I was excited when I saw that there was going to be a new book about Ryan Adams. I have been a fan of Adams' music for about a decade. So, I immediately ordered David Menconi's Ryan Adams: Losering, a Story of Whiskeytown. I was excited to read a book about one of my favorite artists during a period of his life when he was playing with one of my favorite bands.
The book proved to be interesting, but not great. Menconi, a music critic for the Raleigh News and Observer, has been witness to Ryan and his music since the early 90's when Ryan first started playing in the area. However, Menconi never quite manages to remove himself from the narrative of the book. Obviously, since this is an unauthorized "biography," the author needed to rely on second-hand sources and his interviews with Ryan during the time period of Whiskeytown. That is understandable. However, Menconi continues to find ways to insert himself into the story, as though he was an important part of Whiskeytown or Ryan's story. The downside is that his narrative doesn't truly provide deep insight into Ryan, the band, or the music. Instead, the book feels like an attempt for Menconi to make money off his limited interaction with Adams and Whiskeytown. He gets some facts wrong, crediting Ryan with songs he either co-wrote or didn't write at all. At times, the writing/research seems sloppy. He even goes so far as to provide critiques of albums and an example of his iTunes playlist. It's as though the book is unable to have a consistent voice throughout the narrative.
While not the strongest narrative, or most well-researched book, it will nonetheless be interesting for any fan of Ryan Adams or Whiskeytown.
Ryan Adams: Losering, a Story of Whiskeytown
The book proved to be interesting, but not great. Menconi, a music critic for the Raleigh News and Observer, has been witness to Ryan and his music since the early 90's when Ryan first started playing in the area. However, Menconi never quite manages to remove himself from the narrative of the book. Obviously, since this is an unauthorized "biography," the author needed to rely on second-hand sources and his interviews with Ryan during the time period of Whiskeytown. That is understandable. However, Menconi continues to find ways to insert himself into the story, as though he was an important part of Whiskeytown or Ryan's story. The downside is that his narrative doesn't truly provide deep insight into Ryan, the band, or the music. Instead, the book feels like an attempt for Menconi to make money off his limited interaction with Adams and Whiskeytown. He gets some facts wrong, crediting Ryan with songs he either co-wrote or didn't write at all. At times, the writing/research seems sloppy. He even goes so far as to provide critiques of albums and an example of his iTunes playlist. It's as though the book is unable to have a consistent voice throughout the narrative.
While not the strongest narrative, or most well-researched book, it will nonetheless be interesting for any fan of Ryan Adams or Whiskeytown.
Ryan Adams: Losering, a Story of Whiskeytown
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