This Is It February 14, 2009

I have a friend whose favorite Ryan Adams songs are the ones where his voice sounds really strained.  There are several on Demolition, a few on Love Is Hell, and a few more found on Rock n Roll.  One of those songs is the one I’m writing about today: “This Is It.”  It’s very reflective of the early 2000s back-to-the-garage movement that saw a surge of bands like The White Stripes, The Strokes, and every other band with “The” in front of their names.  However, most of their lyrics are somewhat charming, while the same can’t be said for “This Is It.” 

I mean, seriously, how can you kiss someone on the teeth?  I guess you could if you tried, but I don’t know that you’d really want to.  For the most part, though, the rest of the lyrics make sense.  It has a really nice, big chorus: “Don’t waste my time/This is it/This is really happening.”  But it sticks to its punk rock guns throughout the whole song, only straying when the synths kick in before the second chorus. (which sounds really cool)

Shakedown On 9th Street January 26, 2009

If I’ve ever felt an “Oh shit…” moment at a concert, it would have to be the first time I saw Ryan Adams (and the Cardinals) live.  It was at Foellinger Auditorium in Champaign, Illinois.  I was impressed with the set, but when they started doing “Shakedown On 9th Street”, I knew that we were in for something.  I wasn’t really sure what, but I had a feeling I was going to like it…  The song was an amazing mess of punk, classic country and jam rock all smashed into each other.  It was probably the most brutal live performance I’ve ever seen…

The album version is pretty great, too.  Really, I don’t see how you could go wrong with this song.  It has one of the most bad-ass lines I’ve ever heard: “I was just gonna hit him/But I’m gonna kill him now.”  He says it with this snarl that almost reminds me of a young Elvis.  (You know, if Elvis sang about real fights…)

Also, does anyone know what a “kickin’ machine” is?

Note To Self: Don’t Die January 20, 2009

I was so excited when I learned that Ryan was busting this one out for the Cardinology tour a few months ago. Unfortunately, he didn’t do either it at either of the shows I attended. (However, I’m going to one of the Nashville shows, so there’s another chance!) Really, I feel like it might be the strongest song on the album. Sure, it’s almost musically identical to “1974″ (which is one I don’t like very much), but it sounds like such a different song.

While the other tracks are in the vein of bands whose names start with “The” (we had a lot of them at the time), this one sounds like something that could have fit on Nirvana’s Nevermind. I think the drums could have been a little bigger sounding, but I really like everything else about it. (Especially the “Nobody, baby” part, which is totally fucking bad ass!)

1974 December 28, 2008

Let me start by saying I enjoy most of Rock n Roll.  It’s not the kind of album I can listen to every day, but I think it’s totally decent.  Still, 1974 is easily one of my least favorite Ryan Adams songs.  The music is incredibly similar to “Note To Self: Don’t Die”, but the lyrics just aren’t nearly as good.  Some of the lines sound like something out a bad 1980’s pop-metal song.  Let’s be honest, a line like “the city is an animal ready to eat” would fit perfectly in a Guns ‘n’ Roses song.

The lyrics don’t seem to have much to with each other, really.  It’s just a lot of statements that come at you one after another.  I wonder if some of them mean anything at all.  For example: “It’s raining like the bombs in my room when I’m alone.” 

I will say that the “Do you wanna?/Do you wanna?/Do you wanna?” part is kinda cool…