Ryan Adams

Before he was singing duets with Alanis Morissette and writing hits for Tim McGraw, Ryan Adams came into his own with Heartbreaker, a stunning solo debut. Having just dissolved Whiskeytown, he stuck to his alt country guns but discovered a talent for writing sad, winsome songs like "Come Pick Me Up" and "Sweet Lil' Gal (23rd/1st)." "My Winding Wheel" is a standout.

Though he's only twenty-five, Ryan Adams, the lead singer of Whiskeytown, is the sort of
artist who seems perpetually on the cusp of a masterpiece. He came close with his
star-crossed band, which is currently trying to find a new record label, and now he's
taking his own shot with Heartbreaker, his first solo album. Adams' sources run deep --
from Paul Westerberg to Hank Williams -- and he has the raspy, quavering voice... More >