Ryan Adams is the brilliant yet mercurial singer songwriter who broke on to the music scene in the early 90’s with the alt/country group Whiskeytown. The oft troubled singer has carved out a prolific and somewhat unpredictable solo career that has seen both critical and commercial success. 

His solo debut “Heartbreaker” was released in 2000 with critical praise but lacked commercial clout.  In 2001, he released “Gold” but was reluctant to work the media circuit to promote the album but eventually capitulated to the powers that be and made a video for his single “New York, New York” which eerily and fortuitously for him featured Adams playing with the city skyline behind him.  The video was filmed four days prior to the 9/11 attacks and was put into heavy rotation on both MTV and VH1 which helped Adams find an audience with mainstream, commercial America.

Following the success of “Gold” Adams released “Demolition” with the similar results; critical attention but low volume sales.  He then went on to produce Jesse Malin’s debut the aptly titled “The Fine Art of Self Destruction”.  During 2002-03 Adams worked on the album “Love is Hell” which he eventually had to release as Pt. 1 & 2 EP’s due to his labels (Lost Highway) insistence that the album as a whole was not commercially viable.  He went back and made another album “Rock N Roll” which was released in Nov. 2003 along with “Love is Hell Pt. 1” with Pt.2 following in December.  Much to the surprise of Lost Highway “Love is Hell Pt. 1 & Pt. 2” were well received and in 2004 released it as intended, a complete album.  This album features the cover of the Oasis classic “Wonderwall” which Adam’s earned a Grammy nomination for his rendition of the song.

In 2005 Adams brought together “The Cardinals” and released two albums “Jacksonville Nights” and “Cold Roses”.  Rachel Yamagata covers backing vocals on several songs from “Cold Roses” while Nora Jones lends her dusky, dulcet tone to one song from “Jacksonville Nights”.  In 2006 he produced Willie Nelson’s album “Songbird” and Adams and The Cardinals performed as Nelson’s backing band. 

Currently, in true unpredictable Adam’s form, he has quit The Cardinals, become disillusioned with the musical world, is releasing some books, and spurring rumors of a Whiskeytown reunion.  He also married singer/actress Mandy Moore.

Ryan Adams Discography:

• Heartbreaker
• Gold
• Demolition
• Rock N Roll
• Love Is Hell
• Cold Roses
• Jacksonville Nights
• 29
• Easy Tiger
• Follow the Lights
• Cardinology

Top 5 Ryan Adams Songs:

1. Wonderwall (Love Is Hell)
2. Two (Easy Tiger)
3. My Love for You Is Real (Follow the Lights)
4. New York, New York (Gold)
5. Cold Roses (Cold Roses)

 Ryan Adam’s music is available on iTunes and record stores.

Great music awaits!

FIRST of all, this is a bit of a long one, so if you’re not interested in 17th century poetry, punk rock fanzines, bleepy sounds from Sheffield, Badly Drawn Boy, bossa nova or cats, you’d probably best fuck off now. I promise I won’t be offended.

Now, are we all sitting comfortably?

The best ideas are often the simplest.

Whoever it was at Punks is Hippies who came up with the genius idea of scanning old punk fanzines and sticking them online as downloadable pdf files deserves a medal – although thinking about it, they’d probably prefer a dinky little button badge.

Among a ton of UK publications from the Eighties (like Acts of Defiance, pictured), you’ll also find a treasure trove of more recent European zines such as Vapaus! from Osijek, Croatia featuring such mellow, middle-of-the-road acts as Zudas Krust (Indonesia), Kääska (Brazil), Derriba Tus Muros (Brazil) and Chaos Destroy (USA).

Punks is Hippies is allied to the equally worthy Digital Fanzine Preservation Society and the UK Zine Library (where I was very pleased to see a couple of my old publications and even better, several issues of legendary Scunny punkzine Fuck Off & Drop Dead) and I think it is just about the best idea I’ve come across in oooh, weeks.

Consolidating and building your brand through social media is also a pretty simple idea but it’s surprising how many organisations get it so very wrong.

One organisation which seems to have got in very right indeed is We Love Sundays at Space.

The people behind the marathon 22-hour parties on the Playa den Bossa next door to Ibiza airport have added a thoughtful and well put togther blog to the main site which expands We Love Music’s musical and cultural horizons way beyond its stock-in-trade thumping electronic psychedelia – although there’s plenty of that too.

As well as interesting little Q&As with the likes of Derrick May, Jeff Mills and Carl Craig, recent entries have also included appreciations of The Thick Of It, Jean Giraud aka Moebius and blotter art, as well as an ongoing serialisation of Bill Drummond’s thoughts about the music biz.

The thing that really blew me away was a piece on a poem by Francis Bacon – which, incidentally, gave the much revered BBC Radiophonic Workshop its motto.

“Wee have also Sound-Houses, wher wee practise and demonstrate all Sounds, and their Generation. Wee have Harmonies which you have not, of Quarter-Sounds and lesser Slides of Sounds. Diverse Instruments of Musick likewise to you unknowne, some sweeter than any you have; Together with Bells and Rings that are dainty and sweet.

“Wee represent Small Sounds as Great and Deepe; Likewise Great Sounds, Extenuate and Sharpe; Wee make diverse Tremblings and Warblings of Sounds, which in their Originall are Entire.

“Wee represent and imitate all Articulate Sounds and Letters, and the Voices and Notes of Beasts and Birds.

“Wee have certaine Helps, which sett to the Eare doe further the Hearing greatly. Wee have also diverse Strange and Artificiall Eccho’s, Reflecting the Voice many times, and as it were Tossing it; And some that give back the Voice Lowder then it came, some Shriller, and some Deeper; Yea, some rendring the Voice, Differing in the Letters or Articulate Sound, from that they receyve.

“Wee have also meanes to convey Sounds in Trunks and Pipes, in strange Lines, and Distances. “

That was written in 1624. Seriously – Bacon wrote it in 1624. Hundreds of years before King Tubby was born. Mind-blowing.

Mind you, the geezer couldn’t spell to save his life. Maybe he wasn’t that clever after all.

Webswise, this month I am also digging Webmong (random web effluent, pix and shit, yeah? Safe as fuck) and a rather marvellous interpretation of the cover of Unknown Pleasures.

More freebie download love has come from the general direction of my Sheffield man dem Black Dog since the last time we did this. Relaunching their Dust Science label, the In The North EP was available as a free download for a short period but you have to pay cash money if you want it now, oh Johnny / Jenny-come-lately.

The good news is, it’s fucking ace, with four very different artists from Sheffield representing their small sounds “great and deepe” . The Bass Soldier’s nasty and dirty You Live With Your Mum is my big favourite this week, although the Black Dog also come correct with the Detroit-meets-S2 throb of Tesco (Dark House). The In The North EP also wins big with a fantastic ‘cover’ image of Sheffield’s long-lost Hole int Road. Space age.

But no fish tank?

More northern class comes in the shape of Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy. He’s the very definition of an ordinary bloke with an extraordinary talent and while I’d like to pretend everyday, ordinary geniuses like Damon are ten-a-penny up here, on both sides of the Pennines, they aren’t. The guy is a one-off. The fact that every so often I see him down the pub (he lives around the corner from me) does not diminish my regard for his talent.

I’ve not heard his new album, but it’s always worth paying attention to Badly Drawn Boy, whatever it is he’s up to. We went to see him at some charity do at the Ritz a few weeks back. Damon seemed a bit tense, what with the new material and the weird crowd. By ‘weird crowd’, I mean there were lots of Brummie lads who’d apparently up come with the Twang, and who were largely characterised by beer bellies, bad sportswear and worse haircuts.

I’m being needlessly cruel – but they were a set of desperate, tragic fucks, it has to be said, lurching about the Ritz like portly, pissed bantams channelling Liam Gallagher.

Anyway, Damon and his latest backing band (which now includes Stephen Fretwell on bass) played a few songs from the new Badly Drawn Boy album, a couple of oldies and a couple of covers, and I liked them a lot. I wasn’t on duty, so that’s about as much of a review as you’re going to get. Here are a couple of numbers from the night – the sound isn’t great but my trusty Flip does have its limitations:

Badly Drawn Boy will probably turn up on a few album of the decade lists, most likely. I don’t get this pointless fixation with lists many of us seem to develop towards the end of the year – or the decade in this case. Why do we feel we need to quantify culture? The idea seems to be that if enough people think the same way about something, it becomes true. It doesn’t.

Hold the front page: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band isn’t really the best album ever. There is no such thing as ‘the best album ever’. It’s all made up crap.

I’m not exactly backwards at coming forwards at telling people exactly what I like and dislike throughout the course of the year anyway and, to be honest, I don’t really care what most other people think about music – and in particular I don’t care about the musical tastes of people who have the time and inclination to sum it all up in some stupid list. It’s just too fucking tedious for words.

But Adam Bunch from Toronto-based online magazine SoundProof got in touch and asked me to contribute to their poll of Manchester albums. And SoundProof is pretty cool, and I thought it might be a good way to promote Expletive Undeleted, and yes, alright, it was very flattering to be asked to contribute, especially with as it would be alongside people like Fat Roland, and Lyndsey Hayes and Marie-Claire Daly from Helen of Troy Does Countertop Writings.

And also Alan McGee, I suppose.

I am a shameless publicity-slut. You can see SoundProof’s list here.

My list differed to the final list in that I had Grotesque at number one (alongside another three Fall albums in my top 20), while the Stone Roses just scraped into my top 10. I also had the Ting Tings, Barry Adamson, Mr Scruff and Crazy Penis in there too.

But my big problem with SoundProof’s list is the absence of Squirrel and G-Man 24 Hour Party People Plastic Face Carn’t Smile (White Out) – how can you have a list of Manchester albums without that being somewhere near the top? That’s just crazy talk – but I guess that’s daft bloody lists for you.

Speaking of minor disappointments, I was planning to get a new easy / bossa mix together over the weekend but I was utterly defeated by various bits of technology ganging up on me. So, here’s an old, old mix, just in time for the Xmas party season – although probably more suited to accompanying a few cocktails and some pleasant conversation rather than full-on miaow and ketamine-fuelled turbo-mayhem.

Expect heart-stopping melodies, hip-twitching rhythms and effortless sophistication from the likes of Astrud Gilberto, Ana Laan, Suba and Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66. Get in touch if you need a full tracklist.

To make up for this abject mixtape failure, soothe your troubled brow with this sterling international audio-visual collaboration between Finnish photographer Heikki Siltala and my old chum Mondo del Fuego and me, aka the Monkey Boyz.

Heikki provided the pictures of the strange and beautiful European felines and me and Mondo supplied the music.

Pussy really does rule the world.

Originally Posted Dec 31st 2007 via blog.myspace/daglovester

10.

Lifehouse ” Who We Are”

- Lifehouse, great band, but upon venturing into this album I really had no expectations. The album opens with “Disarray” and shows you this album is a different one for Lifehouse and also reminds you of how great Jason Wade’s raspy voice truly is. What follows are truly great songs such as “Broken” which is a simplistic song that gets it just right. “Easier to Be” is a song that shows just why this CD is so good, just basic melodies and lyrics that you can’t help but enjoy listening to; if any further proof is needed see the songs “Make Me Over” and “Mesmerized.”

9.

Timbaland “Shock Value”

- No matter how many times I play this album I can’t help but tapping my feet and turning the volume up a little louder. This is Hip-Hop; it’s so hard anymore to find feel-good rap albums that are truly classics. The combination of artists on this CD is spectacular, Justin Timberlake with Nelly Furtado are spectacular in “Give It To Me.” The song “Bounce” featuring Dr. Dre and Missy Elliot is simply amazing. “The Way I Are” is an incredible song that never loses its flavor even after the radio attempted to bastardize it. “Kill Yourself” is sadistically wonderful and probably one of my favorites. The OneRepublic song “Apologize” had a huge jumpstart on this album. The songs with the Hives and She Wants Revenge are very unique and really fun to listen to. I can’t help but loving the song with Fall Out Boy specially with a classy chorus like “wipe that smile off your f*cking face…”

8.

Jimmy Eat World “Chase This Light”

- I don’t even know where to start on this album…its fantastic. Its simply pure, enjoyable music that I am excited to hear every time I put the album on. I have always like J.E.W. and played “Bleed America” in high school till everyone around me wanted to kill me. Every song on this album is fantastic. The album as a whole has a great combination of a light punk sound with a pop-like influence. Songs like “Always Be” , “Feeling Lucky”, and “Here it Goes” are music just the way I like it. I was instantly drawn to the song ” Gotta be Somebody’s Blues”, its simply amazing and a good shift in tempo for the album. This album defiantly showed how mainstream rock can be done right and other artists should pay close attention.

7.

Miranda Lambert “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”

-If I were to ever question my reasoning for listening to country music (which I won’t ever)…this is the kind of album that would remind me why I do. I was not sure if she could follow up her last album “Kerosene”, which I will vouch as one of the best modern country albums, but this album passed with flying colors. This girl is epic country at its true best; catchy songs with a little sass and soul. Miranda’s voice is such a joy listen to and she really uses it to portray a certain feeling to each of her songs. Songs on this album like “Famous in a Small Town” are why I will forever enjoy the country genre, simply incredible. “Gunpowder and Lead” is hilarious and is classic country. My Favorite track is probably “Desperation”, which is lyrically and musically as good as it gets. This is the only country album on my list and really deserves it, fantastic.

6.

The Fratellis “Costello Music”

-Its not often you will here music like this anymore sadly…very refreshing album. The Fratellis garage-band and indie styling is really enjoyable to listen to. From the bands very popular “Flathead”, featured on an Apple commercial, to some very different songs like “Ol Black n’ Blue Eyes”….the Fratellis debut album is outstanding. I feel that this band could be very big and really deserves more public attention. Songs like “Whistle for The Choir” and “Creepin up the Backstairs” are some of the better songs I have heard in awhile. Great Album, great band, very interested to hear more in next few years.

5.

Radiohead “In Rainbows”

-I originally had this album a lot higher on this list…but it was brought down to my dismay. This album may sit at number five….but it’s truly one of the better albums in years. Every song takes you on a different trip through musical and lyrical perfection that only Radiohead can bring. The album progresses from seemingly upbeat songs like “Bodysnatchers”, arguably one of my more favorites on the album, to truly wonderfully harmonious songs like “All I need” and “House of Cards”; the latter two probably being some of my favorite songs in the last several years. Album may be a little different for some of the diehard Radiohead fans, but I think its truly amazing……listen to “Jigsaw Falling into Place” kids…trust me.

4.

Paramore “Riot!”

-I bet that not many of you were expecting this one; I sure wasn’t. So why is this album number 4….um…. its pop/punk rock done so well that I was found speechless after listening to it. Not many bands that attempts an album like this have such a perfect blend of musical composition, every guitar solo…every change in the drums…every lyrical progression is dead on…I am not joking… its perfect. Add to that lyrics that simply are drilled into your head and a voice like Hayley Williams, who I thought had a simple voice until a song like ” When it Rains” or ” We are Broken” came on, and you get something that is simply great. If you can’t tell already, I really took a liking to this album…I simply can’t stop playing it. With so many women leading rock bands recently, it’s so refreshing to see one that really does it right. Congratulations Paramore and congratulations world for popular music that is actually good.

3.

Maylene and the Sons of Disaster “II”

- If there is some sort of metal or rock god out there…the messiah has come to save us. This album has so much power, so much aggression, so much ….well just plain “in-your-face” rock. I imagine that if guitars could sleep, they would dream of being played like they were on this album. Right from the start with “Memories of the Grove”, Maylene hits you hard and doesn’t stop until the last track is over. This album makes you want to bang your head, drive faster, and find someone to punch……its fantastically refreshing. I am not the dearest fan of harder rock and usually only take it in small doses, not with this one. This is southern rock at its finest….even on softer songs like the last two on the album, this band’s talent shines. Buy this album….buy it … put it in and turn the volume to 11.

2.

Ryan Adams “Easy Tiger”

-Welcome everyone to good music down to a science. Upon first getting into Ryan Adams, I felt as if I was turning into my father…Ryan Adams has a similar sound to country influenced music of the 70’s with a very unique twist added in occasionally. I now find myself consumed by this album; it literally has changed my view on all music. This album is filled with pure songs like “Goodnight Rose”, “Everybody Knows”, The Sun Also Sets” , and so many others that are such enjoyably melodies to listen to. Ryan Adams’ voice combined with old fashioned lyrics make this album a true classic and one that I can’t wait to hear every time I play it. Everyone that respects real music should have this album and also the “Follow the Lights” album with the Cardinals.

1.

Josh Ritter “The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter”

I am going to quickly take a moment and pause so that you may go purchase and listen to this album…literally…do it now………ok….. u got it?…..goood….. I am not sure really how to describe this album….so I’ll give an example…it’s kind of like if our world was to be adducted by aliens who wanted some proof that the human existence was worth sparing…you would give them this CD; and we would be saved. It’s truly a stunningly beautiful collection of songs that have certain hints of Elton John at times mixed with a little country, some blues, and even a little Keith Green occasionally. You don’t hear songs of this type much in the last several decades. This album at first found its way in the middle of the list, but after listening to it more and more, I realized that she was the one. So there it is, my top album of the year….many will disagree…but then again…..most people are wrong so….

]]> http://blogandplay.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/sous-le-charme-de-ryan-adams/ Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:58:45 +0000 XBL http://blogandplay.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/sous-le-charme-de-ryan-adams/

Ryan Adams est un auteur-compositeur américain né en 1974 à Jacksonville en Floride. Très tôt, il aiguise son goût pour la littérature et la musique en lisant Kerouac, Poe et en écoutant les vinyles de country de sa grand-mère. En 1994,  il rencontre le groupe Whiskeytown et écumera les bars et salles de concert en leur compagnie durant cinq ans avant de sortir son premier album solo en 2000, Heartbreaker. Son second album Gold (sorti en 2001) connaîtra un grand succès commercial aux USA. Suivront dix autres disques, toujours dans un style country-pop-folk. Tantôt accompagné de ses amis The Cardinals, tantôt en solo, Ryan Adams arrive à se réinventer à chaque album, grâce, en premier lieu à son talent, mais également par le biais de collaboration (entre autres avec Norah Jones, Elton John, Billie Joe Armstrong de Green Day ou encore Melissa Auf Der Mauer).

Artiste protéiforme, autant à l’aise derrière un piano qu’avec une guitare, il a produit plusieurs albums, dont Songbird de Willie Nelson. Il réalise également des courts métrages qu’il présente sur Internet, est connu comme DJ de hip-hop sous le nom de DJ Reggie et s’apprête également à sortir un recueil de poésie ayant pour titre Infinity Blues. Travailleur acharné, il a enregistré 16 albums en 7 ans. Après avoir rompu son addiction à l’alcool et à la drogue, il revient en 2007 avec l’album Easy Tiger, dernier album sorti officiellement.

Xavier 

…Vous trouverez les disques de Ryan Adams dans notre catalogue en tapant :

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by Ryan Adams, date unknown. Courtesy Morrison Hotel Gallery.

When is Ryan Adams going to stop being an annoying, petulant painter and writer and get back to being an annoying, petulant musician?

This week the video-game blogging singer not only unveiled a series of canvases as part of his position as “artist in residence” at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York, but today he is giving a reading at the New York Public library from his not yet released book, Hello Sunshine.

I personally think he is an incredibly gifted songwriter (yes he is annoying, but Easy Tiger is still one of the most touching albums I’ve ever listened to), and when I’m trying to focus when writing I sometimes listen to his entire anthology, so I don’t doubt he can craft a mean poem or short story. But as a painter? I just don’t know.

According to the Morrison Hotel, Adams “has been quietly developing as a similarly gifted visual artist for years.”

I’m not so sure about that. Other than one pretty cool looking cityscape (above), the rest of the stuff just looks like he slathered as much paint as he could - as fast as he could - onto the canvas using the biggest brush he could find. It reminds me of that website “I am better than your kids.”

Actually, here’s a challenge. Click here and here, then ask yourself, which one comes from a ”gifted visual artist”, and which one from a second grade art class? I think I’d rather frame the ”Shit-mobile.”

Who’s playing? – Classixx, Toy Selectah, local support from Hickey, Thunderclaps, Sleepyhead, Jus Haus, Mickey Juice, Craig Hollywood
Who’s idea was this? Easy Tiger, ICSSC
Where? – Shape
It all starts at… - doors 10pm
How much? – $15
How do you get in on this? – door sales
Who’s going to be there? – the young and energetic, who enjoy a sweaty dance to loud electro music
You’d like it if you were… drunk, high

Heads Will Roll says…

Easy Tiger returns to Shape with a double headline show that is sure to bring the heat to a cold wet Perth night. Classixx have releases on Kitsune and are signed to, LA scene photographer, Cobrasnake’s label. They have remixed the likes of Phoenix, Guns n Bombs and the Ting Tings so expect some heavy, bass driven electro with a splashing of disco. Mexico City’s Toy Selectah is signed to Diplo’s Mad Decent label and has completed official remixes for Jesse Rose and Buraka Som Sistema so expect a multi-genre set featuring everything from hip hop, to electro, fidget, to baile funk rhythms.

Another Guy says… hopefully people brave the cold.

Classixx – Midnight
Toy Selectah – 1.30am

Facebook event
http://www.myspace.com/classixxmusic
http://www.myspace.com/toyselectahdj
Click here to download a mix by the Classixx posted on the Fluokids blog.

Fresh from the Three Day Weekend laboratory, it’s Easy Tiger’s new original collabo with Stranger Day!
It’s a fast paced bouncy banger that’s perfect for dropping into your late night set.

Though we still haven’t gotten over the fact that Ryan Adams has ‘retired’ from making music, at least we still get to see the altcountry rocker online. Not only is he chatting it up about his new website project(s), http://ryanada.ms , but he also gives us some stripped down live performances from his house, complete with stuffed animal intro (be sure to check out his video of ‘Crossed Out Name’. Classic.  Ryan also promises some unreleased Werewolph tracks on his new site, which if we recall was his fake ‘hard rock’ project.

Check out Ryan Adam’s Youtube page at DrAdamsFilms

One of Ryan’s latest videos titled ‘Ryan’s World’

Evan Exempt over at PostMusic caught up with Lord Walrus when he was in Chicago last week representing 3 Day Weekend.
They talk about 3 Day Weekend’s NC/VA connection, Serato VS. vinyl, and why everyone’s spinning electro party bangers now.
Be sure to check out their blog.  Audio of the interview is below…
Big thanks to Evan!

The weekend is drawing closer and Tiga wants you all to go out and have some hedonistic fun. The film clip for his latest song Shoes has been released and it works brilliantly with the song, it’s absurd and ridiculous and at Heads Will Roll we just can’t get enough.

This weekend there are a few fun ways you can burn off that Easter chocolate. This Friday Easy Tiger are bringing Designer Drugs all the way from NYC to play at Shape. All the info can be found in our handy What’s On? post here. Saturday we suggest staying at Shape for Shazam’s single launch. The man himself will be playing along with Jamie Doom and Gus Hoodrat from Bang Gang. All the info is one click away, here. However if you’re all Shaped out you could try venturing to Sexy. Sexy is a new event being held at Republic. Republic , if you didn’t know, is positioned on Shafto lane, down the Wellington Street end, and when it’s not featuring bands and DJs it’s a male strip club. The place has a sheep shearing shed vibe, and if that’s not enough to get you in the mood, it also features some fairly decent tunes and after a few drinks the dance floor stays packed.

Till next time,

Heads Will Roll.

WTF? Party Number 2 is coming!
Thursday April 2
Godfrey’s @ 308 E. Grace
Easy Tiger, Lord Walrus, Jonny Be, Gumby

Then Saturday April 4th, Lord Walrus and Easy Tiger are DJing the official Mac Rock afterparty in  Harrisonburg, VA!
@ Blue Nile 12-2AM
Watch the video below!

Who’s playing? – Designer Drugs, Elle Rex & More
Who’s idea was this? Easy Tiger, they run a monthly Friday night at Shape
Where? – Shape
It all starts at… – TBA
How much? – TBA
How do you get in on this? – door sales
Who’s going to be there? – a young crowd, people with Facebook accounts, those who download music from blogs
You’d like it if you were… drunk, high

Heads Will Roll says…

Glasses wearing, NYC DJ, Designer Drugs, will be playing tracks at Shape for their monthly Easy Tiger party. He’s remixed the likes of Little Boots, Hearts Revolution and his reworking of Fake Shark Real Zombie’s aptly named track Designer Drugs was a standout from last year. His set should be full of high energy dance tracks, the sort that feature on music blogs, if you’re curious check out the link at the end of this article to an iheartcomix post that features a mixtape created by Designer Drugs.

Another Guy says… There should be a decent sized crowd for this.

Head to iheartcomix for a mixtape from Designer Drugs, this should be a fairly good indication of what you’ll hear at Shape.

Designer Drugs on Myspace

Precis som Ally Mcbeal har jag theme songs, alltså låtar (eller album, artister…) som utgör en tid, stämning eller plats som jag varit i, känt eller varit på.
16 Horsepower är kopplat till då jag jobbade på Expressen och var i någon sorts förhållande.
Ryan Adams Easy Tiger tog över när det förhållandet tog slut.
Morrisseys Viva Hate samt Patrick Wolf är Värnpliktsnytt.
Bruce Springsteen – Jungleland är min sommar i Aspudden med Olle.
Bright Eyes är gymnasiet och just nu.
osv.

Ibland är det rätt skönt att lyssna sig tillbaka.

A while back, I posted about how I had never been crazy about “Two Hearts.”  I wasn’t surprised that other people had similar feelings towards the song, but the attitudes towards “Tears of Gold” definitely came as a shock.  I have a friend who is a Ryan Adams fan, but he also says he feels like this song is one of his weakest.  But, in the song’s defense, my friend isn’t really into the country stuff.  Personally, I’ve always felt like this is a song that’s truly by The Cardinals.  There are the great harmonies throughout the song (especially in the “Bring the band around…” part), and a great performance by Jon Graboff. 

I just can’t really see what people could dislike about the song.  I understand that it doesn’t fit that well with the rest of the songs on Easy Tiger, but it’s not like the rest of the album has a consistent sound or anything…

How awesome is the ending to this song?  There’s the dial tone that just kinda hangs out behind the “I’m sorry…” part, and then the operator’s voice comes in at the end.  “If you’d like to make a call, please hang up and try again.  If you need help, please hang up and dial your operator.”  HEAVY!  I think the whole dialtone thing is a killer idea for use in a song, and I can’t believe no one else has used it.  (On second thought, someone probably has…  I just don’t know of it…)

This song was always one of my least favorite on the album, but I still really like it.  Like so many great country songs, it’s about break-ups, bars, and fighting.  Of course, there’s more to it than, say, “Shakedown on 9th Street.”  Oh, and have you noticed how similar it sounds to a certain single off of Easy Tiger?  It seriously sounds like “Two” right around 1:48!  Go ahead, listen!

Even when I have a degree in Art History, I have never been much of an Art Freak, although every now and then I enjoy a nice exhibition or a conversation about the subject I often decline or avoid talking about the topic. My mother particullary hates this and she always gives up  about the fact that she didn´t support my university years to hear affirmations such as;  ¨El Greco paintings¨are very old and very nice ( I often use this adjectives to define any other art-work  I am asked of )

However I must confess, that if there´s  something I love in the Ärt world¨is going to an exhibition opening, it is an absolute delightment to walk around  listening  to  different conversations  proclaiming things like ¨the Artist covered in blood  a  portrait of Disney´s  Nemo  to express the lack of solidarity between the clown-fish in the pacific, as a metaphor of the future that is waiting for the human race or ¨how the Meninas¨from Velazquez are nothing but a  disguised representation of the Venusians that have been advising  the Borbonic Monarchy since instituted

As much as enjoy this, there´s no way  on earth it could be beaten by  the complimentary food and cocktail moment,  in which at the slight sight of the Waiter , the ¨Art connosieurs¨ remove their  culture camouflage and throw themselves to a deadly fight for every single piece of finger food and semi-cheap wine….

Think National Geographic shows the real wild life? forget it, you should  go and take a look at the next opening…..

You know, I’m more than just a little ashamed to say I’ve actually never heard Willie Nelson’s recording of this song. I imagine it sounds great, since Ryan wrote it for Willie, but I just never really got around to finding a recording anywhere.  I have to say, though, I really enjoy the sound.  It reminds me of “Let Us Down Easy” from Cardinology in more ways than one, and part of me thinks “Blue Hotel” definitely influenced, if not inspired, the latter.  The recording found on Follow The Nights is pretty good, but there are some absolutely stellar live versions out there.  I found one that I particularly enjoyed on YouTube and posted the link at the bottom of the post here.

It’s smooth and bluesy, but has that classic Cardinals twang.  Sure, it may have been written for another musician, but you can really tell that it’s a Ryan Adams song.  There’s something about the way he sets up each line in his verses that no one else can reproduce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTkdMOT6-_U&feature=related