• Adams' sources run deep--from Paul Westerberg to Hank Williams--and he has the raspy, quavering voice and innate tunefulness to be worthy of them.

    — Rolling Stone

  • Best Solo Artist of 2003.

    — Spin Reader's Poll
Hometown: 
Raleigh, NC

Former singer/guitarist/songwriter for critical darlings Whiskeytown, Ryan Adams really hit his stride with his debut solo recordings on Bloodshot. People tripped over themselves in descriptive reveries. The next Dylan, the next Westerberg, the next Springsteen, the next flame out and die before his time rock star tragedy. Can we stop it already? Let's let him be Ryan, which is damn well good enough, all right?

Heart on his sleeve, punk spirit, closet folkie, can write lyrics that beat anything else you might be listening to on the hit parade this or any other day. He's got all the goods. We've got him with just his songs, some bad-ass backing musicians, and the guts he pours into his lyrics--it's all here in its ragged glory. Yeah, He's been on Saturday Night Live, the sides of buses in GAP ads, and shared the stage with Sheryl Crow, Elton John AND the Rolling Stones, recorded with Willie Nelson and America, and been nominated for Grammys. He's been blacklisted and backlashed and had lots of dumb stuff in the papers and blogs written about him. All those garish trappings of pop stardom, and we STILL love him.

Why? Because we know what a pussycat he really is and, when you strip away all the public personae sideshows, we remember him for the wide-eyed music super fan who just wanted to make more (and more) music, and whose ear for a hook and a single crushing lyric image is nigh unsurpassed. We think he delivers on this passion in spades.

Artist Website
Compilation Tracks: 
Recommended if You Like: 
Paul Westerberg
Bob Dylan
Damian Rice
Ray LaMontagne
Gillian Welch
Dawes

Similar Bloodshot Artists

  • Luke Winslow-King

    Straight outta Orleans Parish, LWK is both rustic and elegant. He delivers energetic and dynamic performances with his burgundy voice and versatile guitar playing. He may be technically proficient, but he's never precious.

  • Various Artists

    Bloodshot compilations are a cheap and easy way to sample a wide range of fabulous sounds. Some of the bands and artists you've heard of, some you haven't, but it is always worth checking them all out.

  • Old 97's

    They came on like a fully formed gang: Ken Bethea's guitar a post-punk Luther Perkins; Philip Peeples the fucking Ringo Starr of the train beat; Murray Hammond on the bass and West TX harmonies; and Rhett Miller's manic energy, super-literate songwriting and swoony charisma.

  • Whiskeytown

    Falling out of the sky in the mid-90's, Whiskeytown grabbed the mantle of Critical Darlings by the throat and did not let go.

  • Paul Burch

    Paul Burch's works are those of thoughtful eloquence and spirited storytelling. He is, there's no other way to put it, a craftsman. His honey smooth voice is a national treasure, if only ya'll were paying attention.
  • Volebeats

    The Volebeats

    As much myth as institution in the Motor City, The Voles have been around since the late 80's and, like their namesake, are hard to track down, disappear for long periods of time, and remain totally loveable.

  • Deadstring Brothers

    The Deadstring Brothers' heart beats with pure rock and roll. Simple and shor 'nuff. Built on a the unshakable foundations of blues, rock country and soul, DSB manages to create something at once totally fresh but totally recognizable.

  • Alejandro Escovedo

    Ground Zero punk rock dude with The Nuns, cowpunk progenitor in Rank and File, gutter brawling guitar rawker in True Believers, and now a songwriter and performer without peer; you know the story.

  • Justin Townes Earle

    From Music Row classicism to the storycraft of Greenwich Village-era Dylan to laid back soulful cool, and inspirations as diverse as Townes Van Zandt, Jimmy Reed, Kurt Cobain, The Replacements, Mance Lipscomb, Ray Charles and The Pogues, it's hard to say what JTE does the best.

  • Cory Branan

    Cory Branan is a natural-born storyteller, his seemingly conversational, painstakingly crafted anecdotes benefitting from a hard-eyed stare at hydra-headed life experiences.

  • Ben Kweller

    Since his arrival , he's been called everything from balladeer to punk rocker, anti-folker to indie-popper. His ability to weave together opposites that coexist happily on the same album is something few can do.
  • Bobby Bare Jr

    Bobby Bare Jr.

    With a big-as-the-room persona, an ability to rock the doors off the most jaded of clubs, the heart to hold a room completely still with just his guitar, and a genius for arrangement, Bobby Bare, Jr. and his band of merry makers are one of the most unique bunches around.