Love Is Hell (Ryan Adams album)

Infobox Album
Name = Love Is Hell
Type = Album
Artist = Ryan Adams


Background =
Released = flagicon|US May 4, 2004
flagicon|Japan June 27, 2007
Recorded = New York, September 2 to September 6, 2002; and New Orleans, February 2003
Genre = Alternative country
Length = 68:01
33:35 (bonus disc)
Label = Lost Highway Records
Producer = Ryan Adams, John Porter
Reviews = *Allmusic rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ud9gs30wa3bg link]
*Mojo rating|5|5
*NME rating|9|10 [http://www.nme.com/reviews/ryan-adams/7277 link]
Last album = "Rock n Roll"
(2003)
This album = "Love Is Hell"
(2004)
Next album = "Cold Roses"
(2005)

"Love Is Hell" is the fifth studio album by alternative country artist Ryan Adams, released on May 4, 2004. The album was originally released as two EPs, "Love Is Hell pt. 1" and "Love Is Hell pt. 2", at the insistence of Lost Highway, who deemed that the album was not commercially viable. A full length version of the album was released when the EPs proved to be more of a commercial success than anticipated. Adams describes the album as sounding: "a lot like "Heartbreaker", but better and more severe. It's complex and it's damaged," [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2003/nov/21/ryanadams.popandrock|title=I've been jumping off bridges|last=Simmons|first=Sylvie|date=2003-11-21|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-19] and states that it "was the record I needed to make," [cite web|url=http://www.harpmagazine.com/articles/detail.cfm?article_id=1398|title=Ryan Adams: Saved By R’n’R|last=Uhelszki|first=Jaan|date=2004-01|publisher=HARP Magazine|accessdate=2008-08-19]

"Wonderwall", a cover of a song originally by Oasis, was released as a single in the UK on June 28, 2004.

A shorter version of "Anybody Wanna Take Me Home" originally appeared on "Rock N Roll". However, this version of the song does not fade-out/back-in as it does on "Rock N Roll".

"Love Is Hell" was released in Japan on June 27, 2007 with a bonus disc of tracks recorded in the same sessions as the album.

In a 2007 interview, Adams notes that he loves to play songs from the album live, and that the songs are "usually tunes that The Cardinals and myself get really excited about when they come up in the set." [cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/44328-interview-ryan-adams|title=Interview: Ryan Adams|last=Klein|first=Joshua|date=2007-07-23|publisher=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=2008-08-19]

Lost Highway's reaction

Concerning the album, president of Lost Highway Records, Luke Lewis, notes that:

"It was a big departure. I told him I thought he could do better, but I tell him that all the time. On a business level, I could've done fine with "Love Is Hell". But we both knew...he was suffering from overhype. I said, 'Are you sure this is gonna be the statement you wanna make?'... His young ass was hanging out there. If [the record] wasn't good, he was gonna get whacked by a lot of people." [cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/articles/who-fk-ryan-adams|title=Who The F**k Is Ryan Adams?|last=Spitz|first=Marc|date=2003-11-24|publisher=Spin|accessdate=2008-08-19]

Adams states that:

"it was, 'This isn't the record that Ryan should make', but I think I should have the licence to express myself however I want to. And if you have enough faith and trust in an artist to sign them to your fucking label, and you're an 'artists' label', then I think it has to be a consensual relationship. If I do make a record that totally sucks, then the public forum will take care of it. They'll get rid of you themselves - the survival of the fittest. [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2003/nov/21/ryanadams.popandrock|title=I've been jumping off bridges|last=Simmons|first=Sylvie|date=2003-11-21|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-19]

Track listing

The album:
# "Political Scientist" - 4:33
# "Afraid Not Scared" - 4:13
# "This House Is Not For Sale" - 3:53
# "Anybody Wanna Take Me Home" - 5:31
# "Love Is Hell" - 3:19
# "Wonderwall" - 4:09
# "The Shadowlands" - 5:18
# "World War 24" - 4:17
# "Avalanche" - 5:09
# "My Blue Manhattan" - 2:23
# "Please Do Not Let Me Go" - 3:37
# "City Rain, City Streets" - 3:49
# "I See Monsters" - 3:57
# "English Girls Approximately" - 5:42
# "Thank You Louise" - 2:52
# "Hotel Chelsea Nights" - 5:10

Japanese version bonus disc:
# "Halloween" - 3:52
# "Caterwaul" - 5:41
# "Fuck The Universe" - 7:29
# "Twice As Bad As Love" - 4:14
# "Father's Son" - 3:36
# "Gimme Sunshine" - 3:55
# "Black Clouds" - 4:48

Chart positions

References