Thursday, September 4, 2014

Album Review - Ryan Adams / 1984 EP

After losing the lottery and not getting a copy of Ryan Adams' vinyl boxed set I swore I would never buy another record from Pax-Am Records.

And then Ryan Adams released the 1984 EP.




In the weeks before the release of Ryan Adams first new album in three years, Ryan decided to release a 10 song EP on 7" titled 1984.  When I learned of this I was conflicted.  I really wanted this but wanted to stick to my guns.  After caving and purchasing the 7" I learned upon checkout that it was sold out.  THEY GOT ME AGAIN!!!  I cooled off and revisited the site a few hours later to see if they officially listed it as sold out.  They had not.  This time I made it through the check out process and a copy would be mine. This did not stop them before with the vinyl box set when they contacted me a few days later and informed me that they had over sold.  I waited...and heard nothing...until I received a shipping confirmation.  This time I had triumphed.

On his rocked out response to his record company not releasing Love Is Hell, which is the album Rock N Roll, there was a song entitled 1974.  Ryan co-wrote this song with Alanis Morrissette.  Both of which were born in 1974.  On 1984 Ryan revisits the era of Midwestern punk.


The songs remind me of 1984 SST releases Zen Arcade by Husker Du and Double Nickels on the Dime by The Minutemen.  They contain the guitar assault of Husker Du and the brevity of the Minutemen.  Just when the songs are kicking in they are over.  They contained the jangled guitars of early Replacements Let it Be, also released in 1984.  They are quick and hard.  Everything that I love about that era. I love the diversity that Ryan Adams can swing.  He can melt you with an Alt-Country ballad and melt your face with a 1 minute song.  I could listen to this over and over.  The problem is I want more.  I only hope that there is more where this came from.  If you can get a copy I recommend it.  Hopefully, you wont have to pay the $30.00 price tag on Amazon.

See you when the needle drops!

Fran


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