Paxam Vinyl & CDs

Review: Ryan Adams' Wednesday album was released in 2020 and is introspective with songwriting up there with the best Americana. It's a world away from the classic rock swagger of his previous album, Prisoner, but no less powerful. This new album takes the exact same tracklist and reinvents the sound and spirit. It's a novel approach and a refreshing way of thinking about new studio releases for a label. 'Dreaming You Backwards and 'I'm Sorry and I Love You' has more of a more baroque pop with lush string sounds embellishing the fraught emotional tension; 'Dreaming Of You Backwards' is similarly majestic with classical music references guiding it. Compare these takes with the previous record's soulful rock feel - close in some ways to the sound of Hiss Golden Messenger - and it becomes clear Adams has shed that sound completely and achieved a true reinvention.

Review: After nearly two decades of anticipation, Ryan Adams has finally unveiled a long-awaited, cult-classic album on CD. Initially shelved due to his battles with addiction, the album captures the raw, unfiltered emotion that defined his tumultuous period. With tracks like 'Catherine', previously only performed live, and unreleased material now officially available, it's a revelatory listen for fans who have long speculated about its contents. The album's haunting, fragmented qualityireflecting Adams' state during its creationiadds a compelling layer of authenticity. While some of the raw vocal takes are intentionally rough, the end result is an evocative and beautiful snapshot of a chaotic creative period. This release not only satisfies years of fan demand but also reclaims a pivotal moment in Adams' career, offering a glimpse into his darkest and most vulnerable creative space.

Review: Ryan Adams' cult classic album Blackhole is finally being released, much to the anticipation of his devoted fanbase. Initially demoed in 2006 and heavily bootlegged over the years, this long-awaited official release features raw and emotionally charged tracks, including 'Catherine', previously only performed live. The album's creation coincided with a tumultuous period in Adams' life, marked by struggles with addiction, making its release not just a musical event but also a reclamation of a pivotal moment in his career. Adams merged two versions of the albumione reflecting a chaotic vocal performance and another crafted in the midst of his struggles. The release promises to satisfy years of speculation while offering an authentic glimpse into Adams' artistic evolution. With its blend of previously unheard material and emotional depth, Blackhole stands as a testament to the beauty found within vulnerability and fans eagerly await its arrival.

Review: In 2020, Ryan Adams released Wednesdays, an album up there with Neil Young's greatest stuff. It's cinematic with the full throttle rock of his previous album, Prisoner, dimmed down. It was an Americana album with his rock DNA still on show. Another Wednesdays takes a step further into classical and baroque pop territory, allowing the beauty of his lyrics to shine on a different canvas. Hearing tracks such as 'I'm Sorry And I Love You' underpinned by lush strings and piano with little else emphasises the power and majesty of his lyrics. Adams has long proved himself as one of America's all-time great songwriters, but to hear him push himself with the arrangements in genres that he's less familiar with, but still achieve greatness, shows that he's on another level to most.