I don't care for the new album-- it has been lauded and derided as
derivative of Westerberg solo stuff, and while I'm certainly not one to
poo-poo derivativeness, I'm also not a Westerberg fan. (dodging rotten
fruit).

I think the Love is Hell 2-ep set is a better record (more accurately-- I
personally like it better) than Rock'n'Roll, and I also prefer the booted
Pinkhearts and Suicide Handbook demo albums, both of which I got my grubby
little hands on this year.

I have seen Ryan, and I have several concert recordings of him.  I have to
say, when he's good, he's very very good; when he's bad, its like night and
day.  This is one hit-or-miss artist.  My armchair therapy is that he's got
a drinking problem; when he's a happy drunk you get a good show.  When he's
not...

I've got him solo acoustic, soundboard, from 2-18-01 and 4-24-01.  The first
show is gripping; the second one is totally flat.  And we're talking same
tour, similar setlists.

And FWIW I still think Gold is a masterpiece.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "steven_durben" <Steven.Durben@cignabehavioral.com>
To: <audities@smoe.org>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 8:42 PM
Subject: Star Trib review of Ryan Adam's in Mpls


> Last year I caught Adam's show and I thought he seemed like he was
> going through the motions. I've kind of lost interest in him.
> However, I heard he was playing at First Avenue and thought this
> might equate with a better show. I slightly considered going...
>
> Glad I didn't.
> Steve
>
> Concert review: Ryan Adams has a meltdown at First Avenue
> Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
>
> Published December 16, 2003 RYAN16
>
>
>
> Lambasting everything from the sound system to music journalists to
> local rock legend Paul Westerberg, young Americana rocker Ryan Adams
> gave an unwieldy, erratic performance that turned into a personal
> meltdown Sunday night at First Avenue.
>
> The 29-year-old former Whiskeytown singer's reputation as a bratty,
> gabby rock star had added to the charm of past concerts, but he was
> anything but likeable Sunday.
>
> His two-hour show started as a clumsy deluge of uncharacteristically
> fast and furious rock noise, and it turned into a disheveled acoustic
> set when the electricity didn't work in Adams' favor. As the music
> got worse, so did the singer's diva-like behavior.
>
> Before his second of two stormy huffs off stage, he stood by himself,
> holding a cocktail and whining, "I just want to go home for
> Christmas."
>
> Make no mistake, Adams is one of rock's most gifted modern
> songwriters. His prolific proficiency -- he releases at least one
> album a year -- impresses as much as his knack for turning old
> formulas like heartache and hard living into fresh inspiration.
>
> However, that musical genius was buried Sunday beneath three or four
> blaring guitars and overeager rhythms. Even the best songs off his
> loud new album "lloR 'n kcoR" fell flat, including "This Is It"
> and "Wish You Were Here" -- each of which he played twice, not
> satisfied the first time.
>
> The first clue to his off mood was the fact that Adams barely spoke
> for the first hour. After a snide, uninspired version of "To Be Young
> (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)," the floodgates opened, and fans
> probably would've paid a second cover charge to shut him up.
>
> Apparently, three things set Adams off: problems with the amplifiers,
> which likely stemmed from his inexperience with so many guitars; a
> bad review for opening band the Stills in the local weekly City
> Pages, and a York, Pa., newspaper article in which former
> Replacements singer Westerberg said Adams "needs to get his teeth
> kicked in."
>
> Admitting that the Replacements "dominated my record collection,"
> Adams went on and on about how Westerberg had dealt him a cheap shot.
>
> "You don't trash the people you inspired," he said, calling the local
> singer "a bitter old bitch."
>
> Westerberg and the Stills review kept coming up even after the sound
> problems were averted by temporarily ditching electric guitars. The
> ensuing acoustic set was an improvised disaster, with Adams making up
> lyrics about the Replacements and his own public image,
> including, "Yeah, so I dated an actress . . you would, too." (His
> current girlfriend is film star Parker Posey, plus he dated Winona
> Ryder.)
>
> "This is one of my worst shows ever, but I like it," he said
> defiantly near the end.
>
> By then, half of the sellout crowd had left. Of the ones who stayed,
> some were no doubt hoping Westerberg would show up and meet Adams'
> needs.
>
>
>