- Audio CD (Sep 1 2000)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Bloodshot Ltd.
- ASIN: B00004XSKU
- Other Editions: Audio CD | LP Record
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (115 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #19,920 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Details |
Track Listings
| 1. (Argument With David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey) |
| 2. To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) |
| 3. My Winding Wheel |
| 4. AMY |
| 5. Oh My Sweet Carolina |
| 6. Bartering Lines |
| 7. Call Me On Your Way Back Home |
| 8. Damn, Sam (I Love A Woman That Rains) |
| 9. Come Pick Me Up |
| 10. To Be The One |
| 11. Why Do They Leave? |
| 12. Shakedown On 9th Street |
| 13. Don't Ask For The Water |
| 14. In My Time Of Need |
| 15. Sweet Lil Gal (23rd/1st) |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
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 Heartbreaker, 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's 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 signaling 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. --Andy Bartlett
Product Description
Heartbreaker opens with an argument about a Morrissey song before the band kicks into the sloppy and rollicking "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)," and certainly the gloomster's self-referential sadness hangs over Ryan Adams's songs. But Adams, the notoriously raucous frontman for the defunct Whiskeytown, is a country boy at heart if not in attitude, so there is a lingering pastoral beauty that imbues the album with a happy sweetness as well. That, along with Ryan's expressive, gravelly voice (equal parts Paul Westerberg and Merle Haggard), gives Heartbreaker enduring power. --Tod Nelson
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
He gets way too much flack from everyone
Nov 14 2005
Format:Audio CD
People knock Ryan Adams for so many reasons. "He's moody". "His concerts are inconsistent." "He does too many drugs". "He's pretentious". "His albums now aren't as good as his old ones". "He was better with Whiskeytown". "He Wears his influences on his sleeve". "He's self-aware and his albums are self-indulgent". People can say what they like to say, but I think that some music fans are far too picky with Adams; he is what he is.
Adams has released three albums with Whiskeytown, and a grand total of seven solo releases, each with its own borderline-genius qualities. And Heartbreaker is the amazing album that started all of this.
Adams is commonly quoted as saying that Whiskeytown was a "creative prison" for him; it's easy to tell in the music. Whiskeytown albums, which are all fantastic, have a produced, romantic quality about them. The lyrics, which are great, are not up to par of what Adams is capable of writing, as we've seen from his seven post-Whiskeytown releases. Although I think Whiskeytown is great, I always hear people say they're better than Ryan Adams on his own, and I don't see how something that even Adams himself says was stifling for him can be considered so much greater than Post-releases.
And so here is Heartbreaker, a STELLAR, widely overlooked debut alt-country album. From the first track, To Be Young, it is clear that Adams is capable of something truly amazing. The uptempo songs are fun and fierce, the slower-tempo songs are deep, introspective, and highly romantic but not in a shallow, one-dimensional way. They express something much greater, much more thoughtful, and much more saddening and thought-provoking than many artists who release 'heartbreak' albums.
Adams' aim, unlike many artists, is not to get political, or preach meaningful values. His aim is to make music. And not for the fans, but for himself. He makes songs that he finds interesting or that he finds funny and ironic. And that is what real artistry is all about. And with a gritty, soulful voice with a great range, virtuosity with many instruments (a standout in 'Heartbreaker' is the harmonica), and clever lyrics, Adams is full of talent. And I challenge anyone to deny that.
Adams has released three albums with Whiskeytown, and a grand total of seven solo releases, each with its own borderline-genius qualities. And Heartbreaker is the amazing album that started all of this.
Adams is commonly quoted as saying that Whiskeytown was a "creative prison" for him; it's easy to tell in the music. Whiskeytown albums, which are all fantastic, have a produced, romantic quality about them. The lyrics, which are great, are not up to par of what Adams is capable of writing, as we've seen from his seven post-Whiskeytown releases. Although I think Whiskeytown is great, I always hear people say they're better than Ryan Adams on his own, and I don't see how something that even Adams himself says was stifling for him can be considered so much greater than Post-releases.
And so here is Heartbreaker, a STELLAR, widely overlooked debut alt-country album. From the first track, To Be Young, it is clear that Adams is capable of something truly amazing. The uptempo songs are fun and fierce, the slower-tempo songs are deep, introspective, and highly romantic but not in a shallow, one-dimensional way. They express something much greater, much more thoughtful, and much more saddening and thought-provoking than many artists who release 'heartbreak' albums.
Adams' aim, unlike many artists, is not to get political, or preach meaningful values. His aim is to make music. And not for the fans, but for himself. He makes songs that he finds interesting or that he finds funny and ironic. And that is what real artistry is all about. And with a gritty, soulful voice with a great range, virtuosity with many instruments (a standout in 'Heartbreaker' is the harmonica), and clever lyrics, Adams is full of talent. And I challenge anyone to deny that.
It's amazing he USED to sound like this.
July 18 2004
Format:Audio CD
This album, along with Pneumonia, are Ryan Adams' two best accomplishments. Heartbreaker is one of the reasons alternative country is so popular today. The album does run a little long, and his best work is on the first half of the album. However, this barely takes away from its quality. My favorite songs on the album (if you're interested) are "Winding Wheel" and "Come Pick Me Up."
It's unfortunate that Ryan Adams' new albums are such rubbish. I guess some artists who "have it" can just "lose it."
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Most recent customer reviews
Might be as good as Adams gets
This is not close to a perfect album, but its high points are as good as American popular music can get. And this just might be as good as Adams gets. Read more
Published on Jun 28 2004 by moose_of_many_waters
One of the best albums of 2000
Ryan Adams, for his first time alone, has turned out a classic. "Heartbreaker" comes across like an old time live rockabilly record mixed with just the right amount of... Read more
Published on May 4 2004 by Brian Kious
Best Ryan Album
This is the best Ryan album.
Published on Feb 28 2004
Too much talent
Being a general fan of good music, no matter what the genre, and knowing nothing of his previous efforts with Whiskeytown, I am amazed. A friend turned me on to Adams. Read more
Published on Feb 21 2004 by bob
Classic
This was Ryan Adams' first album since departing Whiskeytown. The album is fantastic. HEARTBREAKER is the perfect title since the songs are quite depressing about the loss of love... Read more
Published on Jan 21 2004 by Jake Z
Nice
When first learning of Ryan's departure from Whiskeytown, I was extremely disappointed. I thought the enjoyment I got from Jacksonville Skyline and Carol Lynn, just to name a few... Read more
Published on Jan 2 2004 by "mikep123"
buy this now!
madly in love with this album.
Published on Dec 17 2003 by S. S. Steele
Wow, reviews are torn.
I'll start honestly by saying that I never listened to Ryan Adams until last week, when I caught the making-the-video segment during one of my rare MTV2 viewings. Read more
Published on Dec 14 2003 by Clay Lancaster
instant classic
Honestly, this album is a masterpiece. While it may seem a bit premature, I heartily argue that it stands as one of the great hundred records of rock and roll. Read more
Published on Nov 4 2003 by S. Simmons
Dull
After hearing "To Be Young" in the movie Old School, I went out to purchase this album. The problem is none of the other songs have the same tempo or arrangement. Read more
Published on Oct 17 2003 by Educated Reader
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