*Showing My Hand: Early thoughts on Ryan Adams ‘Ashes & Fire’
Since my favorite musician/singer-songwriter has a new release & is streaming it entirely, I am posting it here. I’ve listened twice all the way through and a couple songs a few more times than that. I can’t tell how I really feel about the songs yet because I’m just so friggin excited the fella is back in action.
Ryan Adams and his former band The Cardinals performed my favorite blend of what I love in songs, both on studio tracks and live. When that broke, along with the sudden loss of Cardinals band-member Chris Feinstein (aka Spacewolf ~ RIP), I def didn’t even really understand what I was missing. Did I miss Ryan? Did I miss the Cardinals? Did I miss Chris? I guess it was all of that jumbled together. Perhaps someday, down down down the road the Cardinals will be back in some form, but that’ll be awhile, if ever. Chris is def gone for good (but NEVER forgotten). And now, Ryan returns with his pretty, mellow record that’s all lovey dovey. I’m not in love. I don’t much relate to the sweet songs so much. Glad for him, though. Don’t get me wrong, I love plenty of people & things & places.
And when I fast-forward to being in Big Sur a couple short weeks from now, I surmise I will become hypnotized again like I remember all those nights listening and watching him sing my favorite songs with that band I loved so much. I’m DEF excited about the solo shows and looking forward to the new tunes growing on me. So far, Invisible Riverside is my easy favorite on the album. Waaay early call. Need to hear the whole thing in my car ~ the best listening chamber!
Do you like Ryan’s new release so far?
Agree, sure its a nice, “pretty” album, but I’m definitely missing the rock (and the Cardinals). I guess he had to get this out of his system…a cleanse if you will…
ha ~ well at least we know this about ryan adams, if we wait long enough, he will surely change & morph whatever he is currently vibing on into something else, in a matter of time. looking forward to seeing the live show of it, either way. thx for the comment!
i am listening to this now — on spotify – so everyone can SEE that i am listening to it.
i ‘DEF’ know your love of RA and his work – but i am still trying to get it. i guess i need to give it more time…but so far, i am liking it…i like the mellowness of the first track so far…
and more than anything, i love an artist that can morph and change his style and output…and that’s one thing he seems able to do well
millhouse! fun to hear you on here, dude. you got me on ‘def’. i noticed i used it multi-times in this post but was too lazy to edit ha.
mellow album for SURE. when i heard some of the tracks live last week, they seriously hooked me. and ryan’s singing right now is off the fuckin kookoo clock. i made a ryan spotify playlist, if you ever wanna chk it: http://bit.ly/RA_WP_spotify