On February 13th 2019, the New York Times published an in-depth article exposing singer-songwriter Ryan Adams as a manipulator of women, featuring several allegations of emotional and sexual abuse. In the article, featuring testimonials from musicians and ex-partners, Adams was accused of dangling the prospect of success for sexual favours and, in the case of ex-wife Mandy Moore, obstructing her music career. Arguably the most serious of these allegations however, was engaging in text and online correspondence with a minor. The article, in which the author claims to have read over 3,000 text messages between Adams and the victim known as “Ava”, began with the musician suggesting potential career prospects with the then-fourteen year old before the topic of conversation moved onto a more sexual persuasion, with Adams repeatedly asking for confirmation of her age, and constantly demanding that their conversations be kept private, making references to him being compared to R Kelly (himsel...
Listen to 'I Can't Write Left Handed' Even though a studio recording has never been officially released, the 1973 live recording of ‘I Can’t Write Left Handed’ at Carnegie Hall by the legendary Bill Withers is perhaps one of the most passionate live vocal performances ever committed to tape. The track is a politically-charged tirade, from the perspective of a soldier who fought in the Vietnam War. Withers describes his recollection of the war as “one big drag” and the track itself was inspired by Withers’ meeting with a young soldier who had lost an arm. In the introduction, Withers tells of his meeting, and how the young man told him “getting shot at didn’t bother him, it was getting shot that shook him up” . For Withers, an American born on the fourth of July ironically enough, to make such bold statements in his music at the time was almost surprising. He had previously been known as an easy-listening folk-soul singer, with massive hits ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’...