Top 5 Unreleased Ryan Adams Songs

Ryan Adams is pretty much my musical hero. He's the musician I turn to most often, and for many reasons. One is simply that the depth and breadth of this catalogue, especially if you include Whiskeytown, is astounding - for a musician who didn't officially release music until 1994/95. Yes, there's a lot of shit to wade through, but it is ultimately rewarding - not to mention surprising. If you look beyond his released output (which is huge in itself) you'll find everything from country, folk, black metal, indie rock, hip hop (yes, hip hop!) and electronic experiments.

It is simply impossible to do an absolute Top 5 Ryan Adams songs - so I'll split this up. 1. Unreleased Songs. 2. Whiskeytown Songs. 3. Officially Released Songs. And here's round 1: My rule here is that I'm including any Ryan Adams or Whiskeytown songs that have never been officially available to purchase anywhere - but you can find online without too much hard work!

1. Ghost (Cowboy Technical Services Sessions, 2001)

Ryan Adams voice can seemingly do anything. You've only got to compare his voice on something like "AMY" with something like "Note to Self: Don't Die" to see just how versatile those pipes really are. But here is my favourite Ryan vocal (with "The Bar is a Beautiful Place" a close second). Something about its gruffness, mixed with the ramshackle nature of the band just slays me every time. If there ever was such a list, this song would make my all time Top 5 Ryan anything!

2. When the Wild Wind Blows (Elizabethtown Sessions/Darkbreaker, 2005)

Darkbreaker is exceptional. From beginning to end, it is one of Ryan's most harrowing works - the fact it didn't get a full release is just insane to me. This song in particular is simply vintage Ryan Adams - gorgeous poignant lyrics, production keeping it simple.

3. Mega Superior Gold (Pinkhearts, 2000)

So loved is this song among the DRA fandom, that is has it's own blog named after it: MegaSuperiorGold.  A great example of Ryan Adams having fun, rocking out, and who would have thought "Everybody's fucking up!!" would make a great chorus hook?

4. Like the Twilight (48 Hours, 2001)

Blogger won't let me embed this, so here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDnKTQbb-Ik

And I mean, really, click on this damn link, cos if you're sceptical about Ryan Adams, then this song is gonna be the game changer for you. It has many titles: "Drunk and Fucked Up Like the Twilight Tonight", "Memphis" and just simply "Drunk and Fucked Up". But titles aside, its stunning. I mean - really - click that link NOW.

5. Sittin' Around (Whiskeytown - Forever Valentine, 1997)

Whiskeytown have some incredible outtakes, rarities, and on Forever Valentine, a whole album full of nuggets (with Ben Folds on the piano apparently!) This is as simple as a song gets, but I'd take this song over a million "Cardinologys".

And that's it. Remember, the order is not important, but the songs are.