Wednesdays (album)

Wednesdays is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams. Originally slated for release in 2019, it was delayed following abuse allegations against Adams. It was eventually surprise-released digitally on December 11, 2020 through Adams's label PAX AM. Physical editions are scheduled for March 19, 2021.[1]

Wednesdays
Studio album by
Ryan Adams
Released
  • December 11, 2020 (digital)
  • March 19, 2021 (physical)
Length42:27
LabelPAX AM
Producer
Ryan Adams chronology
Prisoner
(2017)		 Wednesdays
(2020)

Background and release

In January 2019, Adams announced his plans to release three albums that calendar year.[2] The first, Big Colors, was due to be released April 19 and feature 15 tracks. The second, Wednesdays, was to feature 17 tracks and did not yet have a confirmed release date. Adams did not disclose the name of the third album. The release of all three albums was put on hold after The New York Times published an article in February 2019 in which several women, including Adams's ex-wife Mandy Moore, Phoebe Bridgers, and an underage fan, accused him of abuse and sexual misconduct.[3] Adams has denied the allegations.[4] After a five-month silence, he returned in July 2019, posting a soundboard recording of a song titled "I'm Sorry and I Love You".[5]

On December 11, 2020, Adams eventually surprise-released Wednesdays, which features "I'm Sorry and I Love You"[1] as well as several tracks originally announced for inclusion on Big Colors.[6] Physical editions are scheduled for March 19, 2021 and the vinyl version is set to include an additional 7-inch record titled "It's Not That Kind of Night".[1] A music video for "I'm Sorry and I Love You" was uploaded to YouTube on December 15, 2020. Its description mentions that Wednesdays is the first in a trilogy of albums.[7]

Artwork and title

The album cover features a cropped reproduction of Siebe Johannes ten Cate's painting La gare du Nord.[8]

Adams said of the title: "Limbo. That's what a Wednesday is sometimes. Maybe a portal. Maybe a bridge across. But it can hang there like a forever unless maybe you're out to sea and everything is just another token of the blue."[7]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated Wednesdays two out of five stars and noted the album's "spare arrangements and threadbare melodies". He opined that, in light of the allegations against Adams, "the songs collectively create an impression of a singer/songwriter who feels quite sorry for himself, but not necessarily sorry for anything he may or may not have done". He highlighted the songs "I'm Sorry and I Love You" and "Who Is Going to Love Me Now, If Not You" for "echo[ing] excuses from abusers, whether intentionally or not".[6]

Many print and online music publications that have reviewed Adams' previous albums, such as Rolling Stone, Spin, and Pitchfork, did not publish reviews of Wednesdays, or even mention its release.

Wednesdays has received a number of accolades from notable recording artists in music. Lucinda Williams: "This album of Ryan's has found its way into my dreams. It begs to be discovered." Lindsey Buckingham: "Wednesdays, Ryan Adams again reminds us that as the world changes, we must also continue to aspire to remain ourselves, individually and collectively." Jesse Malin: "This beautiful new record 'Wednesdays,' Ryan Adams confronts his demons and bares his soul with a brutal honesty." Duane Betts: "Wednesdays is stunningly intimate and vulnerable. It captures the essence of the human condition. Just beautiful work."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ryan Adams. All tracks are produced by Don Was, Beatriz Artola, and Adams.

Wednesdays - digital edition[9]
No.TitleLength
1."I'm Sorry and I Love You"3:34
2."Who Is Going to Love Me Now, If Not You"3:31
3."When You Cross Over"4:19
4."Walk in the Dark"4:11
5."Poison & Pain"3:09
6."Wednesdays"5:25
7."Birmingham"3:11
8."So, Anyways"3:46
9."Mamma"4:23
10."Lost in Time"3:54
11."Dreaming You Backwards"3:04
Total length:42:27
"It's Not That Kind of Night" - bonus 7" disc[10]
No.TitleLength
1."It's Not That Kind of Night" 
2."Sunflowers" 

Credits adapted from Deezer[11] and Spotify.[12]

References
  1. Thiessen, Brock (December 10, 2020). "Ryan Adams Returns with New Album 'Wednesdays'". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  2. Russell, Scott. "Ryan Adams Details Big Colors and Wednesdays, Debuts New Single (Updated)". Paste. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  3. Bloom, Madison; Minsker, Evan (February 15, 2019). "Ryan Adams' New Album Big Colors Pulled From Release After Abuse Allegations". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  4. Yoo, Noah (February 13, 2019). "Ryan Adams Accused of Abuse by Phoebe Bridgers, Mandy Moore, Underage Fan, More; Adams Denies It". Pitchfork. Chicago, Illinois: Condé Nast. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  5. Roffman, Michael; Young, Alex (July 20, 2019). "Ryan Adams resurfaces following abuse allegations: "I have a lot to say. I am going to. Soon."". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Wednesdays - Ryan Adams | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  7. Neumann, Sarah (December 16, 2020). "Ryan Adams: nach Missbrauchsvorwürfen nun neues Album" [Ryan Adams: a new album after abuse allegations]. Rolling Stone Germany (in German). Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  8. Kinnett, Tristan (December 10, 2020). "Ryan Adams Posts Album Art for Previously-Teased Album Wednesdays". MXDWN. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  9. "Wednesdays by Ryan Adams on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  10. "Ryan Adams | Wednesdays LP + 7". merchandise.nu. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  11. "Wednesdays by Ryan Adams on Deezer". Deezer. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  12. "Wednesdays - Album by Ryan Adams | Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
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