I normally hate the month of November, but I knew there was at least one good reason to look forward to it this year. Ryan Adams' newest album, Rock N Roll is out today. Hmm.. I may have to swing by CD Warehouse before school to pick up a copy.
Formerly of Whiskeytown, Ryan is my favorite solo artist, and he gets extra points in my book because he's an extremely productive musician. He releases an album every fall, and they're always good. Ahh, I just pray he stops in Pittsburgh to support this new one. I actually saw him perform last January, when he opened for The Rolling Stones. That was one amazing concert: my favorite under-appreciated alt-country singer and one of the best rock bands of all time. My only regret was that it was in such a large venue. It would have been better to see Ryan in a more intimate setting, without drunken fifty-year-olds yelling, "Get off the stage! We want Mick!"
Anyway, hoorah for productive artists. I also must give props to Poppy Z. for finally publishing something other than a short story or a hard-to-obtain anthology. Liquor will be out this spring (finally!), and another in spring 2005.
Posted by Kate Cielinski at November 4, 2003 08:15 AMWhoa, I completely forgot about Ryan opening at Stones! Cool beans! ;) And eerie coincidence . . wearing my sparkly glitter tongue Stones shirt today. Ooh, synergism - someone call Jung!
Posted by: Katie at November 4, 2003 08:44 PMKatie, your enthusiasm for your psych class has me thinking you need to change your major. Eh, but if I followed that idea, I'd be an English major, a film student, and a philosophy geek by this point. Oh, and a makeup artist and special effects artist too.
Oh, and a follow up on the Ryan album: brilliant! I feel weird about classifying him as an alt-country artist now, because although I knew he had metal and punk sideprojects, this album is OUT THERE. It's kind of 80s glam, with some hints of early U2, a little Bowie, some Cure, and even by The Jesus and Mary Chain. I don't know what to make of it other than that it's a beautiful album. It put me in the best mood yesterday, which lasted until I went to class. :) Ah well.
Posted by: Kate Cielinski at November 5, 2003 07:57 AMDon't know if I know (B)Ryan Adams. But I am looking forward to that Poppy Z. Brite book... it'll be quite a departure from horror, from what I hear. Few genre writers make the move from genre to mainstream successfully but I suspect she'll be able to pull it off. In some ways, she's always already been a mainstream writer with a dark side that goes way beyond a goth sensibility. She's a great writer, great person...I think more literary study should be done on her work someday (hint).
Posted by: Mike Arnzen at November 5, 2003 09:06 AMOoh, just flipped through the new Spin (Strokes on the cover . . the White Stripes and Kurt Cobain must have been busy this month, as those are the only three bands they ever seem to feature), and there's a Ryan Adams article . . I'll throw it in your mail box later if you want. There's also a picture of Kelly Osbourne and Robert Smith posing at a party. Two of your favorite people! :)
A psych major - ha! I'd have to, like, learn about science-y stuff. I only like the general theories, I'd go nuts with chemical imbalance and stuff. But I know what you mean . . There are about a gazillion different things I feel like I could major in right now. *sigh* Geeks for life!
Posted by: Katie at November 5, 2003 11:50 AMKate, I found an article in the Trib for you. If you read this before class today, I'll give it to you in class.
Posted by: Jen at November 7, 2003 09:47 AM