Ryan Adams Live In Jamaica



I'm completely biased I know, but it's a shame this is the only legit Ryan Adams DVD available as it doesn't really showcase what he's capable. That's not to say it's not an entertaining night's viewing that even a non-fan could quite easily pick up and possibly be turned onto his music. Hopefully after last year's 3 albums (incl. a double album) he might be able to turn out a show worthy of showcasing in the DVD medium. Lord knows his shows are random and rambling, and that's when he's able to finish a show. I was lucky enough to see a mostly coherent show in Melbourne last year that was random with Ryan's rambling's, but at least he was in a good mood, he played for three hours and there were at least half a dozen standout tracks plus a good deal of stand-up.

Live In Jamaica is from the Music in High Places series (which has also brought out Goo Goo Dolls and Angie Stone DVD's) and although only one hour long, is of high quality - the acoustic performances are nicely rendered in DTS, the footage is shot in high-def and Ryan is in a jovial mood when he goes shopping, sings with some street children and in the highlight of the DVD, jams with reggae performer Toots Hibbert.

I think my problem is that Ryan is very much a fish out of water, so while it's good, its not indiciative of his potential abilities. And the setting is a little too beautiful, the beach, the palm trees, is such a contrast to Adams and I think for any performer who had been planted there, is a little pretentious.