Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Not for me. I like some Ryan Adams stuff but this was a bit too slow and country
Amy //
Lots to love here, especially on the front half. From the melancholy lyrics to the excellent song-writing, a great listen.
Will not listen due to his personal choices
Solid.
Another real duffle struggle to get through. So fucking dull 😑. I'll give it a two cause he hasn't a bad voice and the music is alright but the lyrics and vibe are so fucking dull
Fav: To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) Least Fav: Bartering Lines First song was alright, so I’m annoyed at Ryan Adam’s for making it sound interesting only have that boring country sound that goes nowhere for the rest of the album
Too much harmonica
++: Amy, Call Me On Your Way Back Home, Come Pick Me Up +: To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High), My Winding Wheel, Bartering Lines, Don't Ask for the Water, In My Time of Need +-: Damn, Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains), To Be the One, Shakedown on 9th Street, Sweet Lil Gal (23rd/1st) -: Oh My Sweet Carolina, Why Do They Leave? --: (Argument with David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey) 3,6/10
Revelation! Love this album, Ryan did Wasted Years on Californication which I knew but not of him. What a beauty, and yes, eff Morrissey.
3.3 2x decent. Airport and on plane to Bozeman
Not bad. Judging by the "albums you MUST listen to" criteria, though, I'm not sure that this album belongs on this list. Just inoffensive soft pop. Middle of the road. 3 stars.
5/10 - better than his Gold album but isn't special enough to get over the artist's shortcomings as a person
Everything on this album has been done before, much better.
It’s a damn good album. He just really fucking sucks. I haven’t listened to it since news broke about Adams….just as good as I remember it.
3.6
Boring
I liked this a lot more than I like him
Despite all that’s happened with Ryan since this is still an undeniably amazing album. I would put this in my own top 50 easily. Beautiful songs, arrangements, playing and all with a natural and rootsy production. A true modern classic.
Ryan Adams as a person may be pretty murky with all we know about him now, but back in the day he was a pretty respected and beloved artist who's work ethic, even today, is like next to no other. My father is more of a Ryan Adams fan than myself, but I can't lie I do catch myself going to his discography every now and then, mainly with his album Prisoner which I would HIGHLY recommend. Anyways, for the 1001 albums to hear before I die project I got his debut album Heartbreaker, an album I've never heard before, and I'd like to talk about it! This album is a lot more Country than I expected as I am more used to it being more subtle in his music. It isn't anything super crazy or out there as an album but does establish Ryan Adams as someone to look out for in the Alt-Country/Singer-Songwriter scene in the 2000s as he brings quite a refreshingly accessible take for the new millennium. It is a nice project to have on in the background while working in your garage, but I wouldn't call this a "must-hear before you die" kind of album. Hope I can dive into some more Ryan Adams at some point as I am starting to itch for him again as the fall season comes around.
Took me by surprise - good listening!
BOOOOOOOO
Multiple BMS on this list for this guy? Overrated.
If Gram Parsons and Bob Dylan had a lovechild, it would probably sound like this. Not all of his records are superb, but this one is. It is in no way original, but it doesn't have to be.
very cool wilco-esque alt-country rock! minus 1 star, because ryan adams seems to be a pretty terrible guy.
Album cover + title had me expecting something way different. Decent alt... Country?
I just always assumed I didn't like Ryan Adams' music. I still don't really, but it's better than I thought. In particular, when he does a Bob Dylan impression. It's not as good as Madvillainy.
Da æ fikk opp det her albumet og trykka mæ inn på Tidal for å skru på avspillinga, så æ på sporlista og kunne kjenne hver eneste sang presse sæ fram i mæ. Da æ hørte refrenget på «Come Pick Me Up» brast æ nesten i gråt av rein nostalgisk hjertesmerte. Heartbreaker og Gold og Ryan Adams va blant de viktigste byggesteinan i den musikalske utviklinga mi på begynnelsen av 2000-tallet, blant de tjukkeste greinan, fordi det førte mæ videre til Whiskeytown og Gillian Welch, til Caitlin Cary og så videre og så videre. Likevel huske æ ikke katti æ sist hørte på Ryan Adams, fordi hver gang æ så mye som tenke på det får æ en ekkel smak i munnen. I rekken over mannlige artister som føkka det til for sæsjøl og for min glede i å høre på dem e kanskje ikke Adams den som e objektivt verst (det e dog tett i bunnstriden der, dessverre), men han e muligens den som smerte mest, reint personlig. Og æ høre dem som sier «men du må jo bare skille kunsten fra kunstneren, null stress» og det e sikkert fint for dem som klare sånt, men det handle ikke bare om å ville unngå nokka som føles moralsk forkastelig, handle ikke om å være 'holier than thou' eller nokka sånt, det handle om at æ føle mæ ekkel når æ høre på han, på tross av de tyve åran med historie musikken vekke i mæ. Og æ gidd ikke høre på ting som får mæ til å føle mæ ekkel sånn på jevnlig basis, så da blir det ingenting. Og på den ene sida føles det litt som et tap når æ vende tilbake til det her albumet i en setting som det her, men på den andre, det e ikke min feil at Adams ikke kan oppføre sæ som folk, så æ orke ikke ha dårlig samvittighet for å ikke ville bruke mer tid og energi på han enn æ har gjort. Kanskje æ en dag kan høre «Call Me on Your Way Back Home» og bare hvile i melodien igjen, men det blir ikke med det første; heldigvis finnes det så mye anna bra å høre på.
Not really a country music fan but I didn't dislike this album. I think the con I had was that I listened to a really great album before this one so it made this one look less stellar. However, it had some nice tracks that I would see myself listening to. Never heard of Ryan Adams before but he does have a voice that I didn't get tired to listening compared to other country artists.
Listen, I was a 27 year old white dude once. My favorite movie around that age was High Fidelity. That was 13 years ago when I also liked this album, but I also didn't know how much of an actual POS this dude is. If you can separate the art from the artist, that's great for you! Part of me wishes I could, but I can't and don't enjoy this anymore given the subtext.
Solid coffee shop music. First time listening to this artist, as far as I can tell. Pretty enjoyable album.
Beautiful album. Really enjoyed it.
Very pleasant listen. I like slow pacing albums. I liked come pick me up. His voice suits the music very well. Not over or under produced. Ed Sheeran sounds like him just a little bit.
a really enjoyable album, parts are particularly beautiful like 'Why Do They Leave', and I loved the utilization of Harmonica on this album. all in all, i think its a solid listen. would jump back in, and am looking forward to it
I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. Sweet Carolina made me miss home, and Come Pick Me Up was beautiful. Some variety, but slightly cheesy at some points. Still I would listen to it again.
Right up my alley, I’ll never say no to some melancholy singer/songwriter vibes, especially on the first chilly and rainy day of fall. There were more than a few great tracks on this album and I even enjoyed the country influences. Will absolutely listen to again, easy four stars and was on the fence with bumping it up to five stars.
I do like Ryan Adams' sound, but something just feels off about him. It's like he trying really hard to be cool. It just doesn't quite feel natural. Maybe I'm just looking to much into it, but it feels like he thinks he's already the next Bob Dylan with just his debut album.
First time hearing any Ryan Adams to my knowledge, and I can understand why people were hyping this up 25 years ago...some choice cuts on here of the Alt Country variety, some more sensitive 'Dylan in a toxic relationship'-type stuff. Minus a star for him being a dirtbag
When I searched for Ryan Adams on Spotify to find this album, all I could think was “Bryan Adams has an evil twin and his biggest song is a cover of 'Wonderwall'?” Fortunately, Heartbreaker is actually a decent listen. It’s a good reminder for me that country music can be great when it’s a vehicle for genuinely good songwriting/storytelling, rather than gimmicky songs about Fox News talking points and big green tractors. There were a fair few forgettable tunes on Heartbreaker and the harmonica bits sounded basically indistinguishable from track to track, but that’s the most negative thing I can really say about the album. I’m glad I got to hear it thanks to this challenge and there are definitely a few songs here that I can see myself coming back to! Highlights: To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High), Oh My Sweet Carolina, Damn Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains), Come Pick Me Up
Better than Coldplay
A visionary, a master lyricist, a southern dandy, perhaps a major creep but this is an album you can't deny.
A bit too country for my taste at times, but the standout tracks are excellent. Musically, the album is sophisticated and intricate.
I've listened to Ryan Adams since this album came out. I've seen him live a couple of times. So, what I'm about to say will undoubtedly come with some bias. The site has a problem with separating the art from the artist. And that's all fine and dandy if you want to be a reviewer who rates based on character instead of music, but at least be universal in your application. Ryan Adams, who ended up on the hot seat in 2019 gets completely lambasted in a fair share of the reviews here. But go and look at Sam Cooke, an artist also marred by controversy, and you'll find nothing but praise OR criticism focused on the music alone. It's hypocritical to immediately write off an artist because they are a scumbag...at least in the case of someone like Ryan Adams or Dave Matthews or Elvis Presley. We aren't talking about the lead singer of lostprophets who literally did evil, unimaginable shit. Does Ryan Adams suck as a person? Sure seems like it. But, he's just kind of an asshole, right? Maybe a womanizer, a substance abuser, and more. So yeah, he's not good. But what about his music? Personally I think it's hard to argue against this debut album. It's original yet still within the confines of folk rock. Some catchy tunes, some emotional ones, and some nice guitar playing. Overall I think it's a solid entry on this list, not perfect but memorable enough to be worth listening to. My only complaint is that the album kind of fizzles out and ends with a whimper.
Gostei da sonoridade desse ótimo álbum de um músico que eu não conhecia. Preciso ouvir com mais atenção. A faixa To be Young me surpreendeu com um ritmo dançante mas uma letra melancólica. 8/10
I liked this more than expected. Partly because I dislike a lot of country, and partly because I confuse Ryan with Bryan. 2.5
I don't like nor endorse Ryan Adams as a person, but surprisingly, this is a great album. I'm aware of the whole "separating the artist from the art" debate nowadays, but I'd just like to mention that, strictly focusing on the songs, this is a fine album. PS: Fuck sexual abusers.
Since I have listened to his "Rock n Roll"- album (which I love!) I often feel I should like his other music more than I actually do. He doesn't break my heart with this one! 2,5
Folk. Was okay.
This guy took some turns into the ditch and didn't work out for him as well as it did young Neil Young. Some bits are very derivative, the subterranean homesick blues is instantly recognizable, and other songs have a lot of hints. Still he wrote some damn good songs, and I've a lot of nostalgia as I think old bands have played 3-4 of them. And he got some fucking heavy hitters to guest. Jesus gillian welch backup singing occasionally emmylou!!?!? David Rawlings is the lead. Can't fail with a team like that.
love great glam rock
The album is a 4, shame he’s an ass
Solid - country, blues and bluegrass. Really highlight's Ryan voice, some beautiful songs
64/1089 instant Morrissey discussion uh ohhh. Viva Hate too 💀 first song was a dud but Winding Wheel was nice enough. The rest of the album was a massive drag for me and just not my taste in the slightest 19/100
I had never heard anything about this artist so I looked up reviews before listening. This was a mistake as I think his reprehensible behaviour may have clouded my judgement. Music was ok, songs nothing to write home about. Probably a 2.5 but I need to to make it a whole number Promise not to look up reviews before scoring from now on
Not for me
Pretty much the slow twangy cry for me country sound I don't really enjoy much. Now if he just covered Bryan Adams songs, especially Summer of 69 (get it Luke?), I would have enjoyed a lot more. I did enjoy the 2 honkytonk sounding tunes in To Be Young and Shakedown on 9th Street. Probably my 2 favorite of the album. There was one surprise for me, I did enjoy Come Pick Me Up. Something about that sound and lyrics really stood out to me. Sound like this dude was chasing a real POS. 3 pretty good tunes, too much twang and overuse of the harmonica at times leaves with with a right down the middle 2.5. I'll round down because the dude is a clown. 2.5
3 Really, another album from this predator and groomer? Dude really even tried to rope me in with an opener involving an argument regarding Morrissey, and… well, it kinda worked. Yes, Bona Drag is indeed a collection of Moz’ early singles, therefore Suedehead appeared both on that and Viva Hate. The rare point to Adams there. Okay, I hate to say it, but this is actually a much better album than Gold. It definitely has much less of a vanilla taste to it than that album had… but my God, is Adams trying SO hard to be Bob Dylan here. Yet somehow, his half-assed emulations actually resulted in a lot of the better songs here, with the actual first song on the album, To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High), probably being my favorite. That said, there’s a prevailing sense of inauthenticity and overindulgence to be found that really holds this back from greatness - like, you can tell on any given song here how hot shit this dude thinks he is. It even kind of made me hate the opener in retrospect, which ultimately reads like the guy was trying to show off his superior knowledge of music before you can even get into any of his own. All in all, I actually think this is a pretty good album if you can get past Adams’ actions and ego, which I understand everyone’s mileage may vary with. While a touch long, it’s hit over miss more often than not. Hell, I even found a couple of these songs stuck in my head after I finished listening, but ultimately, for all the aforementioned reasons, this boils down to about a 3 for me. Phoebe Bridgers is still way better - go listen to Stranger in the Alps or Punisher instead.
Альбом хорошо, тем более для 2000 года, но лично для меня, иногда губная гармоника была не к месту
Pretty neat.
Slow burn. Have listened a few more times
Pretty boring - Dylan with a banjo
Pretty great easy listening, but it definitely feels like a freshman outing
Doesn't sound bad, but certainly not interesting. Plus seeing this guy is terrible
First songs on the album were better than the last songs. Didn’t love the album but it was ok.
Inoffensive singer-songwriter
Good singer.
Maybe Adams has been rightfully buried from relevance due to his nasty actions because I hadn’t heard of him before today. But unfortunately I did like this album. Though sometimes sickly sweet it was moving. The music is lush and full and Adams’ voice is beautiful. Obviously there’s a strong Dylan influence in here, which sometimes veers a little too close to imitation, especially in his vocal inflections. I also hear Jeff Buckley in some tracks. And it’s always fun when you hear a record and think oh this is where THAT came from: Amy could have been pulled straight from Harry Styles’ first solo album. It’s a good album. A shame when someone is more committed to hurting others than they are to their art!
liked 2
Absolute nonsense. Boring and directionless. There will be buskers up and down the country who can whack out a better set of songs.
For my tastes, Heartbreaker can feel a bit slow to roll through as a full album, but it’s full of quiet, heartfelt moments that really stick with you too.
Similar to the Gold album by this guy I didn't think this was anything special, maybe a bit better. Apparently Ryan Adams is not that great of a person according to many of the reviews here, I don't know about all that but the guy sure does make some mediocre music.
I can't quite explain it, but this album sounds like it was written by an asshole, and not in the good way.
First Album (Sept. 10) Interesting. Love the acoustic.
Not a bad album by any means, but I much preferred "Gold".
I wanted the Canadian guy with a B
I enjoyed this more than expected… lyrically it holds onto you reminds me slightly of Jeff Buckley without of course the soul crushing soul searching lyrics but I liked the story telling I even downloaded two songs surprisingly
To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) Oh My Sweet Carolina Call Me on Your Way Back Home Come Pick Me Up
4.5
Ngl... His first three albums are favorites of mine... Along with *Cold Roses*, *Easy Tiger*, and the 2014 eponymous. Another one where I have to separate there art from the artist. 9.8 ★★★★½
There might be a bit too many quiet, acoustic tracks on here, but mostly this is an album I love. 4.5 stars
It's a shame Ryan Adams turned out to be such a turd, because this is a fantastic album. For my money, it's one of the best alt-country albums ever. There's elements of 70s Americana and Dylan-esque folk with a nice raw edge to it. Gillian Welsh and David Rawlings act as Adams' backing band here and the album sounds excellent throughout. It's sparse, but there's also some really cool subtle production elements. Emmylou Harris, Kim Richey, and Allison Pierce also show up for some great guest spots. Highlights for me are "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)", "Why Do They Leave", "Call Me On Your Way Back Home" (I love the drums and harmonica coming in at the end here), "My Sweet Carolina", and "Come Pick Me Up". 5 stars.
Got a bit broken hearted this wasn’t Bryan Adams and the one with the Mel C duet. The actual album itself is fine if a bit snoozy and dull because it’s alt-country. Also a bit smarmy and full of itself because it’s Ryan Adams. The slightly rawer Come Pick Me Up the only one I can pick out as a highlight. Low 3 stars.
Good sound and storytelling. I like the guitar. Dylan-esque
Very Bob Dylan, with some lighter less folksy inclinations
This dude kinda sucks and his music isn't good enough to justify it.
Some great songs and some less than great songs on this album. He needs the Cardinals or Whiskeytown.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Adams#Harassment_allegations
I do have a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in this one, but I also happen to think it is a killer record. I understand it's probably not a 5 for everyone but I think it is very close for me - giving a 4 though. To Be Young is one of my favourite tracks of all time, and there is so much feeling and 'real'-ness in this record. It really connects with me.
Love this!
Oh man I really like Ryan adams! And this was a really good album by him! I've never listened to this one before but I quite enjoyed it!
The prodigy goes solo. A classic.
"I won't say Adams is the best North American singer songwriter since Neil Young... but I won't say he isn't either"- Stephen King When I saw that 'Heartbreaker' was my 'album of the day' I let out a loud "NO!" prior to this album I knew Ryan Adams from his old band the No Depression favorites Whiskeytown as I had heard the odd song here and there by them. I liked them well enough, I guess but never enough to buy an album by them. I also knew a few songs by Ryan Adams and truth be told I just found the few songs I had heard to be a bit boring- my expectations were low for 'Heartbreaker' I thought it would suck in a sucky singer songwriter way a genre I have a love/hate relationship with. I was worried, I guess. I needn't have worried. Heartbreaker is a pretty solid album. It's a little too long and sometimes the songs sounded too similar but that's OK because they are all good songs. I'm not about to take a deep dive into his back catalog (30 studio albums & 11 EPs!) but I'll happily listen to a few more before I die not because I have to but rather because I want to. Ryan Adams recently turned 50 years old. I imagine that he will release another 30 albums before he leaves this mortal coil and if that makes Stephen King smile who am I to not smile too.
This album feels so comforting.
Overall a gentle experience, with a few heavier songs to break. It was enjoyable, but a bit too long and repetitive in the end.
Nice music
decent good listen on gloomy days
I really like this. It reminded me of Peter Case.
The bluegrass aspects and backing voices were nice.
Too country. This didn't work for me.
Bad man.
ok, if I was rating based on what I've heard about Ryan Adams as a person, it would get a 1 star. But this is pretty good music.
Pretty good album. Fairly somber. A little too long.
Nice Americana
Was more familiar with Gold but this has some great stuff.
3/5
The style is really nice and pleasing to listen to
There are some really lovely parts to this and I like the use of the female singers. Overall though it’s too long and not very memorable. Less than the sum of its parts
Pretty dogshit with a couple good tracks
Yes, Ryan Adams is a predatory arse....but then so are a plethora of artists on this list. Ryan Adams, Just like Arcade Fire etc etc etc, I might still listen to the music I own already, but will not support them going forward. So in light of this I listened to this album from my own digital version. Said my piece now let me get onto my review Ryan Adams represents an incredibly prominent place in my music discovery. During the period from around 98 to 2001, I had pretty much stopped listening to music entirely when I got married and we had our first child. My brother then gave me a mix CD of music, and on that was a few songs from Ryan Adams, The flaming Lips and a few other I dont remember. Listening to that CD literally changed the progression of what I listened to. Not only did I get back into discovering the music I loved, but Ryan Adams also opened my eyes to deep diving into country music which I had rejected my entire life before that. About the album. It is familiar, and i own it. Starts off well with to be young , and then straight into the incredible winding wheel. Sweet Caroline with Emmylou is just sensational. Damn Sam and Come pick me up keep the tempo of the album. If I had to make one negative comment, is that here is too much reliance on the harmonica, and it maybe dies a little near to the end with the exception of in my time of need. I prefer Gold, but this is a solid debut album. 4 stars. He is still a cunt though
3.2
Another that isnt really my speed but has an undeniable quality to it. I do have beef with Emmylou Harris being on here after her appearance on the worst album off this list (so far) Grievous Angel. Favorite Songs: Amy & Come Pick Me Up
Goed album. Melodieus, leuk maar net iets te rustige singer songwriter voor mijn smaak
Some good stuff some meh.
I’ll start with this: I know about his misdemeanor, and I don’t know much else about Ryan Adams. I’ve never watched an interview, never been to a show. But his apology for sexual misconduct and the accusations against him are enough to make one thing clear—he’s not a good guy. So, fuck you, Ryan Adams. Now, about the album itself: it’s a surprisingly relaxing listen. Tracks like Amy and Bartering Lines stand out with their calm, soothing feel and beautifully understated instrumentals. Stripped of context, I’d probably give this a decent 3 stars. But I can’t separate the music from the man entirely + Sweet Lil' gal (23rd/1st) was the worst closing track I have heard in a long time. 6/10.
All killer, no filler. This was a very transformative record for me, one that made me say, "I should get a guitar" accidentally out loud in my cubicle, and the guy in the next one sold me his for $10 and it led me to who I am today. I can still sing every word of this thing, which made it feel personal when it was revealed what a scumbag normal old predator rock star he is. But, if you can separate the art from the artist (I manage to compartmentalize enough to still love the monsters that are the Rolling Stones) this record is a must.
Most definitely there are some very good songs here — especially "Oh My Sweet Carolina" with Emmylou Harris singing backup. But it's hard to hear these sensitive-guy lyrics without knowing what a creep he is, and that prevents me from going back for a closer listen.
Wannabe country-star Bob Dylan. Side story: Back in the oughts, for my environmentally conscious girlfriend, I made a mix CD themed to recycling and put Adams' track "Come Pick Me Up" on it, that was definitely the highlight pick of the collection.
I don't love alt country anyway, but this seemed super average to me. also starting out your CD with studio banter about Morrissey solo records is a weird move. Let hiphop keep the dumb tradition of interstitial skits between tracks, no one else needs to do this.
Album muito com uma melodia muito melosa.
Not really my cup of tea! A few good tracks. Vocals are unquestionably decent and I love the harmonies with the female singer. A few tracks just too slow and ponderous for my tastes. 7/10.
I thought it might be good at first and then it got real boring real quick
2. young - 1.5 3. uuheel - 1 4. amy - 1.5 5. Sweet - 1.5 6. Lines - 2 7. Home - 0 8. Sam - 1 9. Pick - 1.5 10. One - 2 11. Leave - 1.5 12. Street - 0 13. Water - 2 14. Time -2 15. Sweet - 1.5
I'm abusing my unemployment for this???
Honestly couldnt tell I was listening to music for the first 20 minutes. Thats how unimportant it was
It's a bit too Americana for my taste and Ryan Adams is too much of an asshole who preyed on young female artists. "To Be Young" was the only song that really stood out to me and I'm tempted to award a point for Gillian Welch's contribution. Overall though, it's not for me.
2.5 stars. Come Pick Me Up was the only one I enjoyed.
Previously rated: Gold (3/5) ********************* Edit: I didn't remember listening to his other album. I feel like I was a victim of bait and switch with this one. The first couple of tracks were promising even though it's country, then the wheels fall off and it becomes minimalist and boring as shit.
I have tried to get into Ryan Adams including attending a 3 hr secret gig. I listened to the whole album but it still doesn’t do it for me. I find his music and voice very generic and boring.
"It’s a 5. Get over yourselves Wokesters. No crime was committed. It’s life. It’s complicated. And you’re hypocrites." This guy ABSOLUTELY helped put a sexual assaulting convicted felon in the White House.
Maybe a real foundational stepping stone in all the sadfolk handsome-guitar-boy autumnal music to flood the world, could fit into a list of 1001 Albums that were Necessary to Birth "Life Is Strange" or perhaps alternatively, "My Auto-Generated Spotify Rainy Day Mix" It's pretty pleasant even if it fades in the sea of everything to come, but the model is still just a little shy of sinking into the mind enough for a 4/5 score
Ew nooo
BOOOORRINNNNG
I am a fan of Ryan Adams' early albums, but never connected as much with this one as I did with Gold. Still, it's a lovely collection of beautifully written songs. And harmonica. I'm a sucker for harmonica.
It’s … just ok
Not my favorite album by Ryan Adams or his many bands.
This came off as influenced by Bob Dylan's music - there were definitely quite a few similarities throughout. I liked his voice in comparison to BD.
Hoe kalm is een fruitkraampje in New York eigenlijk? Nooit gedacht dat ik me dat ooit nog zou afvragen. Verder roept deze Ryan Adams (niet te verwarren met zijn Canadese bijna-naamgenoot die ooit de zomer van '69 bezong) niet veel vragen op. Gewoon lekkere kalme countryrock met een zondagochtend-vibe. Prima hoor.
Bij het vorige album van Ryan schreef ik dat het beloofde te spetteren, maar dat het verzandde in een singer-songwriterplaat. Dat gevoel heb ik nu weer. Al heeft dit album wat meer afwisseling, ook met meer klassieke rock-klanken. Ik schreef ook dat Ryan een goede zanger is. Ook dat hoor ik nu weer. Het is fijn dat hij ook bij Dylan of Bruce achtige nummers gewoon goed zingt. Die klanken komen mij wat oprechter over dan het zogenaamd emotioneel praatzingen. Ik wil dat verschil ook wel in het cijfer uitdrukken, maar enkele energietrekkers als Oh my sweet Caroline beletten me toch het album een voldoende te geven.
Ik weet niet of het nog mag, nu hij gecanceld is, maar ik vond de eerste twee albums van Ryan Adams, ook al was het redelijke snobmuziek, best aardig. Gold hebben we al gehad en werd door mij beloond met een fijne 4, nu krijgen we het debuut. Het is van hetzelfde laken een pak, country en blues. Of roots rock zoals wiki het ook wel omschrijft. Ik kan hier altijd met veel gemak naar luisteren. Er wordt lekker op de gitaar gepield, zijn stem had nog iets doorrookter mogen zijn, maar gezien de hoes was hij daar op zich wel aan begonnen. Zijn stem heeft iets weg van de zanger van de Goo Goo Dolls, om nog maar eens met een 90s one hit wonder te smijten (Iris, prachtig nummer). Net als het vervolgalbum, mag dit van mij ook 4 sterretjes hebben.
Dylan-esque, but in a way that suggests an understanding that he is a student and not a copycat. Well learned.
Two pretty lively songs, but the rest are snoozers. This is country folk.
Meh.
Chill album. I liked it
This album was on rotation during college when I was all in on the Indie scene so Im sure nostalgia clouds this one a bit, but it's a great quasi folk rock record. Really falls off the last three songs when Ryan does his best to put you to sleep.
A consistently good album with a couple really good songs. 4 stars or B.
Never heard of this artist or album before. Not a bad album. The upbeat tracks are really good. There’s just not enough of them. The sadder, slower songs, while good, begin to get a little tedious by the time you’re done with the album.
The Bob Dylan influences stick out like a sore thumb. This is not a bad thing as he puts a great twist on those influences and brings them to life in the year 2000. I like the upbeat slower songs on this album and added a handful to my campfire playlist. 6/10
Roooompiiiiiiche
It's a good listen, with the Rawlings/Welch presence very obvious on a couple of tracks. This is the second album of his on the list and while a fine singer and songwriter, he just feels a bit generic to me. 2.5 really but Winding Wheel and Come Pick Me Up are strong enough to lift it to a three.
No.
I went through my acoustic phase years ago, getting really into singer-songwriter stuff. I don't get this album. Maybe the lyrics and songwriting is "good" on another listen or two, but at first glance I feel like this offers nothing. I did not enjoy any part of this, and of all the albums listened to during this album thingy, this album made me check the time the most, and check if "this song is the last one" the most. I'm all good on this.
Great album, trash human being
Ugh, what a shame. I loved this album back when, and Oh My Sweet Carolina is one of my favorite songs ever, but I can't listen to it/him much without feeling icky. So how do I rate this? The album is 4-5 star for me in a bubble, but the context around him makes it much less enjoyable, so I'll drop it to a 3. I really wish he didn't end up this way, but a creep's gonna creep, I guess.
he sucks
Maybe it was just a bad pace for my mood at the time, but it was too slow for my liking. Zoned out a lot. 1 - would not listen to again 2 - if some one played it, I'd probably just zone it out 3 - didn't hate it, didn't love it 4 - saved some songs from the album 5 - would buy the album or already own it
This nerd got the strokes addicted to heroin?
#dylandiditbetter
I like this - I probably would have loved it at the time it was released.
Gave it a 3 the first time around. I like someone of the harmonies but since Ryan Adams sucks dropping it down to a 2 this time around.
Were it not for the single "To Be Young" id probably rate this a 1 on principle, but that song is amazing.
One of the very first CDs I was gifted was a Ryan Adams CD, or maybe it was a Bryan Adams CD? Anyway, I returned the fuck out of that shit and exchanged it for a Creed CD.
It's fine
Haven't they missed off the 'B'? Unfortunately not. Though not a fan of Bryan, Ryan has given us a selection of country music at its depressing worst. He has a decent voice, but it's wasted here as the material is just plain awful. 1
Arrrgh. Ryan Adams. And that challenge of separating the art from the artist rears its ugly head again. Thankfully, this is at the rubbish end of his repertoire, so I can dish out a 1 purely on the art, and can save my moral dilemma for if and/when one of the albums I used to think was decent shows up. ‘Come Pick Me Up’ is the only track on here I like. But overall, it’s just too C&W for me.
Middle of the road sort of Country stuff. He became famous for two things; he was some sort of sexual predator, which didn't do his career much good. The other was having a name similar to Bryan. Nothing here for me.
C'est essentiellement Bob Dylan meets Jeff Buckley, mais du coup c'est fort sympathique.
Personally just not a fan of the country sound. Subtract an extra star due to the artist' controversies Tracks to Track: Oh My Sweet Carolina
I felt tricked. Some songs start off peppy then quickly move into downer mode.
Альт-кантри я люблю более готичное и мрачное. Но альбом хорош.
In general, I'm not a fan of country, having said that, this album was in the middle for me. There are a lot of good songs, but I felt that the album was unorganized, it brought energy and all of a sudden an eerie calm in the next song, I could get behind it, but it's not for me.
Nothing memorable at all. With a name like that , I’d have released a song called Summer of 68 etc , etc.
The first song had a hint of promise, the one where he tried to sound like Dylan, but after that it was a bit pants.
His voice is good, but the songs are so dull 💤
Well that’s it, this album conclusively proves (from a sample of 2) that all songs called Sweet Carolina/Caroline can do one. Oh and the rest of the album is kind of OK, in an inoffensive background noise kind of way, but just seems to lack any originality to deem worthiness for this list. Bob Dylan he ain’t.
This album is pretty solid music wise. Before I knew of the awful shit that RYAN Adams did to people like Phoebe Bridgers and Mandy Moore I identified with his songwriting ethos and personality. Now he just sounds like a guy who wants you to feel sorry for him even he’s a dick. The lyrics haven’t changed, but they certainly hit differently now.
I had never heard of this musician, but I had reviewed another one of his albums on this list a while back. I really liked that one too, but didn’t realize this artist had such questionable character. It’s really disappointing, because even though I like this album and the one before it, I won’t support this artist. Even though I’m not crazy about his voice, I really do like the songs and the style of music. Just rating the way I feel about the album and not the artist, I gave it four stars.
Some of this seems like he is trying to be a modern day Dylan, the vocal quality is better but overall somehow not as good? I never really got the hype he received, but I liked “Shakedown on 9th Street”. 2.5/5
A pretty robust effort for a solo debut. Good variety, but a little long winded with 15 tracks. Too bad 20 years later it would be widely known what an abusive a-hole he was/is, because he is a good songwriter. Too Be Young and Come Pick Me Up are nice standouts, but the rest is kinda average.
Maybe caught me at the right moment but I think I liked this more than other Ryan Adams stuff. You’ll also probably say “well no shit dumbass” but he sounded a lot like Dylan on this one. I guess the acoustic guitar and harmonica are easy ingredients but the singing and song writing also seemed in the family.
He gets credit for being a prolific songwriter, but I think most of his stuff is pretty meh. Also a grade A d-bag. This album is fine and Come Pick Me Up remains one of his best songs to this day. Still very much average IMO. 3/5
I did not think I was going to like this, but I did. It sounds a lot like a lot of the things I like to listen to.
Decent modern country, varied and sincere
Bland
A very nice listen maybe lacking something a bit more memorable. Would listen again!
This is OK, but kind of hollow. Favorite track: "Bartering Lines"
(A NOTE: I am aware of the allegations made against Ryan Adams. He's very shitty for those, and even more if they're true. Nothing I say in this review/babble is intended as an endorsement of him as a person — just as, conversely, the allegations do not factor into my overall review. After all, I review music, not people. Keep that in mind. Thank you.) Uh... Yep! That's country music alright. As I've expressed many times before, I am not particularly about my country music, and this is very much included in that. Sure, it's a bit more modern than the stuff I'm usually talking about, but I'll tell you, it still feels pretty... Y'know, old school and traditional. I'd say all it's missing is the pedal steel and the fiddle — though I guess the harmonica that pops up every now and then makes up for that. I mean, really, I'm finding that I don't even have much that I wanna say about this album. Ryan's a fine enough singer, I like Emmylou popping up for backing vocals, the instrumentation's all fine... I guess it's a bit moodier than I'm used to, though it **is** a break-up album, so I can't be too surprised. Besides, it's not as if country weepies aren't a thing, y'know? Really, I'm just mostly surprised by how breezy this is. I'm writing this review/babble a few couple of days after the Randomizer gave it to my group, and in the time since there have been a **lot** of hour-reaching to hour-plus records that've felt their length, particularly the electronica ones. I was worried this would fall right into that camp, but, nah. Even for as sad and emotional as it is (not that I felt it, which might just be an AuDHD thing, I'unno), I never felt like the thing dragged. That's a definite plus in my book. So... Yeah, that's it already. I don't got anything else I wanna say. It's a fine, moody lil' alt. country album. I think I might prefer his follow-up to this just because of how much that reminded me of the SCRUBS theme, but this isn't bad either. Altogether not awful for a guy who before these albums I'd probably mistake for Bryan Adams — and maybe I still will, I'unno. We'll see.
Different style of country, but still good, nonetheless. Solid 4 Stars.
I’m at a 5. Just a sad album, huh? I feel a bit emotionally spent after that. We’ve already gotten “Gold” from Ryan Adams in the past, and that album feels like an attempt to be a diet Bruce Springsteen by comparison. A nice 70 minutes to listen to, yes, but it doesn’t quite have the same emotional pull this album does. This is a wonderfully written album by comparison to “Gold”, with really only two tracks biting at me: “Amy”, which just feels too personal given that it’s the real name of his ex who inspired this album, and “Why Do They Leave?”, because it’s just too heavy on the “woe is me” side of things. A couple of nitpicks are on other tracks, but nothing that’s ever too bad. Overall, I genuinely thought this entire album did a great job of evoking the imagery it’s going for. It’s all enhanced further by the production, which usually knows when to let Ryan shine in his most intimate moments, and when to let the instrumentation guide the mood, especially so on the showstealer that is “In My Time of Need”. That's a beautiful track. I will forever be a sucker for “old” country, and while this straddles the line just a little bit, for the most part, it feels like an updated version of that general sound & style, ala Emmylou Harris’s “Red Dirt Girl”. It’s no surprise then that she’s on this album as a backing vocalist, and one of the members of her band produced this entire thing. I adore the instrumentals on this album, though I do have one complaint: that damn harmonica pops up when it just doesn’t need to. I normally love a good harmonica segment, and it’s used well at times, but there are moments where just wallowing in the silence a little bit would be more emotionally effective, and really let the song soak in. Other than that harmonica, I cannot think of a single complaint. Praise all abound for the instrumentals. Vocally, while Ryan Adams doesn’t do anything *too* differently from “Gold”, his slightly shaken sense of confidence, coming off of the break-up that inspired this album… you can feel it on the more personal tracks here. Outside of “Amy”, which felt a little uncomfortable, I love the intimacy & softer tone he approaches these tracks with. A lot of them feel mostly acapella, save for some slight guitar, so he’s baring his soul, in a sense. When it’s at its very best, it’s emotionally gripping in a way that feels far too captivating to ignore. When he needs to belt though, he belts pretty well – still a little bit of that “diet Springsteen” vibe, but he generally tends to evoke the country stars of the past, especially Johnny Cash on “Damn, Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains)”. All in all, I’d say the music speaks for itself really well here, and I think feeling the emotions this drags out are more effective than reading about it. If you’re predisposed to country music, you’ll enjoy this a lot. If not, then… I dunno, at least give this a try. If you somehow haven’t heard it, go listen to it with headphones in, and let Ryan's vocals & this excellent production wash over you. It is a great country album, and to my ears, a much tighter & more fulfilling album than “Gold” was. For my tastes, a very easy 5. P.S.: I’m now aware of the allegations made against Ryan Adams. It sucks, and if they’re true, he sucks even more. I’m partially more willing to separate art from artist here, just because I never had a deeper connection to the guy before listening to him via the list, so just know that an endorsement of a 5 for this album is anything but an endorsement of the man himself, no matter how good his damn writing seems to be here. It’s worth a listen, but it’s not worth giving him a dime.
Generally it is boring Alt-Country. "Amy" was only the track I truly enjoyed. The rest doesn't add anything new, just a rehash of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and most annoying the emulation of the worst qualities of Bob Dylan with a wailing harmonica. The only positive thing out of those songs is that I will admit that Ryan Adams is a slightly better singer than Bob Dylan, but honestly that is not saying much. I wish he was bringing something unique and not just rehashing the influences of the past.
3/5
Didn't necessarily get a country vibe from this though it was more on the bluesy/folk side of things. I didn't really know of Ryan Adams before this, but he doesn't seem like the world's greatest dude. That said, this album has some really good songs that vary between up-tempo (To Be Young, Shakedown On 9th Street) to slower solo stuff (Oh My Sweet Caroline, Come Pick Me Up). Good variety and good production. Not every song was up my alley, but there was enough that kept me entertained and engaged. I land at about 3.5 stars for this one, but will round up to a low 4.
Some serious Dylan likeliness on display with To Be Young. But he sounds so much better and I do enjoy the twang of it. In general, I just really love his voice. Has a great husk to it. Super distracted throughout, but this was an extremely cozy listen. Going back for a second listen. Come Pick Me Up is just fantastic. I failed to listen any closer, but come away feeling just as warmly about the record. I think it fell a little flat to be an immediate 5, but it certainly could warm on me. For today, it sits at a solid 4.
Nothing wrong with a bit of soft rock on a morning walk.
Incredibly well written songs throughout the whole album. This is the type of country that I really enjoy listening to. One song in there was a nice bluesy number which had some sweet guitar. This was a great addition to this list. Had zero expectations going into this album and came out with a very high 4.
That first song To Be Young is a jam. Have heard it a ton in movies/tv shows and always thought of it as some Bob Dylan copy cat but the whole song is incredible. Unfortunately nothing else on the album lived up to that besides Come Pick Me Up. The whole rest of the album kinda felt like a worse Wilco. Not bad though. Going high 3 on this one.
Tedious country rock pop ballads which grew less and less interesting the longer it went on. Ryan Adams has come up on this list before, but the only thing that I remembered about him was that he once threw an audience member out of one of his concerts for shouting to him to play Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams. Does this guy really need to be in this list twice? No.
I think Ryan Adams wanted to tell everyone that to achieved happiness you need only two things. Harmonica and a poster of Mariah Carey.
eh
pretty average
I could do without the stupid Morrisey argument at the start of the album. It's a shame too because it keeps To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) off best first track on a debut album consideration. Maybe that's a technical disqualification, but rules are rules. Dylan, Wilco, Elliott Smith...you can hear all of them in this. It's a good start. The Head and The Heart should send him royalty checks the way Robin Thicke and Pharrell have to send Marvin Gaye's no talent kids a check for Blurred Lines because for a minute I thought they might be a side project of Ryan Adams. Damien Rice for that matter too. How is he not more well known? This album is great. Iron and Wine and Ray LaMontagne have a similar sound too.
Ryan Adams is just not a nice person. From the public stories to even personal interactions from friends who have gone to his shows, he is mentally unstable and unlikeable. But, sadly, he makes really good music. It makes me feel bad to rate this so highly, and maybe it would have been even higher if he wasn’t such a raging douche canoe.
Starting the album with a bit of banter between friends is nice. I've been rewatching Scrubs and that has exposed me to a lot of 2000s soft rock. This album definitely has the late 90s and early 00s flowing through it. "Oh My Sweet Carolina" sounds SO much like "Land Locked Blues" by Bright Eyes. Quite a few parts of this album sound a lot like Bright Eyes. "Why Do They Leave" is another Bright Eyes sounding song. This album ran long but was enjoyable most of the time. Some of the songs were a little slow and dull, but many more were great. My favorite songs were "To Be Young" and "My Winding Wheel". Honorary mention to "Shakedown on 9th Street". 8/10
This album was alright, I liked the harmonica, can't compete with the real Bryan Adams.
Decent
Man, I thought I was getting a cool album with the first track being dedicated to off the wall filler, but I was in for a surprise. It was so slow and moody/open that I never connected with the music. Ryan is a skilled singer, I can't deny that, but it was so far out of my preference I wanted to turn it off. First time this whole listen through I have wanted to drop the album before completing it, I don't want to go back.
Bob Dylan but if he was would more intelligible and a massive asshole. It’s alright to me, I like the end. (5/10, 2/5)
Music wasn’t terrible but -1 for apparently being a sex pest.
Some nice bits.
7/10 Enjoyable, and was a solid 4star, but outstayed it's welcome and got a bit dull. Ah, but I did enjoy it. Go on, have 4 and count yourself lucky
Regardless of what a piece of shit Ryan Adam is, this a great album, but not even his best album. "To Be Young" and "Come Pick Me Up" are definitely the highlights on here for me.
First off, I had confused him with Bryan Adams (who I'm not a fan of), so I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. His sound is moody and I kind of like it but would probably not seek it out. (I missed all of the controversy, which I'm glad for.)
This will get a re listen. I'd always poopooed Ryan as it sounded to much like Bryan Adams, weird that isn't it. Struck me as what Dylan might have been if he could sing. Caught me off guard and I liked it.
Tender-hearted Americana singer/songwriter pop, mostly acoustic but a few soft rock tracks. Nothing too remarkable to my ears but it’s pleasant. My biggest complaint is the vocals often really overpower the instrumentals
tja.. paar goeie nummers... maar duurt veel te lang
Generic ahh album it’s ok though
Very good country
I had heard a few songs by Whiskeytown, but didn't know that Ryan Adams was in that band. I'd heard his name in the zeitgeist, and in general old-man fashion, just assumed he was all hat and no cattle and expected to find this album lacking in some way. But you know what? This is good music.
I had heard of Ryan Adams before today but I guess had never heard one of his songs because this was entirely new to me. Father John Misty before he was. Several tunes and lyrical content remind of Andy Hull as well - particularly during his brother bird era. Sweet Carolina, Don’t ask for water and time of need especially enjoyable. I listened to this while on vacation coast of Oregon with family so maybe extra generous but enough here to want to come back. 4/5
Good album start to finish but in the end its a one and done.
Solid foundations and some good songs. The whole composition was boring however. Clearly his first album given the shaky vocals. 6.5/10
I like this despite bad press. A lot of emotion. Sweet.
Great americana album
Not what I expected. Decent, but nothing stood out.
2.5
This album was not good. I heard his other record on the list and it bored the hell out of me apart from the opener and this one was no different, incredibly derivative, basically not good.
My bias is I think alt Country is the most exciting thing happening in music right now. This album is a good and early representation. I hope to see more on this list in time!
Better than I thought it was going to be.
This list's debut album bias is certainly at play here. His next album, "Gold" is my nominee as his "must listen" album. That album was cemented into cultural lore when its hit single, "New York, New York" was released mere days before the 9/11 attacks, becoming an instant anthem. Plus, it's just an overall better album.
A smooth and mellow Country-Rock album. Not my kind music but it was fun to listen to it.
It’s good. Songwriting is solid. The performances are good as well. If I have a complaint it’s that it is too long to hold my attention with standard song structures.
I know of this artist and know how much of a grand songwriter he is. Haven't really heard much of his stuff. KNew he was folky but this is really good. Too mellow for me at the moment but I respect the music and songwriting.
Very tender, would listen to again.
It was very good. Not listened much to this kind of soft rock blues sort of stuff, was a nice intro. Some very enjoyable songs. Favourite was probably the opening song(2nd in the album).
Started off as something I thought I woudlnt like, for a very brief surprising moment I liked it, and then it was too whiney for me again. Glad I dont like it because the dude turn out to be… lets say not a great person
this was so boring it did not hold my interest or attention at all. there wasn’t one redeeming song
It's music people, we're not reviewing the person. It's not a bad album, some good tracks, some bad. "Oh My Sweet Carolina" and "Come Pick Me Up" stand out for me. "In My Time of Need" is enjoyably melancholy.
This record was a very bluesy one. Which, at first sounds like a great listen, which a lot of the songs are. But some go way too close to being country. I’d say this album imagined what Bob Dylan and southern rock would sound like if they came together. It sounds good, but some songs just fall short. Not a bad album at all though.
The Good: We get to break hearts! The Bad: What if we don’t like to be mean? The Ugly: The 1* score by virtue signaling morons who are the end of modern society… So Ryan (ab)used his position of power to get dates… wow. To my knowledge he’s never been found guilty of anything illegal. Is he a prick? I don’t know the man. Is he full of himself? Yes, yes he is. I remember seeing the tv-show where he, together with some other musicians (one of them the guy from Crowded House), were talking about music and singing songs, and Ryan was being a prick indeed… then again, if memory recalls, Crowded House man wasn’t really helping the cause either. Anyway, we are here to bitch about an album, not the artist. Did I like the album? Well, I listened to it 3 times in a row, while I was working on a project, and there are several songs which I recall really enjoyed listening to, while the rest of the tunes were kind of filler material. I would give this album 3* normally, but I am going to crank it to 4* as I am sure I will want to listen to the album again at some point...
slow. kinda boring. he's probably great at writing lyrics but this album isn't doing it for me.
As someone new to Ryan Adams, I was really looking forward to giving Heartbreaker a proper listen—and it did not disappoint. If you're looking for a place to start with Adams, his debut album is absolutely the right entry point. Right from the beginning, the album grabs your attention. I loved the opening—a casual argument about two of Morrissey's greatest albums sets a perfectly offbeat, intimate tone. From there, the music only gets better. The first two tracks set the bar high. To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) bursts with energy, while Winding Wheel delivers a beautiful melody paired with heartfelt lyrics. As the album unfolds, it continues to impress, layering emotional depth with raw, rootsy instrumentation. I'll definitely be coming back to this one—it’s an album that invites repeat listens. Favourite songs: Winding Wheel and Oh My Sweet Carolina stand out as emotional and melodic highlights. Least favourite: Honestly, there weren’t any weak links. Every track brought something to the table. Album artwork: Moody and cool—perfectly in tune with the music inside.
Surprisingly good. I have heard the name but don't think I've listened to his music before
Ryan Adams has released a bunch of albums, all of which are pretty standard folk rock singer-songwriter stuff with some Americana/Country touches. Definitely not my thing. Also, looking at this artwork, it kinda looks like the cigarette is standing upright in the background rather than in Ryan's mouth. Trippy. Key tracks: Amy
I know who Ryan Adams is, but not very familiar with his music. Dylan-esque country/folk rock vibe tilting more towards country. Not music I would normally listen to on purpose. Nothing really stood out or clicked for me. It's not bad, but not great either. Just...meh. -1 because Adams is just a terrible human being. I’d take 2 off, but then I’d have to look at his face in my lowest rated albums everyday.
I wanted SO BAD to shit on this bc I love Phoebe Bridgers like a sister but FUCK WHY IS IT SO FUCKING GOOD???? FUCK! I listened to the whole thing 3x in a row. Ryan is a piece of shit (Phoebe wrote MOTION SICKNESS ABOUT HIM!!!! "I HATE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID / AND I MISS YOU LIKE A LITTLE KID") but fuck, Heartbreaker is a no-skip masterpiece. fuck. it's like bob dylan if his songs were actually good. I loved it. FUCK!
Nope
Great album
Legal a voz, entonação forte ele canta numa tranquilidade massa, música limpa com poucos instrumentos e um rock mais pra country me lembra raconteurs
I love Ryan Adams when he's in his old country mode this album has a couple absolute stunners.
💩
It was ok. Kind of nostalgic
Not my thing a few good songs but pretty forgettable
Loved this!! This is what I wanted Noah Khan to be but he just isnt it for me overall.
Ryan Adams, not to be confused with the Bryan one, I guess making older-sounding music in the year 2000, but it seems to be quite popular, judging from the number of listens on each song. Overall, not too bad but pretty meh at times.
9/10
2.5/5 The parts I like remind me of Wilco or even the Beatles, plenty of Dylan in here too, but it's just too rooted in country music to really appeal to me. It is a little hemmed in by pop music principles but has enough heart to seem genuine and not just written to move units. Fairly nice guitar work to accompany the vocals.
okay listening to this and really enjoying it and then found out that this is a HORRIBLE man from everyone's reviews!!!! wow what a bummer!! Come Pick Me Up just came on and it's GOOD! hate hate hate talented men that are evil!!! may this man never know peace. hmm okay the album has kept going and honestly i feel like there are three bangers on here and the rest is whatever
Rock a billy- country rock feel
Fun, folk / rockabilly feel
Great album!
Pretty easy on the ears. Good guitar tone, warm production, nothing too flashy. There’s a careful touch on the arrangements that gives it some emotional weight, even when the lyrics don’t do much for me. I liked the sound more than the songs, which isn’t a dealbreaker. Just not much that lingers. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) - Come Pick Me Up - To Be The One
Nope......no.....nope!
The Country Music(with a touch of Folk-Rock) deserves a one star on its own. Absolutely boring rural love ballads about breakups, and other nonsense. Then, I found out Ryan Adams is a piece of shit in a Michael Jackson kind of way, so now I wish I could give it a zero. Favorite Track: "Shakedown On 9th Street".
Ganske dritt
Still don’t have an answer to what there is to be done with these records. They meant something at one time and then the artist did something to ruin any connection you’d want to have with them and more importantly, their music. I have a fond memory of listening to a Ryan Adams live show driving across Kentucky one summer. I wasn’t a big RA fan, but liked Heartbreaker pretty much from the jump, yet never took a big plunge because, well, he seemed like a bit of a jackass (even though I knew him through friends and while yes, drunk jackass was an apt characterization, you’d be leaving out the loveable part). So, I was making my way through this long live set and bluegrass country and was absolutely floored by the version of Come Pick Me Up on there, enough I went back and devoured all of the Whiskeytown records even gave some of his many later solo records a try. And then, well, maintaining any association with his music became untenable. Nearly a decade on from metoo and canceling folks, my current feeling is DAMN WHAT A SHAME. But that’s a better place than “I cannot even stomach listening to this creep.” I don’t know what there is to be done about this in the long run, if he makes proper amends, how warranted they *all* were to begin with, and so on. There are lots of genuine assholes who make music we love, but we never got to learn about the genuine asshole part - that’s the ignorance is bliss argument. I believe in forgiveness and redemption, but it’s not up to me to grant So Many Men entree back into our good graces. But jeezus, what a talent. And damn, what a shame.
Never heard this album before. I enjoyed it. Really enjoyed the writing on this album. Definitely going to add this album to the rotation.
This is a beautiful album. Wonderful melodies, sad songs. It's a 4.5 because not everything is memorable, but it's fucking brilliant.
This album has some good moments with really solid guitar and lyrical performances with a little country vibe. I'm a sucker for harmonica, so that paired with some guitar makes for a nice listen. The songs are mostly slower but they're all pretty catchy to be honest and are fun to listen to. Standouts are "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)," "Amy," and "Shakedown on 9th Street" All in all, not a bad album! The last couple of songs are forgettable, but I enjoyed my listen. There are a couple songs I'd come back to. I think this is a 3.5/5 for me. The guy's a piece of shit apparently which I didn't see until after I listened, so this was a pretty untainted experience. I don't pay attention to the country music world, so I don't really give a damn.
Meh. Certainly not the worst I've heard but just boring to listen to. No idea why this is considered for this list.
Das Album Heartbreaker von Ryan Adams wurde im Jahr 2000 in den Woodland Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, aufgenommen. Die Aufnahmen fanden über einen Zeitraum von 14 Tagen statt, wobei Adams eng mit dem Produzenten Ethan Johns zusammenarbeitete. Unterstützt wurde er von Musikern wie Gillian Welch, David Rawlings und Emmylou Harris. Ryan Adams ist ein US-amerikanischer Singer-Songwriter aus Jacksonville, North Carolina. Vor seiner Solokarriere war er Mitglied der Band Whiskeytown. Das Album umfasst 15 Titel und bewegt sich im Genre des Alternative Country mit Einflüssen aus Folk und Rock. Besonders hervorzuheben sind die Songs "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)", "Oh My Sweet Carolina" (ein Duett mit Emmylou Harris) und "Come Pick Me Up". Heartbreaker zeichnet sich durch seine reduzierte Instrumentierung und die introspektiven Texte aus. Die Lieder thematisieren persönliche Erfahrungen und Emotionen, wobei die musikalische Umsetzung schlicht gehalten ist. Insgesamt bietet Heartbreaker einen Einblick in Adams' Songwriting und seine Fähigkeit, persönliche Geschichten musikalisch umzusetzen.
I was more of a Whiskeytown guy, but this is an ok record. Back then, it was a 3. First time hearing it in 20 years, it's closer to a 2. Mid. Listenable, not that exciting. By most accounts Ryan Adams is a terrible dude, so there's that. Kinda fitting that it opens with an argument about Morrissey who also turned out to be a terrible dude.
Not very good.
Some of this quite nice but good lord the harmonica. And by most accounts here he's a nob so I guess that's that.
As with his other album I reviewed, it started off very easy going and breezy, but after a short while it seemed to slow waaay down, and I just found it so dull.
Tengo el sesgo de que es uno de mis artistas favoritos, y que por ser éste el primero de sus trabajos en solista lo tenga muy cercano al cora, pero la verdad si tiene algunas rolas muy sin embargo. Aunque "Oh My Sweet Carolina" salva todo el disco. Este disco está para iniciados, porque al escucha común, le va a sonar a una copia de Dylan y similares.
Not my cup of tea so not off to a great start, and it was a bit of a dreary trudge through this album. For some reason bore quite a dislike to Ryan, maybe it's the missing B in his name.
I've got to be honest - this album hit me at a particular time when I was 20, heart broken and drinking away my blues. It was perfect for that time and it's still great now. I've a weakness for alt-country and there was a short time where Ryan Adams could do no wrong. This album is for late night ruminating, maybe drinking too much whiskey and wallowing in regrets - enjoy while it lasts and once it's over, give yourself a kick up the arse and start enjoying life again. Misery loves company, but you have to move on - that's what this album is really about. Best Tracks: To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High); Oh My Sweet Caroline, Come Pick Me Up
This is much better than gold. Good songs of country rock tinged with Springsteen fandom. Starts with an argument about Morrissey which seems entirely pointless. I enjoyed listening to this one so let’s do three.
5/10
Nice. Would like to listen again as was quite understated, but enjoyed all the songs. Potentially a bit samey and formulaic but need to listen again to be sure
5 stars; will download this to my phone
Unauffälliger Gesang mit brauchbarem Gitarrenspiel, aber ohne Highlights .
A beautifully heartfelt collection of songs from the country/roots rock singer. I learned *after* listening that the dude is apparently a massive creep, which definitely sucks, but I'm glad I could listen to the music prior to learning that information so I could judge it on its own... the songs are well written, and quite lovely at times. Reminds me a lot of the band Wild Rivers, of which I'm a big fan, so I could easily see myself coming back to this one. Or maybe I'll stick to Wild Rivers given that I now know the dude apparently sucks.
It was a bit boring but pleasant to listen to. I don't like this guy.
Meh. I like his later work but this was a little too raw for my taste.
Beautifully aching Americana in this album. Oh My Sweet Carolina hits a sweet spot of longing country and folk/blues.
I like a few of the songs on this. It's the type of stuff I put on to try and get my woman in the mood. I think some modern artists could learn a thing or two about writing songs from Ryan Adams, but hopefully that's all they learn!
One of my absolute favorite albums!!
Excellent, worth a revisit
20 years ago this would have been a no question 5. The soundtrack to so many bittersweet memories. A few years ago, feeling betrayed by the artist, I may have awarded a 1. Now I feel like I can separate the album from the artist and my nostalgia. The songs are good. It could lose a couple of tracks and drop some harmonica. It's not a masterpiece exactly but it isn't far off, and deserves to be here.
not great
Solid
A few good singles does not an album make
On the three-plus side. Nice clear voice, good harmony and storytelling
Honestly, this didn't do much for me at all, just background noise that wasn't awful, but certainly was nowhere close to pleasant. Two stars seems plenty.
"God just SHUT UP" I said this a few dozen times. Adams' voice is just grating enough that I cant appreciate the music. To Be Young was good, the rest is a bit of a downward slope. There are some nuggets here and there, some nice folk guitar, but overall its just self-suckery.
Ryan Adams is a pretender to the Bob Dylan throne! Opening with a discussion on King Dick Morrissey is sure a choice but the first song is pretty good! I dunno man but I doubt we needed more than one Ryan Adams album and so far zero Bryan Adams albums
Not my fav but still alright
Kind of fire?
Remember we had an album from this guy before that I didn’t think anything special of. This was an upgrade though. Maybe on the cheesy side, but I enjoyed the slower songs. ’My Winding Wheel’ stood out as particularly good. The songs I liked the least were the more uptempo ones, like ’Shakedown on 9th Street’ for example. Granted, it would be quite boring with only ballads, but still. Think this is a weak 4 from me as far as country goes. Haven’t heard any country album on this list so far that I liked as much as this I think.
I like this type of music, it sounds like Ryan Bingham which I like. Something about it is just too cheesy to take seriously. Everything just feels premeditated and phony. Maybe its that Ryan Adams is a terrible person. There are nice, chill songs here though. My favourite being “Oh My Sweet Carolina”. I had trouble finishing this since I just got bored. Weak 3.