RYAN ADAMS | COLD ROSES
Before Ryan Adams was living happily ever after with Mandy Moore (yes this is true and more than a little strange) he was creating mostly depressing, sometimes beautiful, pop and alt-country (there is is again!) albums. In the early 2000s, Adams was particularly inspired, creating his best work while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. You know, pretty much the same scenario where all the best work is done. Except if you are doing math. That shit is hard enough.
In 2005, Adams was writing so many songs that he actually came out with 3 albums. Jacksonville City Lights, his most country leaning album since his Whiskeytown days was pretty good. 29, nine sad songs, consisting mostly of piano ballads was a little too sad, and a little too ballady for my tastes. Cold Roses, is not only the best of the three, but probably the best album of his 20-year career. It is a double album, but it for the most part avoids the dreaded double album filler. Of the 18 tracks, there is actually enough great songs that combining just the worthy ones into one album would make it run too long. Cold Roses also avoids the other fatal double album flaw where one disc has all the good songs, and the 2nd album is where all the songs that should have been b-sides at best reside. Both albums are solid and flow together well. Side note: If I ever make an album, it will be titled B-Sides at Best. Dibs.
Cold Roses shows off Ryan Adams at his best. Basically using enough country to make things interesting, but not so much that he seems out of his element. I mean he is responsible for a song titled “Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart” , but he’s still a singer-songwriter at heart, not a cowboy hat wearing fool. Songs like “Sweet Illusions” and “Cherry Lane” (in particular the beginning) let you know there is going to be a country presence on this album and you’re going to have to like it. But there are ballads, and there are jams (“Easy Plateau”, “Cold Roses”) that make you feel like jumping in the car and taking a nice drive on a sunny day day to absolutely nowhere. At least I picture this when I hear them. I also envision whoever is taking this spin to nowhere being high. Is that relevant? I don’t know, but it probably makes the aimless driving, if not the music, seem better.
None of the songs are really radio-friendly like anything off Gold, but there are some catchy hooks here too. And you get one of the patented Ryan Adams “I’m not just a sappy guy that the Corrs and Bono covered, I’m a fucking rock star” straightforward rock songs in “Beautiful Sorta”. My favorite songs are “Let it Ride” and “If I Am A Stranger”. They don’t meander on a sunny day or make you weep, but they’re a little bit country, a little bit rock n roll. And zero bit Osmond family. Jesus that reference is even too old for me. Just listen to the damn song and check out Ryan Adams appearing to have no face.
The drink: We going to honor Adam’s sobriety and go with no drink. Good for him. I sure couldn’t do it.
Bake
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