Gold

At a concert in October 2002, at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, someone in the audience yelled out a request for "Summer of '69", a hit by the similarly named Bryan Adams. Adams reacted with a stream of expletives, and ordered the house lights turned on, The Tennessean newspaper reported. He eventually found the fan who made the joke request, paid him $30 cash as a refund for the show, ordered him to leave, and said he would not play another note until he had left. He's also a pedophile (alledgedly)

Why'd they keep pushing this cunt?

I could see this playing at a suburban white Christian Americans family barbecue XD

How many albums does this nonce have on the list?

Had to stop in the middle of the 3rd song, because my balls were shrinking. It's like a cocktail of estrogen with radioactive waste

“Gold” by Ryan Adams (2001) If you’re in the mood for country/pop/rock that’s smoother than Bruce Springsteen but not as intelligent as Neil Young, this album is worth a try. Ryan Adam’s’ poetry is better than that found in most pop music, but it has its flaws. There’s a nice enough cadence and sound, but he seems to write with limited vocabulary, conceptual depth, and synthesis. Several images are used repetitively (personified ‘night’, ‘breaking glass’), indicating a truncated imagination. Musically, the album is reminiscent of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, with country flavorings, arranged and performed with adequate professionalism, and assisted by a large assembly of session musicians. Adams’ voice lacks control and resonance, but is well matched to the instrumental arrangements, as if producer/instrumentalist Ethan Johns was well aware of the limitations he was working with. And is there any instrument Johns doesn’t play? The album is well enough constructed, building in intensity and variety as it proceeds, stepping out of its initial country mode into the territory of classic and experimental rock. “Nobody Girl”, at over nine minutes, is about five minutes too short. Seriously. This review only covers the album as originally released. I’ll leave the sad and silly dispute over the five tracks of “Side Four” to Adams and Lost Highway Records. Sheesh. It’s not a classic, but it’s easy on the ears, and will help you get through your working day. 3/5

Dull and goes on forever.

The 90 minutes of Gold by Ryan Adams would benefit from silence. Ideally 90 minutes of it. Even the ostensibly quiet songs on this record have this overproduced busyness, never allowing a drop of silence to accentuate the space between two beats, never giving elements room to be whole. There’s always an organ, a muffled rhythm guitar, or a semi-distant string quartet fussing in the background. This is apart from the beginning of that terrible Sylvia Plath song, which would benefit from bringing in Kevin Shields and his fifty guitars for an upfront wall-of-sound treatment to push the song deep, deep into the bayou. Of course, after a minute, the bare piano backing has to be joined by some strings. It was sounding lonely there! For this self-avowedly American record, a splendidly American word fits best: phony. Original ideas are sparse, just this slapped-on faux-Americana, tiresome mopey songs to a nameless girl, or a parade of nameless girls, and eyes-closed busker’s vocal affectations that magnify the triteness of the lines. It’s a box-ticking exercise in homage - here’s a fast-spoken song about New York, here’s a song with “Blues” in the title, look, a song about a street, a song about a bar, oh! 20 songs about a girl or girls. He can write a tune, but it will always look like Boris Karloff, and no make-up will hide the stitches, and he’s still waiting for that lightning bolt to bring that fucking thing to life. (Unlike the otherwise comparable Primal Scream, whose lightning bolt was Andy Weatherall.) Confession: I enjoyed Nobody Girl’s modicum of Coors lite rock until I realised it was longer than Fool’s Gold. From Wikipedia“”New York, New York" became a notable MTV and VH1 favorite following the September 11 attacks.” The chicken and the egg argument went dark. I dislike this record and can only stave off resentment for my 90 minutes with it by being mean, as I hate bearing a grudge. One star! What a dickwash of a cover fronts this album.

how do I post the meme of that seal yelling gaaaaaayyy?

We have Bruce Springsteen at home

Lifeless and soulless, no clever turns of phrase or creative arrangements. Any band or local songwriter would have left this collection unrecorded. No business being on the list. And obligatory slap from beyond the grave from Sylvia Plath for taking her name in vain on such a dull song.

Not bad for an arrogant dickhead.

Überbewertet in allen Belangen.

I liked this! Bluesy rocky Americana stuff. This is all upbeat (except Sylvia Plath). Would go great on a roadtrip playlist or something. This album is the kind of album that makes me glad this list exists. I never would have even given that cover a second glance! Never would have heard it. Is it 5 stars? No. Is it 4? Probably not, but considering how much I've been liberal with my 3 stars this year, I'll have to give it a 4. Really enjoyed "When the Stars Go Blue", "Nobody Girl", "Sylvia Plath", "Tina Toledo's Street Walkin' Blues", and "Rosalie Come and Go"

Can't really go wrong with Ryan Adams. He reminds me a lot of the singer/songwriters from the 90s but more contemporary.

this was surprisingly good - I'm a little bit bummed it has a low global rating

It's rare that I can't finish an album but an hour and a half of this shite was just too much. Terrible, just terrible.

I can't be bothered to compose a full review, so here are my notes: familiar and anonymous jack and diane on repeat for an hour cannot sing, awful voice would be a relief to hear summer of 69 [flips coin disinterestedly]: 1

One of my favorite assholes in the business. This is a pretty fantastic album, but it does go on too long; it's not like Adams has ever known to not overdo it with his output. Yes he's pretty terrible, he always has been. I don't listen to music to make friends with the artists. 4 star album getting a 5 for all the community hate.

Fine album, some good stuff on there!

Around the time of this album’s release was when I first encountered Ryan Adams. I was struck by the songwriting on this album and listening again today still am. Some great love songs and breakup tunes. Quite a bit of variety on his vocals here as well. Excellent!

Incredible album from the days that everything Ryan Adams touched turned into .. yes Gold. Take the epic Nobody girl and find out that this is soon followed by the heartbreaking duo Wild flowers and Harder now that it's over. And whether they are rock, country, gospel or whatever, weak songs are not remotely in sight.

Love, love, love this album. More rocking than his first solo LP, Heartbreaker, but perhaps not as pretty. Great Americana.

Very good

Enjoyable Americana, shame it came from a shitwad.

Look, I know that this was probably recorded before 9/11, but the fact that this was released a week after 9/11 in 2001 with an American flag cover, and songs titled "New York, New York" and "The Rescue Blues" really makes you think... Feels like he either jumped on the 9/11 grift wave, or he knew about the attacks on the World Trade Center ahead of time. I guess he didn't pop off much anyway, I thought this was the guy from Fall Out Boy when I saw the album cover lol.

He's a great writer. And it all SOUNDS great. But even before I knew how much of a tool he was, there was always somewhat of a disconnect. He never resonated with me. I recognized the quality, but it didn't speak to me. It still doesn't. I do my best to separate the art from the artist, but I can't pretend I'm not turned off by Ryan right now. And it definitely isn't helping me connect with this any more at the moment. A very generous... 3.5/5

Good album! Another artist I wasn't familiar with by name, but I know I've heard Rescue Blues before. I feel like this album is a great representation of singer-songwriter rock in the early 00s. I can hear sounds that remind me of other artists I'm more familiar with from the era. I also hear some strong elements of 70s era singer-songwriting. I can certainly hear the the influence of Dylan, Young, and Springsteen throughout the album. Favorite Songs: The Rescue Blues

Today I learned there is a Ryan Adams and a Bryan Adams. It's not bad, just a tad too generic for my taste

feels souless. theres good country and theres bad country yo.

Exactly as it was in 2001. 10-15 minutes of going. Wow - this is great. Then an hour of wondering. Wow - this is shit; please end now. 2.1

Early 2000s schlock. Very dull and way too long.

Yeah I find it washes over me leaving very little. There's nothing intrinsically awful about it ..... I'm just surprised he's 23 albums into his career. Stephen King reckon he's the best songwriter since Neil Young. I think Stephen King should just write novels. Massive Meh. 2.

Fine. Long, a bit boring in places. I think his influences are too obvious - usually people like Dylan. Laura Marling liked him when she was young but changed her mind when she got older and various allegations about him emerged. Apparently he also did a full cover of a Taylor swift album which is lame. I dunno, I think maybe he's just lame? I thought about giving a 3 but downgraded to a 2. #me2

Milquetoast

I can do this, too. The road is long, You've got to be crazy to catch a cliché, it ain't easy, and my brother, looking over my shoulder, it's been a long path; and my sister, where has she gone? Where has the time gone, dripping off my watch like syrup, Dali on my mind, Dali on my mind, Dali on my mind, Dah-a-a-ali on myyy miiind. Heavy with the pressure, waking up in a motel and thinking, Dali on my mind, Dali on my mind, Dali on my mind. Ooohh, yeeeaah.

According to Wikipedia, "Ryan Adams; Not to be confused with Bryan Adams." Also, the anecdote about "Summer of '69" made me laugh. As for the album, too long, uninteresting and I've reached a point in the 1001 albums that I definitely have a problem with the harmonica. Make it stop!

according to "meet me in the bathroom" Ryan Adams knowingly got Albert Hammond Jr. (from the strokes) back on heroin. in fact everything I've ever heard about him is that he is a douche. but I've never met the guy. so i dunno. as far as music, he's got a nice voice, but the album isn't interesting. lyrics are pandering; music is predictable. If they had to change this from 1001 to 1000 albums to listen to, this should be the one that goes.

I hate this album. Its as phony and contrived as things can get. 1/5

What is this even doing on this list?

1001 Albums Generator Day 11 At the turn of the millennium, the singer of an up and coming "alt-country" band went solo to make a top-heavy, overlong, yet pleasant album with the kind of guestlist that gives the monthly reviewers butterflies. He was deeply reverent of artists from the past and the wasted genius image they exemplified in a way that invited comparison with them, but he did not possess the lyrical, melodic or vocal gifts of, say, Evan Dando. Later, his musical reputation would be based on his first two solo records and his perceived eccentricity, which meant an apparently voracious taste for speedballs and recording lots of albums no-one wanted to release. The two albums still turn up in lists like this one, but from roughly 2002-07 he was effectively replaced by a younger, prettier, more talented "new new Dylan," Conor Oberst. So, what about this album, Gold? I bought a copy in a charity shop a few years ago, but I had to listen via streaming today as it soon ended up back in the donations pile. The title describes its smooth, expensive sound and anticipated its UK certification for sales. It has the kind of guestlist that gives the monthly reviewers butterflies. It's also characterless and, as for overlong, this fucker is the length of a football match. Both Heartbreaker and Gold are in the book on which this series is based, but if you can't find 1001 albums better than both you aren't trying hard enough.

Well, this is devoid of personality.

Really bad. The blandest thing I've ever heard, not an original note on the album

Still a classic in my book (10) ★★★★★

One of my favorite albums I have listened to that I didn't already. Really enjoyed it all the way through.

4.5 - Ryan Adams is really good, such a great song writer. He makes it feel so effortless and natural and this album really is great. I just struggle to separate the art from the artist with this one. Objectively it's so fucking good, and so gonna try to listen to him again

When I saw the 1 hr 30 min playtime I almost skipped this one. I've heard Ryan Adams before and I really do like his music, but dedicating 1:30 to one album felt like a potential slog. But because I've liked what I've heard before I jumped in. An hour and thirty minutes later I'm really glad I did. Adams is such a great singer/songwriter. I joked with my wife that he's like an aphrodisiac for people who like coffee house music. Definitely coming back to songs from this one.

La Cienega Just Smiled. Bastantes canciones preciosas.

I was obsessed with this album in 8th grade. I know we’re not supposed to like him anymore but he is such a great songwriter and I love a lot of his records. Rosalie come and go was on so many of my mix cds

Awesome folk rock with impressive versatility, encompassing everything from rock to bluegrass and Americana. Loved it!

Enjoyed pretty much every song. Easy chill, vibe listening!

Great album. I've been a fan for a long time. Any album you can press play, listen, and enjoy every track you know you've got a winner. I'm sure I'll listen to this many more times in my life.

This album used to be in heavy rotation when I was younger. Every track has something to offer. New York New York, is a great song. The whole album is full of rock blues music. Nobody Girl is a personal favorite of mine

From what I hear he is a pretty big douche bag but this music is decent Americana. Ill give it five stars but actually 3.5 when you take away the curve I grade on.

I see and hear what you're doing there, Adams. A stab at Bryan Adams and an inversion of Born in the U.S.A.. I get you... Personal issues aside, really good album I thoroughly enjoyed. I was expecting this to plod a bit but that was the most striking thing to me about Gold. Even the slower songs had some pep, creating an experience that was very catchy, melodic, and very beautiful in several spots. Anything that makes me want to sing or play along is a winner in my book.

Say what you will about Ryan Adams as a person...this album is soooo good! I love it and it reminds me so much of a snapshot in my life.

The first song came on and I was thinking damn this is some good ol Americana. Classic but not too classic and catchy but not cliche. To my surprise, it more or less continued consistently throughout the whole album. Some songs stood out more, but overall there were no misses. Altogether, since I enjoyed it, there were some great songs and really no duds, and the album flowed together the whole way through, and I'll definitely be coming back to it, I think this deserves a 5

La Cienega Just Smiled. Bastantes canciones preciosas.

One of my go too albums in 2001. Didn't think Ryan could top Heartbreaker. Grows track by track. 6 stars. Rescue blues and nobody girl are in my opinion two of the best songs of 2001.

Classic

La Cienega Just Smiled. Bastantes canciones preciosas.

cool

Blissful 😊

Un artista poco sonado en su momento pero que es una máquina de hacer grandes rolas. Este disco se deja ir solito, sin un momento que me aburra o que me invite a cambiarle. Incluso la rola más depre (Sylvia Plath) es una chulada si le pones atención. Me encanta ese punto que encuentra entre Rock, Pop y Country en el que un montón de las rolas del disco sirven en muchos momentos.

Awesome album

I love Ryan Adams' music. I'm not sure why I don't listen to it more, but it's great. I'm not even really sure why I like it so much - it just seems kinda timeless to me. There is definitely a Neil Young, Bob Dylan vibe, but also like the Stones and a bit of the Beatles. It's blues, but it's folk, but it's also country. He could have performed at Woodstock or at a contemporary music festival and people would dig it. It's somehow genius in its simplicity. I don't know. But - 5.

😀 That was a good one 😀

Oof. Got caught up yesterday and couldn't find the time to listen to this album before another one got generated. Forgive me, then, if I rush this a litte; I have a MAGGOT BRAIN on the other side of this that I wanna get to. So, like, from the words "alternative country," combined with that pop emo-ass cover and **especially** that runtime, I wasn't looking forward to this. Now, I've liked plenty of country music just fine, but something about putting "alternative" in front... Actually, I don't know why it rattled me so much. I guess maybe I was thinking this'd be some kind of ultra-hipster country music? The stuff I "should" be listening to if I wanna understand mainstream country. But y'wanna know what this actually sounded like to me, honestly? OK, so one of the songs on here, "The Rescue Blues", was used on an episode of SCRUBS, right? Reading that before I listened to the album, I just shrugged and went, "OK." Matters to me about as much as another song getting used in BRIDESMAIDS. But then once I listen to the album, and especially once I get to "The Rescue Blues", it all clicks for me. 'Coz, y'see, so much of this album reminds me of "Superman" by Lazlo Bane, the song SCRUBS used as a theme song. And I **love** "Superman", so getting to listen to a whole album in that sonic vein... Which, I mean, I probably shoulda listened to that Lazlo Bane album first, but still, I dug this so much. Especially coming after all the stuff I got caught up on, too: it was a nice album to just unwind to. Now, of course, I still have a problem with this thing's runtime. As much as I sympathize with Ryan for the fact that his label forced him to chop off the last five songs... Like this thing needed to be any longer. Over 70-some minutes, goodness. This absolutely could've been cut down **more**, possibly. As much as I don't like saying I agree with meddling with his artistic vision... I mean, it's not like I actually listened to those last five songs this listen around, y'know? And as for the lyrics, I didn't really pay attention to them, of course (typical of me), but if they're really anything like what groupmate Gutseh was saying... Goodness. And I didn't not like "Nobody Girl", for as long as it was, it could've been more of a "Champagne Supernova" overdeal like he said. Overall, y'know, both my group mates gave this thing a 4 rounded up from a 3.5... And I feel like I'm at a 4 solid? If not just in the same boat, honestly. Like, I'm pleasantly surprised by this, but I'm not head over about it like I was that Frank Black album where I had similar expectations. It's just a really nice time, sonically. At the most basic level, there's not much more I could ask. And somehow I wrote 500+ words, including these. Hm. Well, I hope I can match for MAGGOT BRAIN. Goodness, what a solo...

Honestly a bit too long for its own good, but it's some decent enough rock and country. 3.5 bumped up to 4.

I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4. This is a great 70 minutes to *listen* to, save for a few tracks. Very key wording on “listen” – a lot of the time, these tracks do match really well with their lyrical content and their instrumentation. When the album makes sense, it’s rolling, it’s flowing, and it’s providing some great examples of the early 2000s rock scene – basically, everyone trying to mix the Stones with Nirvana, and a hint of rap flair (or at least, that’s how my brain kinda hears it now). I would probably give the very best parts of this album a 5. The big falldown of an entire point and a half then, comes when the lyrics and the soundscape don’t quite match, which unfortunately happens a little too often – it’s bound to happen at some point with 16 songs, but when I can point out 6 of them that didn’t click, something’s definitely consistent, in a bad way. Nobody Girl is the most key offender of this – the glorification of someone being called a “nobody” and sort of glamorizing a lonely lifestyle should be met with a moodier tone and some slightly somber instrumentation, not a big Britpop-sounding extravaganza reminiscent of Champagne Supernova in its structure that lasts for 9 minutes. There’s other disconnects on the album, and a few soundscapes that really don’t mesh with their lyrics, but that’s by far the worst one to me. With that said, it is still a great listen – the band is excellent throughout, his voice has a great variety to it, and when everything does click, this album really, really rolls. It just hits too many potholes to really stay consistently good; whether it’s the track order feeling a little chaotic in its tone, the lyricism and the instrumentals not matching, or just some really icky songs in general (who let him fucking record “Harder Now That It’s Over”??), this album just stumbles a few too many times for its own good. I still enjoyed it, and I think it’s a recommended listen, but when put under scrutiny, it just manages to crumple a bit after a pretty hot start. It’s a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4, but I truly cannot imagine this thing having another 5 tracks laid on top of it.

I recently entered a Ryan Adams era, so I've already listened to this multiple times this year (which I recognize is problematic because he's not a great dude). This album is great. Very happy to listen to it any time, and some songs are real favorites for me. I know there was drama about this being a double album that the studio fucked him on, but maybe they should have cut even more songs? If this was just the absolute best stuff it could have gotten to 5 stars for me.

Great album, little long, shame about the grooming.

Reminiscent of CCR and Bob Dylan

Pretty fun album, too long though

Sigh. This is a great album and …New York, New York is one of my favs. Too bad it’s tainted by him being an ass, but I guess many musicians are so….

Right in my wheelhouse, but a bit too much of a pop leaning and there is something about the production that I don't care fully for, but nonetheless a good album. 4 stars

A slightly lesser batch of songs than Heartbreaker, and I definitely like the overall sound less. I also think the second half, with maybe the exception of "Harder Now That It's Over" and "Goodnight Hollywood Blvd" is mostly filler. However, there are some excellent songs here. "New York, New York", "La Cienega Just Smiled", "The Rescue Blues", and "When the Stars Go Blue" rank with his best songs. There's probably an album here that gets close to the excellence of Heartbreaker with some scrappier production and some of the fat trimmed. 4 stars

I’ve only ever heard bits and pieces from Ryan Adams, so it was good to hear an album in its entirety. Pretty decent.

From today's notes on 'Bad people can make good music…' We have Ryan Adams' absolute monster 'Gold'. This is a fun listen where just about everything from his well written lyrics and the music pair perfectly together that you don't realize this album just barely crosses the one-hour mark and it doesn't bother me! On a personal level, yeah, he may be a shit human being but none of that was known at the time this record came out and really should have no impact on its artistic quality. 4/5

The first 6 tracks are so good.

Nice coutry-rock album. Easy on the ears but maybe a bit too long?! I like him most on this, when he is more into rock. favourite: " New York, New York", "Firecracker", "Nobody Girl", "Gonna Make You Love Me", "Touch, Feel & Lose", "Tina Toledo´s Street Wlakin' Blues" 3,5

4+

I liked this more than I expected. It's like Americana mixed with pop and a touch of blues. I would listen to this again. 3.5 stars.

Not sure why this album resonated with me, but I really liked it. Had never knowingly listened to Ryan Adams but will start sampling his stuff more often.

4/5. I had a very different view of Ryan Adams when I first listened to him. His music has altered to a more rock and emo oriented versus just basically country like this one. And honestly, glad I was surprised I liked this one more than I was expecting. Just a solid album of back to back well-written country songs, each one standing on its own but the songs are good enough to make this feel more like a Greatest Hits album. Now I don't think the whole is album is perfect, but it's good enough to get a 4 in my opinion. It's intrigued me enough to explore the songs some more, just in case there was a song I missed fully and the ones I already enjoyed are great. Best Song: When The Stars Go Blue, La Cienega Just Smiled, New York, New York

bluesy rock Americana is just always a vibe 8/10

Really enjoyed some of the songs, 8/10

Quite an enjoyable experience, didn't feel fundamentally essential to the 1001 though. I strongly dislike the album cover and I am very confused why a guy born David Ryan Adams would choose Ryan Adams as his stage name when there already existed a very successful and well known Bryan Adams. Fave Tracks: New York, New York, Nobody Girl, Sylvia Plath, the last two minutes of The Bar is a Beautiful Place (which I guess was a bonus track) 3.7/5 (probably 3.5 without the disc 2 tracks which I found all quite enjoyable)

Some fun peppy songs that my ears perked up to, good instrumentals.

This was a solid pop-rock album. I'll probably never come back to it, but it was certainly a good listen. 3.6

Know this one well from 2001/2 and it’s packed with brilliant singer-songwriting that varies effortlessly from bluesy to rocky and ballady with a dose of the better kind of country in there too. The opening run of five tracks is pretty spotless (New York, New York, Firecracker, Answering Bell, La Cienaga Just Smiled, Rescue Blues) but the latter half does drop off. I learned today that there’s a second disc that apparently Adams always intended to be included. It seems he can be a difficult person to work with and was regularly at odds with his label but I must say, in my experience the labels know what they’re doing as the extra minutes only serve to dilute the quality here. It’s a fantastic album that I’m always happy to play but doesn’t quite sit in my absolute top tier.

4.0

Ég sá þennan listamann og hugsaði: "Hét hann ekki Brian Adams, hef ég misskilið í allan þennan tíma?" Þetta er ekki Brian. Þetta er annar listamaður sem er samt bara mjög góður. Smá blús, smá þjóðlagaívaf. Ég set hann aftur í spilun þótt platan sé helst til of löng.

Opening track is great right off the bat. I really like “New York, New York

Pretty good I feel. I remember him being popular back the but never listened to it. It’s pretty Americana, but really is a solid 3.5+

This must have fueled so many post American Pie movie night make outs for the highschool class of 2001

This was really good, Interesting alternate country sound.

I never actually listened to one his albums before but I know he was a big influence on some songwriters that I used to play with. I really love a lot of that early 2000’s singersongwriter stuff and I can hear how influential this must’ve been. Great songs and album but the Me Too stuff does actually kind of ruin it for me though. 3.5 -4

There's a lot of good stuff on here. I seem to remember this guy was everywhere in the early 00s.

This is gold