Heartbreaker

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
With a touch of Robyn Hitchcock in his vocal timbre, a smidgen of Steve Earle in his narratives and instrumental writing and a heap of Gram Parsons in the fullness of his overall sound and structure, Ryan Adams steps well above Whiskeytown with IHeartbreaker/I, his solo debut. By turns raucous, wistful, raspy and simply sweet, Adams makes the most of a top-shelf acoustic band, including Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and even a guest spot from Emmylou Harris on the tenderly yearning "Oh My Sweet Caroline". There is little dependence on the usual alt-country twang and a far more rounded sense of textures here (the multiple vocal tracks on "Amy", for example, sound Beatles-esque), with glockenspiel, organ and more signalling a sonic field of extensive depth. His spare guitar and stretched-thin vocal delivery alternate smartly with a bigger-shouldered guitar and throaty voice, never leaving behind a band conception straight out of Parsons's oeuvre. Adams signals occupancy of the post-alt country vanguard--if there is such a thing. --IAndy Bartlett/I

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Customer reviews

review by: stevo-1 date: 2008-12-17 rating:
To put it simple! AMAZING!
I can reccomend this album enough! Just buy it for god sake! If your new to Ryan Adams buy this or Gold! Not a bad song on the album! Cant get this record out of my cd player!!!!!!!

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review by: date: 2008-11-28 rating:
Heartbreaker indeed
This is sort of mental peace offering to myself. I do dislike Ryan Adams new album Cardinology with a vengeance but that must not distract from what a brilliant catalogue of work he has built up over time. Indeed when Adams released "Heartbreaker" I thought this is it. What I mean is that the are times in rock musice when great albums are released which define the direction of music. They are instant classics and last the test of time. Dylan's great trilogy Bringing it back Home, Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde remains unsurpassed. More than that there is something timeless and enduring about them a factor which so few artists capture. Think of Joni Mitchell's "Blue", Neil Young's "On the Beach" and "Tonight's the Night", Beach Boys "Pet Sounds". Adams first solo album hit those creative peaks. The songs are the pinnacle of the alt country movement, it is one of the stone classic break up albums; his vocals are stunning, you rave it about it to all your friends for the next 20 years and you knew there was more to come. br / br /Come pick me up, Damn Sam, My Winding Wheel and Sweet Carolina are the highlights. Adams followed it with the equally brilliant Gold. Then (damn it) the erratic quality control steps in. Demolition was a nice collection of rare tracks and outtakes; Rock n Roll was truly awful and then things pick back up with the wonderful Love is Hell. Anyway listen to this and weep at the standard fare on offer in his latest release. There surely is more in the tank and whatever Adams does its always an interesting journey. br /

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review by: Jayy date: 2008-04-03 rating:
Good start
For me, this is ryan's 3rd best album (after gold and easy tiger) yet i still give it 5 stars, that pretty much says it all (I'm going to keep writing anyway). For me this was the starting point of better things to come, it is in itself a very good album with songs like 'oh my sweet carolina' and 'come pick me up' being personal highlights, it was a very good debut solo album and probably only comes behind the other two albums mentioned because it is maybe a little harder to get into. I still listen to this album a lot and is very much a must own for any fan of Mr Adams, although with the amount of work this guy releases i understand it can be hard to keep up!

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review by: date: 2007-07-15 rating:
Great songs
This, along with 'Gold' and Demolition' are my favorite Ryan Adams albums. Mellow. Sweet. Spare. Great lyrics. br /I can only repeat what is written in the other positive reviews He is just so talented. This is a subtle work of near genius and deserves attention. Favorite tracks are My Winding wheel; Amy; Oh my sweet Carolina and Damn Sam.


review by: date: 2006-03-12 rating:
This is My Winding Wheel
First of all, this guy is a living genius. For this guy it really is about the music. A modern day Bob Dylan or Johnny Cash. Not necessarily in musical style but in pure creativity and attitude. They say they don't make 'em like they used to but here is the real deal. Everything he has done is gold dust (Even Rock N Roll). It is only a matter of time, say 20 to 30 years, before the world realises this.pThis was the second album that I heard of his. Must have been about 5 years ago now. I remember going out and buying it after having and loving Gold. Coming back to my room. Sitting dead still rooted to my bed, looking out of the rain spattered window, shivers down my spine for about a whole hour immersed in this wonderful world of pure heartrending beauty and emotion. No other music had ever had this effect on me before. And I didn't even know what it was to have my heart broken then.pOpening with To Be Young (is to be high), Ryan creates an anthem for youth. Any generation could relate to it. Sounds like a Bob Dylan track. It makes all this heartbreak business all sound fun. However from here on he takes us on an amazing journey down the heartbreak highway. Stretching our emotions to breaking point before sucker punching us with a whiskey soaked, cigarette stained fist with the most optimistic ray of light to pick you up, then repeats. Like the ray of sunshine after the storm. Although to most of us the storm is the most exciting bit. Tears are likely to break out on even the hardest of folk. pIts foolish for me to pick highlights. Although To Be Young, My Winding Wheel, Sweet Carolina and Come Pick Me Up, are perhaps amongst the greatest songs ever recorded. The whole sound of this album is timeless. pI recommend everyone to check out his live show. Watch a genius at work. Watch the perfection in all of his little flaws. If you want a perfectly played, dare I say dull, then go and watch James Blunt. If you want a tattered, soul bearing, life enhancing performance go and see Ryan. Its the same with this and all of his album. pI can't describe this album in the way it should be. I just cannot begin to do it justice. A true classic. Every music lover should have a place in their (soon to be borken) heart.

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