Ashes & Fire is out now.

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I’m headed to Philadelphia this coming weekend to see Adams play, and while I don’t love him like I did when Heartbreaker and Gold were released, I’m still excited for the show. (But really I’m just hoping to hear “Answering Bell” and “The Rescue Blues.”)

Adams’ most recent effort, Ashes & Fire, is out now.

“Lucky Now” is the first single from Adams’ newest effort, Ashes & Fire, which is out today.

My enjoyment of Ryan Adams’ albums has steadily diminished since Rock ‘N’ Roll.  That’s not to say that I haven’t enjoyed the albums, because each one has its own allure, but they didn’t grab me like his earlier work.  I’ve been fairly fond of Mr. Adams’ work; I have volumes 1-5 of the Bedhead series, a few live concerts, all of the Whiskeytown catalog – but I don’t have the most recent work.  I don’t know why I never bothered with getting III/IV.  I’ll probably go back and get it, but my interest in possessing all of his output has waned after his announced break from music.

Adams released this track into the ether yesterday evening; it’s from his upcoming new album – Ashes & Fire – that will be released on October 11th.  “Lucky Now” doesn’t mark any return to his earlier form that I loved, but instead feels like another Easy Tiger.  That, honestly, would be plenty good enough for me.  It doesn’t need to be “The Rescue Blues” again, even though I’d love it to be.

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[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/21742179"]
Ryan Adams // Lucky Now

If someone were to ask me which artist made up the largest portion of my personal music library, Ryan Adams would undoubtedly take the top spot.  Aside from the 19 CDs that make up the Bedhead series (at least it was at 19 when I stopped getting them), I have over 300 songs from Ryan Adams/RA & The Cardinals in my iTunes right now – and then there’s everything from Whiskeytown.  To some extent, the size of my Ryan Adams collection has less to do with his songwriting nature – prolific as it may be, and more to the fact that there is so much available; I have many versions of the same song, multiple live iterations, various full concerts.

I’m not as excited about new Ryan Adams material as I would have been around Rock N Roll/Love Is Hell, but the recent announcement of another album with The Cardinals was a welcomed surprise.  Granted, it is comprised of outtakes from the Easy Tiger sessions, but it’s still something new to look forward to.

In conjunction with that release, Adams has made a new track available for download on his label Pax/Am.  Entitled “Destroyers,” the song is normal Adams fare; if you’re a fan of what he offers, then you’ll be happy to hear something new.  It’s not going to win over non-believers or make new fans, but at this point, Adams might not need them.  Both the vinyl and CD pre-orders of the new album – entitled Cardinals III/IV – are already sold out.

Cardinals III/IV will be out on December 14th.

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Ryan Adams – Destroyers (mp3)

Since Ryan Adams’ retirement from the game, there’s been a particular void in the alternative country genre.  Granted, that genre isn’t populated by a lot of artists, but there hasn’t been anyone (for me) that was as compelling or prolific as Mr. Adams.  I’m not saying that Los Angeles’ The Lonely Wild are the next Ryan Adams or not, but I am enjoying the relatively little I’ve heard from the band.  They have a dusty, yearning quality to their songs.  It’s distinctly American in nature; it feels vast and comfortable all at once, like you’ve known it all along.

The band was formed by Andrew Carroll after his previous band ended, forged around songs that he’d written that had no previous home.  Over the next couple of months the new band will be going into the studio to start recording their first releases.  They’ve already started to perform around LA under their new moniker; this weekend finds them playing alongside the likes of Voxhaul Broadcast at LA Zoo’s Local Scene.

Grab the demo version of “Dead End” here, then head over to their website and MySpace for more info on where they’re playing in the near future.  Their website has another mp3 available for download as well.  I’ll be looking forward to hearing what else the band puts together if the demos sound this good.

The Lonely Wild – Dead End (mp3)

I hope everyone had themselves an excellent Mother’s Day, whether you were the one doing the doting, or were the one being doted upon.  We’re starting another work week with my take on our made-up project, which – if you don’t know what we’re talking about – can be reviewed in full over here.  Let’s get after it.

111. Gnarls Barkley – Go-Go Gadget Gospel (mp3) from St. Elsewhere (2:19) [Time Remaining: 491:49]

The opening track from Gnarls Barkley’s surprising debut, “Go-Go Gadget Gospel” opens with the sound of an old reel film starting up, and then takes off like a shot, mixing a looping horn section with (unsurprisingly) what sounds like a gospel hymn.  Beyond it’s catchiness, the song’s spiritual nature has never been lost on me – sounding exactly like what a soul that’s unshackled should.  And while the album is best known for the song after this one, this has made much more of an impression personally.

112. Ryan Adams – Firecracker (mp3) from Gold (2:52) [Time Remaining: 488:54]

I’ve already used one song from Ryan Adams’ acclaimed sophomore effort; “Firecracker” came on last night while my girlfriend and I were busy doing dishes, and it knocked me over again with it’s wheezing harmonica, drunken love and youthful energy.  Plus, it has one of the best all-time favorite lines in the history of all-time favorite lines: “kiss me slow and softly; make me dream of you.”

I’m feeling somewhat introspective this morning, so I’m getting into a couple of tracks that are pretty intensely personal.  If you have no idea why they’re numbered and what the Time Remaining means, take a second to catch up on my personal take on The Project here.  Once you’re up to speed, lets get reflective:

71. Ryan Adams – So Alive (mp3) from Rock N Roll (3:58) [Time Remaining: 660:16]

If you don’t already know the story behind the release of Rock N Roll, allow me to give you a brief rundown.  It was recorded in its entirety in two weeks as an appeasement to Ryan Adams’ label after their disappointment with the tracks that would become Love Is Hell.  The album has its detractors and its devoted following – as do all of Ryan Adams’ albums.  Consider me firmly on the devoted follower side, although I’m not as firmly entrenched as others.

“So Alive” is the centerpiece of the album, to be sure.  The music is upbeat, the lyrics are much more dynamic than Ryan’s general melancholy, and listening to it feels to me like spinning in circles.  It’s a song that quite literally forces me to digest it for periods of time.  Listening to it once requires at least another 5 listens to take it all in properly.  Writing about it required a cool dozen spins to obtain a proper handle on suitable words.  This is a song that makes me want to write about music because – even having listened to it innumerable times since its release, I’m still so taken aback by how truly incredible it is.

72. We Are Scientists – This Scene Is Dead (mp3) from With Love and Squalor (3:44) [Time Remaining: 656:32]

I bought the debut from We Are Scientists on a whim after being intrigued by the serrated rock of their first single – “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt.”  The album became a bit of an obsession for me, and it dominated the soundtrack of quite a few nights of drinking that summer.  (My pal Ryan moved across the country about 3 years ago now, and he said that to this day he’s unable to listen to the album without missing that summer.)

We Are Scientists didn’t take themselves particularly seriously, and their debut made it seem as though they were just intent on having a good time with their music, and that’s subsequently all I’ve ever enjoyed it for.  It was great for driving, better for pre-gaming and ideal for drinking games – particularly 99 around our place.  This song is still tops on my drinking playlists.

Today my wife has her second ultrasound for our first kid. Exciting stuff. Neither of these songs really have much to do with impending fatherhood, it’s just that that’s the only thing on my mind today. Read this to understand what this is about.

35. Eighty Eight Fingers Louie – Summer Photos (mp3) from Back on the Streets (3:12) [Time Remaining: 852:46]

I don’t recall exactly how I came to like this song so much, but as is usual it was because I heard it played on the radio by WBER. I also don’t know how many others have heard this song outside of the population of BER listeners. It’s pop/punk in the vein of ska minus the horns. Not my favorite genre and not my favorite band. Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever heard another song from them or even if they are a band anymore. The song just hit me a certain way however long ago and it hasn’t let up. Owning an appropriate title, it is a great summer song I’ll never get sick of or forget.

36. Ryan Adams – To Be Young (mp3) from Heartbreaker (3:04) [Time Remaining: 849:42]

I’ve never been a Ryan Adams fanatic, though I do own a sizable portion of his catalogue. And so you know my favorite song from him has nothing to do with its use in the movie Old School. It’s a song about looking back and questioning your past, wondering why you may have done the things you did. It’s also about that young person from your past wondering what became of you at this juncture in your life. I can strongly relate to this song at this juncture in my life and wonder quite how I got to where I am. While this may sound like a heavy theme, this song always feels optimistic to me. Like he might not have seen it coming, but it’s here and not so bad.

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The amount of music I have by Ryan Adams is ridiculous.  In fact, I could probably write an mp3 blog dedicated solely to his music and have enough material for at least a year or so.  (I won’t be doing that, in case you were wondering.)  In fact, because space on my computer is limited, I have literally 18-20 CDs of music by him that’s not immediately accessible to me on my computer.

But last night, after I turned off the Mets game out of frustration, I was scrolling through my iPod, listening for something to write about, and I came across all of my songs by Mr. Adams.  And here are two of my favorites of his extensive list of b-sides and alternates.  One you’ve heard in a different form, the other you may not have heard at all.  Who knows?  Maybe he won’t record anymore, and we’ll never hear a new song from him.  We’ll all just have to live off of compilations released by his former labels.  Let’s hope not.

Ryan Adams – La Cienega Just Smiled (The Suicide Handbook Version) (mp3)

This is a simpler, prettier version of a song I liked in its released version.  It seems a lot more sad, too.

Ryan Adams – Hypnotixed (mp3) from the UK/Japan release of Rock N Roll

Fans of Ryan Adams are divided on how good Rock N Roll actually is.  (Great album?  Or greatest album?)  I personally like the album a lot.  “So Alive” is an incredible song, and it’s worth the album’s price in and of itself.  (There are other good songs on there too, however.)  This track is one I’m surprised wasn’t on Rock N Roll, because I would put it in the Top 3 of Ryan’s from that era.  (And, yes, it’s spelled with an “x,” not “z.”)

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