Ryan Adams - Gold 00008817023519

$14.99

The "it" boy of early-2000s roots-rock, former Whiskeytown leader Ryan Adams has responded to the mountain of hype surrounding him with

The "it" boy of early-2000s roots-rock, former Whiskeytown leader Ryan Adams has responded to the mountain of hype surrounding him with an arrogance worthy of his idol, mid-'60s Bob Dylan. Accordingly, he follows his stripped-down solo debut with a two-disc, fully produced set that finds him grasping for the mantle of alt-country messiah. GOLD picks up where Whiskeytown's swan song PNEUMONIA left off; a step removed from the country-rock hard line but still full of rootsy, organic, Band-like warmth.The up-tempo opening tune "New York, New York" recalls vintage Steve Forbert, while "Answering Bell" sounds like David Gray fronting the aforementioned Band on a rewritten "The Weight." The epic, acoustic-guitar-based ballad "Nobody's Girl" is one of the more overtly Dylanesque pieces here, and while trying to overshadow Zimmy is a fool's errand no matter how big your britches, one has to admire Adams for the considerable chutzpah necessary to even take up the task. Whether you believe he's the Gram Parsons of the 21st century or not, it's that undeniable spirit and ambition that lay at the heart of GOLD's appeal.