Title: Rock N Roll

Artist: Ryan Adams

Release date: November 4, 2003

Genre: alternative rock

Rate: **1/2

Review:

Ryan Adams is one of the few artists to emerge from the alt-country scene to achieve mainstream commercial success. But he has strongly refused to be defined by the genre.

After two years of tumultuous relationships with the media, he has finally delivered his latest album, Rock N Roll. But it seems as if the disc was rushed and recorded in less than two weeks. It's unforgivably careless work, unwilling to please anyone, except perhaps Adams. Each track features tiresome lyrics and unbearably repetitive amp effects.

Adams throws his flippancy* in the listener's ears and eyes, with photos of tattoos and cigarettes to remind us that he's a rock hero.

The title track, though, is a sweet piano ballad* which lasts less than two minutes. The most notable song is She's Lost Total Control.

For an album named Rock N Roll, Ryan Adams' third solo release is a difficult listening experience. It is a little bit difficult for me to rate such an album because it is so dismissive of both itself and its audience that it insults nearly everyone who attempts to interact with it. But if you'd like to touch noise, it is perfect.

 
Editor: Wings