Ryan Adams Says Bye to The Cardinals

In typical dramatic fashion, Ryan Adams upped a lengthy Blog post today which (among other things) stated that he will be leaving his band of 5 years; The Cardinals. He has already deleted the post from his website so who really knows but him what's up.

While not as intense as The Beatles or The Smiths breaking up, the potential split is still sad news for many of his fans. As much as I liked the 6 albums he released with The Cardinals, I'm anxious to see what one of our more talented singer-songwriters has up his sleeve without them. Lately his music was sounding a bit too comfortable for my tastes.

Here is the original post in all it's meandering glory as well as his recent, heartfelt take on his classic "In My Time of Need" from 12/30/08. Rock on Ryan!



"me- 34-a non smoker and happy, for the first time in my life.. i am excited to finish this wonderful time i have had with the cardinals and whatever new adventures may come after march. atlanta will be my last venture with the band and i am grateful for the time we have had and maybe someday we will have more stories to tell together. i am however ready for quieter times as i think it is very evident i am struggling with some balance and hearing issues.

also, no drama or anything but i am okay to step back from all of this right now and i think i did enough manic blogging when i felt alone and isolated during the last few years of travel. these last few years were the hardest i can remember and the most rewarding but i have loved ones to care for now and i am lucky i have been given a chance to turn around and see just what i am capable of as a friend and as someone who is not gone forever every year- it rendered me incapable of things i needed to be to myself and others- and my schedule sometimes never ended when the shows did- and some of that was my doing. and i lost someone i loved, and i lost myself.

that changed. i got to know just who i am in this little spell of time here recently. and change is the nature of thew world and i naturally embrace that.

i won’t be blogging here anymore either- but not for effect- it just is not being kind to myself- i need a life that is mine- i need to grow up and grow in to who i have subtly been working back towards since i stopped all that nonsense and i know also no matter what i choose to do in the music world, because i chose to do things my way and never lie i will always be viewed as an “asshole” ( i hear and have seen things in the past) and i am not, and i know the truth and i know who i am.

also it is kind of ridiculous to blog as because i am a musician and anything i say here just gets reprinted at some point out of context. i say NOT FAIR but it doesn’t matter what i say anymore or what is fair anymore really does it- the 21st century media has it’s own rules about what is true and what is not. it is not a life- not one i want to live anyway and i don’t really care to participate in narcissistic over-indulgent behavior anymore- that was never my intention- i just wanted to fight for my right to make music and to be given the benefit of the doubt. now, because i have stood up for myself and fought for myself i am labeled all kinds of awful things. well, i will walk away now and it will not matter what anyone say’s. there are other things i can do in this life, other ways to be creative and to try and help others and be expressive without being demonized for attempting to gain the same things any other human being desires- love- friendship- understanding- and being able to express yourself without constant fear of being mistreated for speaking up

. i have friends to make, brand new books coming (two of em’ not counting that one already printed and on it’s way out there and i LOVE writing….yay!)and a whole lot of living and learning to do.

i am excited to step away. i lost more than anyone will ever know (hearing, soneone i loved, my sense of dignity, a never ending losing battle with stage fright and now my hearing and balance due to an inner ear issue- people accusing me of not being sober when i am suffering tremendous pain and nausea from my inner ear symptoms- people accusing me of theft (THEFT- ….awful) and this is not much of a life, not glamorous like those ridiculous video’s a long time ago television played and no it is not monetarily as rewarding as people would like you to believe and yes, it is soul destroying. especially when you spend your life trying to write about the really difficult stuff and you stand there losing your way and people yell at you like you were in a circus. when it was your dream to matter and you realize one day, it never mattered- i mean, i am a punch-line and a footnote in what is worse to yell at someone besides “free-bird”. i mean, i lost. and it’s okay because i seriously snuck some pretty neat idea’s in there in the work when i was making those mistakes or they were being made by others. this business is no science.

andf you know, whatever this is- it’s not my dream. and it is a punishing thing to endure when you are getting worse and worse- it’s not my dream, my dream was mike watt’s crazy shaking leg and electric fingers- or how sonics droned into beautiful cluds and how it felt to just let go and static up a riff and find the sweet spot- but getting yelled at for just being a songwriter- to be called so many horrid things because i chose to love music so much, and also to look for peace and balance in my life- that is not kindness and just not my thing. at least not now.

quitting smoking was a good step and i am happy i also am just now beginning to understand how important it is i take better care of myself in every way right now.

anyway, enjoy these shows and know that i am not abandoning anyone and that i loved playing music in the cardinals and hell, even before i was in a place to try and learn to be well, music was my life source-

maybe i will play again sometime but this is the time for me to step back now, and i wish everyone peace and happiness and if music is your dream, or if just dreaming is your dream, may you find your way through the rough patch with ease and i hope you let go and it takes you all the way there-

loving kindness to all.

R "

Jeff Tweedy Sings Radiohead with Johnny Marr

Playing in New Zeland at the invite of Oxfam benefit concert curator Neil Finn, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy nails the Radiohead classic "Fake Plastic Trees". While that alone would be enough for a musical celebration, add in ex-Smith's guitarist Johnny Marr and you have a cover version for the ages!

R.I.P. Ron Asheton

Next to The Velvet Underground, I don't think there is a more important band in the history of rock and roll than The Stooges. Today we have sadly lost one of them. Since no real great footage exists of early live Stooges, here is a nice little documentary I found. Ron Asheton is one of the seminal figures in the history of music and he will be missed.

Happy New Year from My Morning Jacket

Well 2008 has come and gone (Thank God) and My Morning Jacket rang in the new year with about 20,000 friends at Madison Square Garden in New York. Complete with white top hats and suits, the band funked in 2009 with a super-duper Kool and the Gang homage.

Since my New Year's was rung in watching Robbie Knievel jump over a volcano on TV, this looks like it was a lot more fun....

R.I.P. Freddie Hubbard

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/arts/music/30hubbard.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=hubbard&st=cse

Favorites of 2008

Well another year has past and this one felt like a freaking decade. Personally, this year flat out sucked but on a musical level there were some great listening moments.

I wont even pretend to tell you what the best of the year are since I surely haven't listened to everything. To be honest, I simply don't hear a lot of new artists that make me stand up and shout. I've tried to get on that hipster bandwagon of past "best new artists" (The Rapture and Wolf Parade anyone?), but found myself feeling like I'm wasting precious time. Live is just too short, you know? I tend to gravitate towards new releases from the already established artists that I know and love. I guess I'm officially an old fart.

From reading many year end picks this week, I'm seeing a lot of albums I need to at least check out since they appear on every single list (Lil Wayne, Raphael Saadiq, Santogold, Girl Talk). I'm always up for great new music and new artists and I do try and listen with fresh ears. Hearing that great new song or album that you then NEED to play for everyone you know is one of the greatest things in life.

So that was a long preface to get to some of the best stuff I heard this year (in no order). All killer, no filler as they say in the "biz". Below you will find a nice mix of one track from each. Hope you like them as much as I do.

Dave's Favs of 2008




The Black Keys-Attack and Release
These two dudes from Ohio sure know how to make a lot of noise and with help from producer Danger Mouse, made a fantastic modern gumbo of blues influenced garage rock. On previous discs, The Keys had the blues-rock thing nailed down but this is something else entirely. Of one my favorite surprises of the year.

Bob Mould-District Line
Bob Mould has long been one of those artists that seemed like he was writing specifically for me. I think I spent the most time with this disc this year not just because I needed to (based on the lyrical content), but because it's the strongest thing Bob's released since the Sugar debut.

Fleet Foxes-Self Titled
One of the most talked about bands of the year and deservedly so. This was another of my most listened to albums of the year, and not just because my nine year old daughter loves it. These guys almost single-handily renewed my faith in new music this year. Their sound is hypnotic, organic, tuneful, fresh yet timeless, and just simply gorgeous. This album already feels like a classic and I truly can't wait to hear what this band has in store in the future.

The Fireman-Electric ArgumentsThe Fireman is a project by Sir Paul McCartney and the artist known as Youth. I just got this not too long ago, but am still in amazement that this is actually Paul McCartney. Is is crazy good and really different from anything Paul has done in the past. The opening track is the easily best thing he's done since The White Album.

Brian Eno and David Byrne-Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Two of my favorite artists recorded a modern classic that gets better with each listen. I can't get over that these two guys wrote new material together in 2008 and with such high quality. The kings of alternative rock put everyone back in their places.

The Hold Steady-Stay Positive
What more can one say about this disc? This is another of the most talked about discs of the year, and if I had to pick I'd say my favorite overall. I think Craig Finn is the greatest lyricist today and finally his band gave him the music to match the words. Play this one loud and renew your faith in rock and roll!

Bob Dylan-Tell Tale Signs
Opening up the Dylan vaults once again, this magnificent release features material from 1989-2006. From the acoustic versions of "Mississippi" and "Most of the Time", to the unheard masterpiece "Red River Shore"; this release was an audible orgasm for Dylan fans.



Steve Kilbey-Painkiller
Kilbey is the lead singer/songwriter of the criminally underrated band, The Church. I'd say Painkiller is a side-project more than a "solo" disc since it is definitely a band effort. After over 25 years in a music business that has been cruel to artists like him; Kilbey has created yet another masterpiece of haunting and deceivingly melodic gems. How Kilbey keeps up this quality with zero sales or touring dollars is testament to what a great artist he is.

Whiskeytown-Strangers Almanac (Reissue)
One of my favorite albums just got that much better in 2008. Featuring a ridiculous 26 bonus tracks and pristine remastering, this reminds us of why Strangers Almanac is still the best disc in Ryan Adams huge catalog.






Other loved ones of 2008:
Jenny Lewis-Acid Tounge
Lindsey Buckingham-Gift of Screws
Sigur Ros-Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Drive-By Truckers-Brighter Than Creations Dark
Aimee Mann-#@*@'ing Smilers
Bon Iver-For Emma, Forever Ago
Vampire Weekend-Self Titled
TV on the Radio-Dear Science
Jackson Browne-Time the Conqueror
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals-Cardinology
Metallica-Death Metallic
Lucinda Williams-Little Honey
The Cure-4:13 Dream

Love and Theft

With Coldplay currently being sued by Joe Satriani over which song sucked first, I started thinking about what songs sound like each other and at what point does it become plagiarism. After all, there are only so many chords and melodies in modern music. If musicians can sue other artists because their songs sound alike, think of all the old Blues musicians who Jimmy Page owes money to for the entire Led Zeppelin catalog.

The most famous lawsuit I can think of was this ridiculous suit stating that George Harrison had stole the melody from The Chiffons for his "My Sweet Lord". George amazingly lost this suit.

I was listening to Sirius this morning and they played the Mellencamp craptacular song "I'm Not Running Anymore" and I starting humming the Three Dog Night classic "Shambala". While I don't like the whole lawsuit thing, I do think Three Dog Night should sue John Mellencamp for this one. Listen and tell me they don't sound like the same song. The verses, the chorus, the melody, well...everything. I'm sure Mellencamp would say he was influenced by it. Whatever. Love and Theft indeed....

Three Dog Night-Shambala


John Mellencamp-I'm Not Running Anymore