Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

35° Evanston, IL
Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Advertisement
Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our email newsletter in your inbox.



Advertisement

Advertisement

Second time a charm for rising star Ryan

First things first: Don’t confuse Ryan Adams with early ’90s Robin Hood rocker Bryan Adams. Ryan is an up-and-coming roots-rock star with buzz and talent to spare; Bryan is a has-been who sings duets with Sporty Spice to stay “hip.” If his new album Gold (his second full-length of the year following the spring release of the despairing and beautiful Heartbreaker) is any indication, Ryan has a long and prosperous career ahead of him that will one day justify current comparisons to Neil Young.

Ryan’s Gold plays like a classic rock album; nearly every aspect draws on vintage folk, blues, and rock of the past. Temporarily shelving the alt-country blueprint of his former band, Whiskeytown, and his solo debut, Heartbreaker, Gold dives head-first into good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll.

Never duplicating his influences, Adams recalls his models intelligently. Instead of sounding like a pile of early ’70’s b-sides, Gold sounds like an early ’70’s “greatest hits” album.

The revival nature of the album works because Adams’ songwriting and voice already rank with the classics. It is his voice above all that carries Gold, whether Adams is conjuring the spirit of Van Morrison on “Answering Bell,” doing his best Neil Young on “Somehow, Someday, ” or charting new territory on “New York, New York.” Meanwhile, hopeful tales of lost loves dominate the lyrics, notably on the heart-aching “When the Stars Go Blue.”

Before Gold hit stores in mid-September, Adams began working on yet another new album, this time with his hard rock outfit, The Pink Hearts, and future plans include a another alt-country album after that.

At the moment though, Gold will more than suffice as another cornerstone in the foundation of one of this generation’s most promising young musicians. nyou

More to Discover
Activate Search
Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881
Second time a charm for rising star Ryan