EVEN RYAN ADAMS LIKES THE NEW METALLICA RECORD
Monday, October 27th, 2008 at 10:29am by Vince Neilstein
Alt-country superstar Ryan Adams revealed his love of metal in a recent NY Times piece published this past weekend, in which he shared with writer Winter Miller what’s been making the rounds on his playlist lately. “Metal gets a bad rap, that it’s just satanic or screaming, but sometimes it’s really just pop songs that are more forceful. Metal is not to be feared, it’s still storytelling.” True ‘dat. On the new Metallica record:
I’m still absorbing it all. It’s a 100 percent return to form. I have been a lifelong Metallica fan, and I’ll admit, I have been disappointed in some albums. “Death Magnetic” (Warner) is lyrically astounding; the musicianship is incredible.
The time stops, the chord progressions, the lyrics, they’re all profound. Not only do they know who they are, but they realized what bands they were affecting and then put that into their music. They made a classic Metallica record by being old school. Good records, you put them in and they blow your mind, no two ways about it. I’m so proud of them and so excited, and I can’t wait to see the tour.
Profound lyrics? What album are YOU listening to, Mr. Adams?
Anyway, the soulful crooner (who has put out some worthwhile material, IMO) goes on to share his thoughts on stoner metal up-and-comers Saviours (”so incredible”) and one-man black metal machine Xasthur (”When I close my eyes and listen, I think of a heartbroken demon sitting beside these ashes in hell and really missing his girlfriend.”). A good read whether you enjoy Mr. Adams’ music or not.
-VN
[NYTimes.com; thanks Derek!]
his 1991 Robin Hood soundtrack album was so incredible, i still listen to it all the time!
This guys alter ego should be “Terd Fergeson”. HE SUCKS.
@ RayRay – Have you even listened to him?
a) he actually has a few metal and punk rock songs I’ve seen on the web. he took the video down of his metal performance but i found a bad clip on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSIXkkuIu24
b) the fact that he made an entire third of an audience leave after one of them suggested he play summer of 69 (by bryan adams) makes him more metal than you will ever be.
c) This isn’t jack johnson or some derivative shit like that. listen to the song halloween head and tell me you don’t appreciate it at least a little bit. you shouldn’t knock on the guy for listening to metal.
hey key,
i got some thoughts on what you wrote:
a) he actually has a few metal and punk rock songs I’ve seen on the web
—-> so does Avril Levigne though, so i don’t think that really all it takes
b) the fact that he made an entire third of an audience leave after one of them suggested he play summer of 69 (by bryan adams) makes him more metal than you will ever be.
—-> i heard about that a while ago, i think that makes him a crybaby IMO
tedtedpoleypoley
nice name.
his metal and rock songs are, well, jokes, because he realizes he is not good at metal. he admits it in that interview i think. avril is worthless and talentless. you and i can both agree on that.
the second point, i was kinda pulling that out of nowhere. he did break his arm while skateboarding and continued to tour anyway… Is he less of a crybaby maybe? i mean, the fact is that ryan adams probably isn’t that metal is pretty obvious, whatever music he listens to does not change the fact that he makes alt-country music that most metalheads probably despise. i’m kinda (unsuccessfully) trying to argue that he at the very least deserves some respect.
charming black metal? now theres an oxymoron
Xasthur is the new Daft Punk.
You should all check out an album ryan adams did with some other people (jesse malin i think?) a few years ago, the called themselves “The FInger” and ripped off Black Flag alot. It’s a pretty good punk record. Think it’s called “punks dead, let’s Fuck”
Key-
I never knocked the guy for listening to metal. Read my post again, then go listen to Ryan Adams with your girlfriend. Then SHUT THE FUCK UP BECAUSE NOONE CARES ABOUT RYAN ADAMS.
I personally like Ryan Adams and have seen him in concert a few times. This NYT interview/article, though, is rediculous. Xasthur?!
I did read an interview of him one time where he said he wanted to tour with Lightning Bolt.
you never really answered my question, have you listened to him or do you just assume because he is an “alt country superstar” that he sucks?
and yes, I entirely misread your post.
I have listened to ryan adams and his old band whiskeytown and I’m not a fan. he’s a fucking hipster jumping on the metal bandwagon.
I didn’t even know this guy existed, but if he likes metal he can’t be that bad.
cornblood, so you’ve listened to him and you’re not a fan. I respect that. But what exactly would the metal bandwagon be? I don’t believe there’s enough of a market for metal outside of the few huge bands for it to be bandwagon-able. Is metal really getting that popular? (not to say I underestimate the worthlessness of scene kids, they piss me off.)
Ryan Adams rules. Guy puts on a really good show and impressed me a hell of a lot more than Killswitch Engage who I saw a week later. They were like insincere mall metal. Ryan Adams rocked the fucking house. Oh yeah the new Metallica record is a welcome return to doing what they are good at. Can’t we all just get a long and throw up on celebrity rehab?
Regardless of who or how good this guy is, he’s right about one thing: Saviours fucking rock. I saw them earlier this month and the fucking killed it for like 20 people. Definitely one band that should get some coverage here on MS!
I’ve been a Ryan Adams fan for a while now and followed his career largely due to the fact one of my best friends from North Carolina grew up with him.
While I do think this guy is pretty fucking talented (and is insanely prolific), this is FIRST time I’ve ever heard him say he was a metal fan.
Honestly, I’m gonna have to agree with Cornblood and say sounds like homeboy is jumping on the metal bandwagon.
Fuck this guy. I’m fucking sick of indie douche bags liking Xasthur