After the success of his big breakthrough record "Gold," Ryan Adams recorded a series of rejected follow-ups, only to have them culled together in the form of "Demolition." After that collection, Adams recorded "Love is Hell," only to have those songs called "too dark" by his record label, which forced him back into the studio which resulted in "Rock n Roll." I guess it's a good thing the guy is manic when it comes to song-writing! "Love is Hell" was eventually released, first as two separate ep's and then as a complete album. I don't know if it was as negative as Lost Highway Records claimed, but there's definitely a tone of sadness to the songs. What else would you expect from the guy who recorded an album called "The Suicide Handbook"? (Oh yeah... that one was rejected too!)One of my favorites tunes from the second ep is "English Girls Approximately." It's a pretty simple song... just a few chords on the old acoustic guitar. 60's legend Marianne Faithfull lends some interesting backing vocals to the track as well. There's really not that much to it lyrically-speaking, but I do like a few of the lines. There's a great stacatto beat to a stanza near the end that goes "Tall drink of water, she's Nor-folk waterfall. Little daybreaker, she's a-shootin' like a cannonball. Crazy like a rocket when you're comin' through my radio. Kept me in your bed 'til the wintertime turns to fall." Again, there's really not that much to it. I can't really explain why I like it. I do enjoy the ending as well, when in that great Adams breathy gasp he repeats "just three words, my love... you meant everything." Were you expecting the other three words? I love you? Maybe I was too, but I get swept up in the vocal delivery and the music that echoes the sentiment.
"English Girls Approximately" is from the album "Love is Hell." To hear the song, click on the icon in the widget jukebox along the side of the blog.
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