Chin Up, Cheer Up

Okay, one more Ryan Adams story: Today is his 28th birthday! Coincidentally enough, this day (November 5th) was also Gram Parson's birthday, kinda spooky, as Ryan is kinda like a re-incarnated Gram, sorta. Also coincidentally enough, and much funnier -- today is Bryan Adams's birthday too! All I can say is, "Guffaw!" Happy Birthday (B)Ryan!

Anyway, to get you started on some Ryan you gotta get Heartbreaker, his first solo effort and by far the most genius album I've heard in a long, long while. Next you gotta get Whiskeytown's Stranger's Almanac, which is most likely the best alt country album I've ever heard (next to Uncle Tupelo's Anodyne, but God that's a very tough choice... a good topic for another day). After that get Gold, then Whiskeytown's Pneumonia. At this point you'll be so hooked, you'll have to just get the rest.

And if anyone could hook me up with a copy of Rural Free Delivery, I'd name my firstborn after them.