Whiskeytown: Stranger's Almanac

by Katrina Martin

Whiskeytown is a gem, pure and simple. I mourn the fact that they've broken up every time I listen to Stranger's Almanac. I fell in love with this album instantly upon hearing the first contemplative notes at the beginning of "Inn Town," the album's opener. And my affection grew deeper when I heard Ryan Adams' distinctive country-tinged voice blend with his band mate Caitlin Cary's gorgeous alto.

The 1997 album constantly draws comparisons to the big names in alt-country like Uncle Tupelo and Wilco, but this album certainly shines on its own. Its instant accessibility, pop sensibilities and gorgeous harmonies will keep listeners coming back for more. And if you've never ventured into the alt- country genre, this is an excellent starter. Some songs - "Inn Town" and "Houses on the Hill" - envelope you slowly with acoustic guitars and soft, melancholic singing while others, like "Waiting to Derail" and "Yesterday's News" turn into full-on rockers that get your foot tapping and your head nodding.

The seductive element of this album is clearly Adams' songwriting. His three- to five-minute tales of heartbreak and wistful romance tug at the heartstrings without sappiness. Their lyrics stay with you long after you've heard the songs, beckoning you back for another listen. And his writing paints incredibly visible pictures in your head of the characters he's following in the songs. In "Dancing With the Women at the Bar," you just know the depressed, lonely man in the song lives and breathes at the bar down the street. Adams' songs describe life with poignant reality.

"16 Days," is a good example. Adam's character laments his mistakes, "I should've worn my wedding ring" and goes on to describe the pain that comes from being apart from a lover with whom you want to make amends: "I've got 16 days/ 15 of those are nights/ Can't sleep when the bed sheet fights/ It's way back to your side."

"Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart" stands out as the best track on the record. Its banjo and steel guitar give it the perfect country tinge. The lyrics go straight to the pain of falling in love with the wrong person: "Excuse me while I break my own heart tonight/ It was mine from the finish/ I guess it was mine from the start/ This situation just don't seem too goddamn smart/ This situation is tearing me apart." The writing is so familiar you wonder if Adams has been in your head.