Ryan Adams Sets Himself Free

PAX-AM, Center Photo with Vincent the cat by Rachael Wright for Rolling Stone

Ryan Adams ups the heartbreak ante with his 19th album, Prisoner. Created on Sunset Blvd. in his personal wonderland, PAX-AM (and New York), Ryan described Prisoner to NME as, ‘the moment you realize that you’re free from something, you’re free from a trap that you maybe had set for yourself that’s not real.’

Prisoner is the result of Adams’ hard won freedom, some of his most inspired work yet with whispers of Smiths, Springsteen, Prince and even some Moonlighting saxophone. Ryan creates albums that are made to be listened to all the way through–he’s a storyteller after all and he takes no short cuts. However if you are in need of the one-two Prisoner punch, let these tracks, these deep cuts, knock you out: Do You Still Love Me?, Shiver and Shake, Anything I Say to You Now, and We Disappear (every lyric on this one will gut you).

I can’t help but have a certain sense of pride in our shared adopted home, Los Angeles. I'm keenly aware that his prolific songwriting and obvious joy are created somewhere along Sunset Boulevard. I hold that fact close–it keeps me inspired. I advise not disregarding these as mere sad, disenfranchised  songs, but regard them as made by someone who is living his dream, his purpose, someone who has set himself free, and listen with awe.

Pax-AM

Happy National Cat Day!

PAX-AM

Not only is Ryan Adams a prolific singer, songwriter, and PAX-AM founder, he is also a cat whisperer – for LYFE! National Cat Day gives me another opportunity to talk about Ryan! Woo! Two of my favorite things coming together to form a sweet fangirling super swirl! 

When not touring, Ryan Adams gets quality time with his two oranges, brothers Vincent and Theo, also known as Mr. Cat, and the newest member of the shire, little Agnes. Ryan's Instagram is a combination of living the rock 'n roll dream with gadgets, guitars and jams, collecting and playing pins, and most importantly, loving the hell out of his cats with endless snuggle sessions, surprisingly catchy cat serenades and charmingly funny narrations of their biscuit making. There's really no reason to follow anyone else on Instagram.

You keep wearing your cat-lovin' heart on your sleeve, Ryan! I'll keep tuning in!

Coincidentally on the turntables this week, Ashes & Fire. Go get you some!

I Knew You Were Trouble

PAX-AM, Big Machine

Ryan Adams is at the top of the three email lists that feed my fangirling, concert-going needs. This week, he hurled a fangirling fireball at me, merging two of my great loves – my pop love for Tay Tay and my so-good-it-hurts love for him, Ry Ry.  

This is totally unfortunate timing as I am trying to live on the sunny side of life. But no amount of meditation, vegan eating, or clean living will be able to save me from the rabbit hole that is a new Ryan Adams release. With just one dark, gorgeous cord, I’ll be hooked. He knows October was made for getting lost in music – less summer day dreaming, more winter wall gazing. 

For a week, I resisted the fangirling fireball, instead spent the week hiking, beaching, and reading, embracing my new sunny disposition. However, such facade was no match to the anguish of not listening. I downloaded his album so fast, it’s as if my body had been going through the motions in my sleep. Ever since, all I hear is Ryan. His track-for-track re-recording of Taylor Swift’s 1989 album, born out of a restless December, reimagines her smash hits that I’ve sung at the top of my lungs for the better part of 2015. For her version of 1989, Taylor was influenced by 80’s synth pop. Ryan, respectfully followed theme but went 80’s rock pop – Bruce Springsteen/Smiths heavy with hints of REM, and I swear, even The Pixies.

By album’s end, Ryan’s transformed every track in his voice, from his perspective, so much so that I’m certain they’re all his original tracks. He shared his thoughts on the album with Rolling Stone, "You just have to mean it," he says firmly. "Even if I do something funny, I'm going to fucking mean it. As I was singing those songs, they mattered to me as much as any of my own songs ever did. Or I wouldn't have sung them.” He continued, “It's about doing something that means something, whether or not it will be understood." The respect and admiration between Taylor and Ryan is clear, from him teasing out tracks as they were being created, to her tweeting out a countdown to his album’s release.

HIGHLIGHT TRACKS
Style
Out of the Woods
I Wish You Would
Wildest Dreams
This Love
I Know Places
Clean

And I know those HIGHLIGHT TRACKS are over half the album. But every damn track, just like every damn one of Ryan’s records, there’s no skipping around, just the full force of experiencing the collection as a whole. The AV Club agrees, ‘Ryan Adams transforms Taylor Swift’s 1989 into a melancholy masterpiece.’ My favorite kind. See ya, sunny side. Suckas.