Volume CXXXIII, Number 13 January 25, 2002 f

Ryan Adams: profile of a Heartbreaker
RYAN WALSH-MARTEL
STAFF WRITER

While I was listening to Ryan Adams' debut solo album, Heartbreaker, I kept thinking of John Cusack's opening monologue from one of the greatest music movies ever, High Fidelity. Cusack's character intuitively observes that pop music (pop music in the broad sense, not N'Sync), rather than being happy and full of bubblegum, is more often than not quite depressing, with "literally thousands upon thousands of songs" about love, unrequited love, pain, loss, and heartbreak.

Adam's debut album, Heartbreaker, incorporates elements of blues, country and rock to create a soulful collection of love songs. (mtv.com)

This album, the first from the former front man of the alt-country band Whiskeytown, is perhaps the ultimate in the catalogue of depressing pop albums, although some may not consider Adams pop. Adams, who wrote most of Heartbreaker directly after a difficult breakup with his girlfriend, fills the album with some of the saddest songs I have ever heard. On "Why Do They Leave," Adams sings, "Oh, why do they leave, on the day that you needed them the most." Songs such as "AMY," "call me on your way back home," and "come pick me up," just drip with sadness, with Adams often issuing lines like "I love you Amy, do you still love me?" and "I just want to die without you, honey that ain't nothing new."

Admittedly, Adams is at times quite self-indulgent, and perhaps he writes one or two too many songs dealing with the same issue, but the emotion he puts into his lyrics, and his understated guitar playing, indicate that his sincerity should not be questioned.

Even so, if every song on this album was about his lost love and his heartbreak, this album might not have succeeded. Adams demonstrates his considerable ability to write in the voice of someone else, a Dylanesque talent that has been sorely missing from more recent musicians, with the notable exception of Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. Perhaps the most touching song on the album is "In My Time of Need," where Adams assumes the character of a poor old farmer singing to his wife during a drought that has left them without food or money. "Damn, Sam (I love a woman that rains)," "Bartering Lines," and "Shakedown on 9th Street" see Adams' writing from many different perspectives.

From his own perspective too, Adams writes at times with surprising diversity. On "To Be The One," Adams considers the feelings of a woman who has left him. "And I don't know which is worse, to wake up and see the sun, or to be the one, that's gone." Oh My Sweet Carolina is the musical centerpiece to Heartbreaker, and Adams sings not about lost love, but about his home, tracking his journey around the country. The great country singer Emmy Lou Harris sings haunting backup vocals on the track. Adams' lyrical talent is considerable, but it is the music that surrounds the words that really make one sit up and take notice.

Adams is, rightfully or not, placed in the "Alt-Country" category of music. I must say I think that is a stupid label and has no right even existing. He does have a lot of country influence, but it is not the type of country that one would hear on the radio stations around Brunswick. His music is nothing new, and recalls early acoustic blues, the beginnings on Rock n' Roll, and country folk singers, people like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan. Many of his songs are simply Adams' plain, warm voice, and his simple but delicate guitar. This, and his rough harmonica again recall Dylan. The difference is that Adams can sing.

Like his lyrics, Adams shows a surprising amount of musical diversity. He is able to write soft, lyrical ballads, and also hard, tough as a nails blues-country tunes, such as "Bartering Lines." "To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high) and "Shakedown on 9th Street show that Adams has no problem rocking out. Musically though, some of the songs do become slightly repetitive. I found it difficult to attentively sit through the entire album several times. The danger in the simplicity Adams' strives for is repetition, and this album is a little bit long winded, but the songs are short enough to not be too exhausting.

Despite the weaknesses of this album, it will be remembered as a classic, a piece of work inspired by that traditional muse of pop music; heartbreak. Adams has since released another album, Gold, but before you listen to that (and you have probably already heard his single from it, "New York, New York), listen to Heartbreaker. It is overflowing with raw emotion and musical beauty, and it will break your heart.