Gold is the second studio album by Ryan Adams, released September 25, 2001 on Lost Highway Records. The album remains Adams' best-selling album, certifying Gold in the UK and going on to sell 364,000 copies in the U.S. and 812,000 worldwide. Adams noted that "with Gold, I was trying to prove something to myself. I wanted to invent a modern classic."Adams intended for the album to be a double album, but his record label, Lost Highway, condensed the album into a single disc. According to Adams, the label "took the last five songs, made it a bonus disc and put it on the first hundred and fifty thousand copies. Fucking my fans over and making them pay extra for a record I wanted to be a double album. They counted that as one record." This bonus disc is known as Side Four; the disc's title reflects the fact that the bonus material makes up the fourth side of the double LP edition of the album. The album includes "When the Stars Go Blue", which has been covered by artists such as The Corrs and Bono, Tyler Hilton, Bethany Joy Galeotti, Tim McGraw and as a duo by Kurt Nilsen featuring Venke Knutson. "New York, New York" became a notable MTV and VH1 favorite following the September 11 attacks. "The Rescue Blues" was featured in the end credits of the 2001 film Behind Enemy Lines. Adams' friend and former roommate Adam Duritz (lead singer of Counting Crows) lends background vocals to several tracks. Adams received three Grammy Award nominations in 2002: Best Rock Album, Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "New York, New York", and Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Lovesick Blues", a song recorded for the Hank Williams tribute album, "Timeless". Stephen King's 2006 book Lisey's Story includes part of the lyrics to "When the Stars Go Blue". Also, the song "The Rescue Blues" was featured in an episode of Scrubs. In 2011, "Answering Bell" was featured in the film and on the soundtrack to Bridesmaids.
WikipediaAt 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)
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
I could see this playing at a suburban white Christian Americans family barbecue XD
Can't really go wrong with Ryan Adams. He reminds me a lot of the singer/songwriters from the 90s but more contemporary.
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"
this was surprisingly good - I'm a little bit bummed it has a low global rating
“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
Today I learned there is a Ryan Adams and a Bryan Adams. It's not bad, just a tad too generic for my taste
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
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.
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.
Love, love, love this album. More rocking than his first solo LP, Heartbreaker, but perhaps not as pretty. Great Americana.
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.
The fact that this appeals to me so much either says a ton about me or Ryan Adams lol. Kinda in that Wallflowers mold. PROTO TAYLOR SWIFT. Just some light, easy going alt rock, some good story telling, really nice melody lines and guitar riffs. Didn’t really care for Sylvia Plath. His different voices throughout the record throw me off a little too – like what the hell is that voice on Gonna Make You Love Me?
Hat mir gut gefallen. Überhaupt nicht so schnulzig, wie ich erwartet hab. Vielleicht verwechsle ich ihn auch... tatsächlich! Bryan Adams... dafuq? Werd ich wohl nochmal hören.
Me ha gustado mucho, conocía pocas canciones, pero el rollito está toh guapo
Hoewel hij inmiddels gecancelled is :), vind ik Ryan Adams een goede artiest. Op dit album wel veel kabbelends, maar vooruit: een 4. Dan devalueert dan wel de 4 voor Nick Cave van gisteren een beetje. Tsja.
Al is Ryan tegenwoordig een sujet met een wat twijfelachtige reputatie, blijft het een geweldige muziekant. Heel mooie en diverse plaat.
First Ryan Adams album for me. Pretty groovy/rocky for what I'd been led to believe was a folk influenced artist.
This is a really nice album for Ryan Adams. Not sure why he isn't a bigger star. Very in the mold of singer/songwriter style of the 70s. He has lost some of his alt-country sound on this one and gone for a more straight ahead rock/pop sound. It does lack some of the soul of Heartbreaker, but still a strong set of songs...4 stars
This is a really enjoyable alt-country / rock album with plenty of head nodding, toe tapping tracks (Tina Toledo's Street Walkin' Blues, Firecracker) alongside more thoughtful, lyrical numbers (Sylvia Plath, When the Stars go Blue). And whilst the man is clearly a bit of a wretch, he’s clearly very talented.
Way too long but besides that an entertaining combination out of folk, rock and roll and country
I really love this album. It feels like a love letter to a fading world. (A world wherein a man can innocently abuse many many women perhaps?!) The last light of a dying moon perhaps. The steady movement of La Cienga Just Smiled always produces a wistful tear. I’m not too au fait with his whole back catalogue but this record has it all for me. He’s a real wrongun and by all accounts is desperately scrabbling around for his marbles of late. I do love Phoebe dearly and don’t want to give the boy more airtime than he deserves though I trust the vacuum of cabbage ears shall allow this tree to fall in utter silence.
This is a really nice album for Ryan Adams. Not sure why he isn't a bigger star. Very in the mold of singer/songwriter style of the 70s. He has lost some of his alt-country sound on this one and gone for a more straight ahead rock/pop sound. It does lack some of the soul of Heartbreaker, but still a strong set of songs...4 stars
Really solid album with lots of fun upbeat tracks. A lot of it sounded uncomfortably familiar though. I’m not sure how Prince never sued him for “Touch Feel & Loose” as it’s about as Purple Rain-y as you can get. That’s not a bad thing to sound like one of the sexiest songs of all time. Fave tracks: “Touch, Feel & Lose” “Gonna Make You Love Me”
starts poppy and slowly gets folksier and folksier. country 90s bar with some genuinely heartfelt lyrics.
I've never listened to a complete album from Ryan Adams before. "New York, New York" was the track I liked the most from this album, and a track that I've heard before. "Gonna Make You Love Me" was another favorite. Overall, this album was easy to listen to. I like Ryan Adams enough that I'm happy to listen when his music comes on, but I haven't been at the point where I specifically seek out his music on it's own. This album was good and there's room for it to grow on me. (I listened to the extended verison of the album and "Cannonball Days" is an additional favorite).
Very enjoyable soft rock. Favorites were When the Stars Go Blue and Firecracker
Listened to on 8/22/22 4/5 Favorite song: when the stars go blue, answering bell This album was very pop-country and upbeat which I really enjoyed. It didn’t need to be 1.5 hours but would be killer on a 00s road trip playlist
Takes the idea of wearing your influences on your sleeve to a ridiculous level, but a great album
Liked this album, hints of Counting Crows, Turnpike Troubadours, Rob Thomas, Black Crows. Standouts are "Firecracker" "The Rescue Blues", "Gonna Make You Love Me",
J'ai lu quelques reviews sur le site. Je m'attendais à quelque chose de très générique.. En plus, je vois que l'Artiste n'est pas très aimé. Cependant, je crois que l'on doit séparer L'oeuvre de l'artiste. Je ne réécouterai probablement pas l'album, car ce n'Est pas un genre qui s'écoute bien dans la vie de tout les jours dans le système de son mais en travaillant avec mes écouteurs. Ce fût une très plaisante écoute. C'est très bien fait comme album. Pour reprendre la critique de quelqu'un sur cette liste. Ce n,est pas un 5 ni un 4, mais j'ai mit des 4 a des albums moins fort que celui-ci. 4.
I'll be honest. From what I read before listening, I wasn't expecting much from this album. so please don't tell my mates I liked it.
Love this album longtime. Shame about his recent-ish shenanigans as he is/was one of the great songwriters of recent years/decades.
Je me suis surpris à apprécier ces grossières américaineries. Profitez-bien, ça n'arrive pas si souvent.
This was a nice surprise. Never heard of the guy, but this was some easy listening rock.
A really good collection of songs, with a lot of variety and some genuine gems. Kind of like a more poppy version of Springsteen. Could be a few songs shorter. Lots of people in the other reviews raging at him being a nasty piece of work, but honestly we need to be able to separate the man from the art. Saying 'this is a decent album' is not endorsing his behaviour. I wonder if these people are giving 1s to Bowie/The Stones/Zeppelin/Beatles/etc too?
I really enjoyed this one. Not sure how I’ve never listened to Ryan Adams before, given I listen to a lot of alt-country sounding stuff.
Yeah… kinda rocked with this. No hate. Sucks to hear he was alleged to have committed sexual misconduct though :/
I actually liked it. Simply good in every way, and consistent too. A great record.
Ryan Adams maakt mooie muziek. Ballades, country nummers en rockliedjes: allemaal goed in orde
Ryan Adams you fucker. Dude has so much talent. The modern day Gram Parsons. But he’s eccentric and did some dumb shit and now his output has somehow flipped to bedroom cover albums.I always fucked with his Whiskeytown shit, just such swagger, depth and soul. Heartbreaker is his best solo album, then Prisoner, then Gold, but Gold is so long the Side 4 disc isn’t even on Spotify. There is so much there for Gold, that the back half when you get there it’s a holy shit moment the album is still this good. He’s the unsung troubadour of the 2000s.
love alot of later day ryan adams but havent ever spent time with this one. busier song writing, less vibey than alot of what i like of his. but solid!
An enjoyable ode to NYC. Takes me back to being a 20-something, just living it up in the city
Excellent pop rock folk album. Starting track is a banger. Will definitely listen again.
3/5. Didn't think I'd like the rock/country album at first, but it's pretty good!
This didn't really grab me. It all sounded competent enough but nothing really lit up. Maybe you needed to hear it just after 9/11 to have it in context? The cover invites comparisons to Springsteen's "Born in the USA", but the music doesn't seem to. Fave track - "Enemy Fire" I guess...
Kolejna nowosc listowa, bo nazwisko bardzo imieniowe nic mi nie mowi, najwiekszy hicior wedlug lastfma jest coverem oasisowego wonderwalla, wiec tym bardziej nie kojarze, okladka sugerurowala, ze znowu hamerykanski punk, a tutaj takie zaskoczenie gdy uslyszalem cos co mozna zaklasyfikowac jako blend klasycznego rock&rolla z muzyka country w odmianie bardzo alternatywnej, bo plyta jest bardzo rozpieta, zarowno pod wzgledem gatunkowym na skali rokowania, to samo mozna powiedziec o performensie wokalnym Ryana, bo jak kameleon potrafi sie on dopasowac do tego co jest akurat grane i nadac trakowi unikalnego brzmienia, unikalnosc pochodzi takze z szerokiego wachlarza instrumentali ktorego mozna posluchac na krazku, bo sam Adams raz po raz wymienia akustyka na elektryka, przy czym znajdzie sie trak gdzie slychac jego banjo, czy tez pianinko, ladnie wyglada wiki tego albumiku, mozna dokladnie sie dowiedziec co gdzie kto gral, a dzieki temu trzeba pochylic czola przed kunsztem producenta tej plyty, bo wiki pejdz tak opisuje jego kontrybucje instrumentalna w ten material, Ethan Johns – Drums (D1: 1-15; S4: tracks 1, 4), electric guitar (D1: tracks 1, 2, 5, 6; S4: track 1), guitar (D1: track 3), chamberlain strings (D1: tracks 4, 7, 12, 13), lead guitar (D1: tracks 8, 13, 15), Hammond B-3 (D1: tracks 1, 6, 8; S4: track 5), background vocals (D1: tracks 6, 15; S4: track 3), acoustic guitar (D1: tracks 2, 6, 8; S4: track 5), 12-string guitar (D1: tracks 5, 7) mandocello (D1: tracks 6, 7; S4: track 2), vibes (D1: tracks 4, 12), string arrangement (D1: tracks 9, 16), slide guitar (D1: track 15), mandolin (D1: track 13; S4: track 2), bass (D1: track 5), electric piano (D1: track 7), celeste (D1: track 12), harmonium (D1: track 7; S4: track 2), congas (D1: track 1), banjo (S4: track 3), do tego dochodzi dodatkowych muzykow studyjnych, ktory robia robote w chorkowaniu i pozostalych instrumentalach, dobrze wymasterowane zasoby, pomimo kilku slabszych trakow, przekombinowanych instrumentalnie przez co podchodzacych pod popowe rokowanie, to jednak bardziej klasyczne rokowe baladki czy kountrowe brzmienia jak na otwierajacym new yorku sa swieze dla mych uszu, dlatego leci on na plejke, a razem z nim when the stars go blue, chociaz plyta ma 14 trakow i 70 minut, to i tak jeszcze brakuje 4 ktore wytwornia postanowila wyciac i sprzedac jako extra krazek, niestety nie moglem go dorwac na spotifaju, ale i tak chyba nie powinienem ich brac pod uwage oceniajac ten pik, ale jesli bedzie okazja to trzeba przesluchac jeszcze cos z dyskografii pana Aadamsa, zaczynajac od ostatniego albumiku z czornym kocurem na okladce, romanem grubej kosci
There was some good classic rock sound here, and maybe something to revisit. Upside-down American flags are never my jam.
Not bad, but very unexciting, standard American rock music. Pleasant background music during work.
Was alright, don’t really remember much but I do remember it being nice background chill music.
Nothing terribly groundbreaking here. Fairly enjoyable, but it seems like an over-earnest rehashing of heartland rock. It's also hard to come to this album as a new listener in the wake of the allegations of sexual abuse. I feel like I've been primed to dislike anything Ryan Adams has put out. I will say that he definitely can write a good song and has a unique voice.
My flat mate in the first year of uni LOVED Ryan Adams. Like Tom, Ryan Adams sounds old before his time on this album, which is very mature, pleasant and extremely inoffensive. These are great qualities in a random flat mate, but, although enjoyable enough, does not create a particularly engaging listening experience.
A wildly eclectic potpourri, Gold sounded almost like the collaboration between a number of different singer-songwriters. From Neil Young to Allman Brothers (6/10) Favourite Songs: When the Stars Go Blue, New York, New York
The Rescue Blues is a lovely track. And Nobody Girl is also good. I also hear Beatles influences in there. Sylvia Plath is gorgeous. Okay, I despise Country as a balloon genre but I have to say that this guy, with his voice that goes from Elton John to Leo Sayer to something more less-inspiring country-like, has made a great album I have really enjoyed, but don't tell anyone..
My respect for him continues to grow, but the music still doesn’t quite excite me.
I really enjoyed the first few tracks - then it got very samey. Very radio 2
Clean guitar tones, nice vocals and interesting lyrics. Not entirely my type of music but enjoyable still.