Ryan Adams, Gold (Lost Highway/Universal) 9-
Even if you haven't heard Ryan Adams, you've probably been exposed to the hype. He left Whiskeytown before the release of their "masterpiece," has dated Winona Ryder, hung out with rock stars like Keith Richards, and has been described as a "genius," and the most important figure in alt-country since Gram Parsons. He even claims poets and artists like Poe, Plath, Camus and Pollock as influences. If one thing is clear, it's that Adams is being groomed to be the sort of "rock personality" he dropped out of high school to become. He's certainly prolific. First there was 2000's Heartbreaker. The follow-up is already out, and ten tracks were trimmed off so the 16 remaining tunes would fit on one CD. He has at least two other albums in the can, including a more rock-based project with a band called The Pinkhearts. So how are the songs? Pretty good. They don't pack as much emotional punch as his dark-hued solo debut. Gold is more stylistically diverse, which is supposed to make it a more grandiose statement, I suppose. But it feels like a survey course of Classic Rock 101. There are bluesy rockers, ballsy ballads (or is that vice-versa?), and an incredibly long (9:39) "Nobody Girl" that sounds like a rewrite of something by The Band. "Gonna Make You Love Me" throws together Who power chords and Led Zeppelin licks. The MOR feel of the album is amplified by guest musicians such as Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows and Benmont Tench from Tom Petty. The songs are professionally crafted and played well. They also sound like Adams tossed them off pretty quickly. Judging from his manic schedule, that's probably pretty accurate. Ryan Adams is undoubtedly a prolific songwriter. He may very well be capable of creating a work of staggering genius. But he may need to slow down and smell the roses first.
