| Did you ever wonder how some current albums accomplish just the right amount of jangleyness and looseness that makes them sound like demos or the nastlgic recordings of the 50's or 60's, but are so crisp and defined that you know current technology has taken it's toll? I've been totally whipped the last couple of months by this first release by Ryan Adams, the lead writer/vocalist/ musician from a band called Whiskeytown, which is currently defunct. Having been turned on to them by an e-mail friend, Sam Orrico of the classic rock band River Saints from New Castle, PA, I've bought whatever I can find that involves Adams's lyrical & musical influence. "Heartbreaker" throws me back to the stylistic recordings by Bob Dylan in the 60's, has me thinking what it takes to get drums sounding so woodsy, defined, but basement-like, makes me want to sit in a cosey shanty, stir-up some meninges, imagine the depth and feel of the recording space and say my prayers that I discovered and clung to artists like Johnny Cash, Beatles, America and Neil Young, at an early, impressionable age. A couple of the tunes rock-out with an early "Stonesy" influence, but the rest takes the ears of a patient listener, who wishes to pick up all the raw nuances and moods of Adams and the band, which producer, Ethan Johns helps create, and most importantly, captures incredibly well. This collection of songs is not the most uplifting, but it's glorious in a depressing kinda way.... and I can't say enough about it! The album combusts early then burns slowly, smoothly, touches on some serious angst and rocks, in a mellow way, harder than 99.9% of the crap that splatters on the so-called top of the pop music charts, but I don't want to get started on that. If you dislike synthetics, but dig interesting acoustics, harmonica, piano, space, ethereal, but occasionally firey vocals... and more, then grab yourself a hearty lip smackin' box of beef jerky, an Old Milwaukee, a copy of this album, then chill-out and really take it all in. |