously letting off some punk steam through the recording of the excellent Pink Hearts sessions (starting in December of that year).

The set that he played at South by Southwest that year was heavy on Pink Hearts selections, some of my favorite unreleased songs by him. In my book, the 1-2-3 punch in this set of “Candy Doll,” “Gimme A Sign” and “Mega-Superior Gold” would be one that I’d pay good cash to see again. I love those songs.

RYAN ADAMS at SXSW
March 16, 2001
Introduction
Candy Doll
Gimme A Sign
Enemy Fire
I Don’t Wanna Work
Starting To Hurt
Mega-Superior Gold
Red Red Red Red Wine
Testy, Testy
Charmed

ZIP: RYAN ADAMS AT SXSW 2001

[stream it here, thanks to the original taper]

Travel notes from D.C.: Saw Raconteurs last night at the 930 Club; more on that super-loud awesomeness later. And hey, you know what’s really nice? Waking up East-Coast early in a hotel room and crawling a few inches from the bed over into one of these things. Yeah. That’s what I’m talkin about.

May 13, 2008

New Ryan Adams :: “A Song In The News”

A song in the news indeed — a music magazine to be exact. Take a listen to a snippet of the new Ryan Adams song that he contributed to the Esopus Magazine Spring 2008 sampler CD. My first thought was “wow he is trying to stick a lot of words in here,” followed by an immediate, “meh.” After that came some vague frustration directed towards a possible lack of trying. But I could just be having a bad day. Your thoughts?

STREAM: A Song In The News – Ryan Adams

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March 21, 2008

Like Wilco in designer clothes

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March 9, 2008

Ryan Adams 10/28/99 :: Exit/In Nashville (with Gillian Welch)

While I am enjoying some of the warm California sun, it feels like a good time to share my favorite Ryan Adams bootleg ever. There is a pristine, immediate, warm quality to the sound that makes you feel like you are inches from Ryan. The talented, haunting Gillian Welch comes out for some songs, and there is a wonderful variety of rare songs for the setlist. In between his endearing banter, Ryan brings out unreleased gems, early versions of songs I love, and several terrific covers.

RYAN ADAMS (WITH GILLIAN WELCH)
EXIT/IN, NASHVILLE – OCT 28, 1999
Born Yesterday

Funny How I’m Losing You

Memories Of You

Oh My Sweet Valentine

To Be The One

Hey There, Mrs. Lovely

In My Time Of Need

Onslow County
Folklore

Revelator
(with Gillian Welch, her song)
Dancing With The Women At The Bar (Whiskeytown song, with Gillian Welch)
with I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys) at the end
Helpless (Neil Young cover, with Gillian Welch)
Return Of The Grievous Angel (Gram Parsons cover, with Gillian Welch)
16 Days (Whiskeytown song, with Gillian Welch)
Nighttime Gals
Statuettes With Wounds
Avenues (Whiskeytown song)
Avenues (Whiskeytown song)



…and THAT, folks, is one of my favorite live shows ever recorded. I have listened to it more times than I can count. It feels like a whiskey, warming the insides.

[full show/other formats here]

March 7, 2008

Oasis covering Ryan Adams, covering Oasis

I like this concept immensely. Back in 2006, Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer did a series of ace live semi-acoustic shows, and at the show on November 26th at London’s Union Chapel they performed Ryan Adams’ arrangement of their song “Wonderwall.” So, so cool to hear them taking on his haunting interpretation, even down to that winding countermelody that Ryan weaves into it.

Wonderwall (Ryan Adams arrangement) – Noel Gallagher & Gem Archer

This is very similar to the version they played in Toronto on Nov 6 – lovely.

January 20, 2008

Guitar & piano instruction with Cactus Larry and the Wild Bunch

I had every intention of not mentioning the slew of ridiculous videos that Ryan Adams is putting up on his YouTube page because, well, even if his hair looks exceptionally nice in all of them, they leave me a little perplexed about the wisdom of leaving computer video-editing software within reach of those with too much time on their hands. I mean, those wicked crystal ball effects are cool and all, but . . . what?

But then tonight this new video he posted a few hours ago made me laugh. Out loud, starting with the opening lines: “This here is a gee-tar. And the first thing you need to know is . . . you have to fret it, up here is the frets. Now when you’re frettin stuff . . .”

Ryan writes as description, “an instructional video based on the one Brad will NOT STOP PLAYING on the bus. i love brad. he could kick my dungeon all over the evergreen otherworld but he is my bro.
no content here reflects any ex girlfriends in any way
.”

GUITAR and PIANO instruction

Anyone read lips? He looks pretty dang forlorn at the end (like a puppy), I think saying something about “baby.” I am going to ask my deaf friend Rima to translate.

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December 18, 2007

Monday Music Roundup

The internet can be so eerily voyeuristic (you know this, anonymous blog reader). I’ll admit to being fascinated by sites like PostSecret and Found Magazine; now I have a new place to click and look inside the ephemera of other people’s lives. The To-Do List Blog collects and reprints people’s lists for your perusal. Seems fitting in this list-making season, and you get to see charming resolutions like #5 above: “Let my eyelashes grow.”

A noble aspiration for us all.

This week’s tunes, a day late:

The Silence Between Us
Bob Mould

After former Hüsker Düer / Sugar frontman’s dancetastic side project last year, Bob Mould returns in early 2008 with his 7th solo album District Line. I am digging this first single, it’s all my favorite fuzzy guitars and big hooks [via]. I’ve heard that Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty is holding down the percussion end of things here, and this intro heavily reminds me of Pete Yorn (“For Nancy” – listen and see). Plus, do you hear an echo of the Sugar song “A Good Idea” here like I do? This is a very strong, rocking return to form, and I look forward to hearing the whole album.

200 More Miles (feat. Ryan Adams)
Cowboy Junkies
Other than a hazy SNL appearance with really foxy hairstyles where they performed their cover of Sweet Jane that I’ve seen in re-runs, I will admit that I don’t know much about the Cowboy Junkies. I’ve heard that this is an oversight on my part, and I should probably rectify that. Eh, we’ll see. But to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Trinity Session album, the Junkies released a CD/DVD combo of performances in the same Toronto church where the original album was recorded. Ryan Adams sings lead vocals here on this tune (I love the way his voice quavers when he sings the lyric, “Atlanta’s a distant memory / Montgomery a recent blur“). Adams plays guitars, drums and trades harmony vocals on a few other songs [pics here], and Natalie Merchant and Vic Chestnutt also appear. Trinity Revisited is out now, but maybe only in the UK.

X Marks The Spot
Frankel

Here is another fresh discovery from my year-end list perusing, this time from the formidably-almost-always-right Aquarium Drunkard. Of this independent Los Angeles artist, Justin writes: “an absolute must for fans of Nilsson, Lennon/McCartney, et al. I recently described the sound of the LP as the orchestration and instrumentation of latter era Elliot Smith, combined with the songwriting and world view of Richard Swift.” After reading that descrption, I said “Okay.” And I am glad I did. The album is called Lullaby For The Passerby.

I Came Here To Say I’m Going Away
(Serge Gainsbourg cover)
Okkervil River
Artists behind another fine album from 2007 that missed my list, Okkervil River is feeling generous this Christmastime. They’ve put together an EP of live cover tunes available for free on their website, and they have dug up some wonderful, obscure tunes to make their own. Called the Golden Opportunities Mixtape, the collection includes this cover by risque French songwriter of the ’60s Serge Gainsbourg (wherein they also tag a bit of “96 Tears”), plus Joni Mitchell, The Fugs, John Cale and more. The mix also includes the evocative original tune of theirs called “Listening To Otis Redding At Home During Christmas” that I recently posted. Nothing says Christmas like free music; go get it.

Paper Planes
M.I.A.

Several of you have suggested I should have named this song of the year, but since I didn’t do a list like that, it’s a moot point (like a cow’s opinion, it doesn’t matter). I will admit an affinity for this catchy song, built entirely on a foundation of The Clash’s Straight To Hell, with one of the best and most un-singable choruses all year (I kinda do a head bop to one side for the gunshots, then two to the other side for the cash register sounds. I look really cool doing it, especially at the gym where I am most prone to listen to it, and people think I am having a seizure). The video [via GvB] is entertaining: even if her rolling-ocean-flow hand motions lose their charm after about the second time, the Beastie Boys cameo where she sells them food off the back of her trailer restaurant doesn’t.

Straight To Hell – The Clash

November 27, 2007

Who am I, where am I, and no more Polish women

1) I’m finally back but I am sick. Dang airplane recycled air.

2) California was excellent. In addition to all the wonderful Thanksgiving-related things, I adopted the spirit of appreciating what CA offers that CO doesn’t; I got some really cute chocolate-brown corduroys at H&M in San Jose that I am wearing today, and I found a wrap dress that I want to wear every day. Plus, Trader Joe sent me on my merry way with cocoa almonds and some two buck Chuck. I could be in love with that strapping Trader man.

3) My high school reunion was the weirdest thing I think I’ve done yet. To see all those faces in one room – walking into that was strange. And great.

Since I can’t even get my head clear enough to attack the hundreds of emails waiting for me, here are some random odds and ends that jumped out at me today, for you, since I miss you all:

Ûž The new Nine Inch Nails remix album is out: Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D (took me a while but hey look that spells out “Year Zero Remixed,” which is what I think I’ll call it in polite conversation). After getting out of his relationship with Interscope and going all free-agent, sounds like Trent has some new innovative ideas; he’s posted tons of master tracks from his songs at remix.nin.com and invites his fans to play with them and share their results. If I had any idea how to do that, I would, but for now I will settle for listening to The Faint (whose song “Posed To Death” is on my very favorite running playlist) remix “Meet Your Master” –

STREAM – “Meet Your Master” (Faint Remix)

I think it sounds pretty good. If you think you could do better, try your hand at it over on http://remix.nin.com/

Ûž Black Crowes announced details today on their new album Warpaint, due March 4th. It’s their first new studio record in seven years, since Lions was released on V2 in ’01. Since V2 is no more, this album will be out on the band’s own newly formed Silver Arrow Records, and the new lineup includes Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi All Stars on guitar.

You can read the full tracklisting here.

Ûž I stumbled across a raw demo version of The National‘s “Slow Show” over on Sixeyes. Now, you know how I feel about The National; My friend described this song perfectly when he wrote to me, “the national writes songs to drive through the darkness listening to, they are the best late night/early morning band i’ve ever heard, 20 years from now when they remake almost famous they are going to be playing fake empire or slow show in the bus scene instead of tiny dancer.” I thought that was lovely. So go see what you think.


Ûž Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers
are heading back into the (Mexican) studios in January with the creative mission to write, compose, and record an album in 8 days . . .

According to their MySpace blog, Roger, P.H., Steve, Nick, Jason Boots with his video camera, and the talented Clif Norrell (producer of Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy and No More Beautiful World) will be relocating for the week to a house in Rocky Point, Mexico, and I am excited to hear what is to come. Roger told me a near-mystical story once about how the song idea for “Leaky Little Boat,” (one of my favorites) sprung unexpectedly from the fertile beaches of communal Mexico living, so let’s hope that same inspiration is present come January. Read Roger’s latest story of white-knuckled traffic travails and the details on the album here.

Ûž New tour dates announced in 2008 for Ryan Adams (and then while you’re at it go over to the MySpace try and figure out WTF is going on with the Axl Rose-channeling on the streaming new Ry song “Sexual Fantasy”)

Ûž New tour dates announced in 2008 for the Foo Fighters (and they’ve got that new video for Long Road to Ruin that reminds me of the adolescent days when I used to follow General Hospital – a dark secret)

Ûž The Fader Magazine has a really interesting article on New York rock in “the years to be hated” (early 2000s) and includes some cool silent black and white video footage of The Strokes shot in the style of Andy Warhol’s Factory screen tests.The article talks about the Strokes in their genesis days (lower-case g), and also bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, !!!, the Rapture and DFA. The article has several punch-fantastic photographs in it, but this absolutely gorgeous photo instantly became one of my all-time favorites – that saturated hue, the skyline, that perfect time of night, all lovely and blue.

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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