If there were a book of rock cliches (and there certainly might be - I haven't checked Amazon.com recently) somewhere in the Top 10 would be "I Feel the Need to Go Solo." This usually happens when an artist feels "constrained" by the group that brought them to a certain level of success. Or better yet, it could be caused by the dreaded "these songs just never fit on any of our albums" disease. The road to solo stardom is littered with successes (George Michael, Sting, Natalie Merchant) and failures (Andrew Ridgley, David Lee Roth, and at least artistically, Natalie Merchant). Here are three people treading down that path.

Ryan Adams is (or maybe better put, was) the singer-songwriter for Whiskeytown, an alternative-country-rock combo that released three fine albums in the mid-'90s. Adams created an intoxicating mix of depressing ballads and, well, depressing up-tempo songs that fans of Wilco and Son Volt thoroughly enjoyed. Whiskeytown has another album in the can, but it's been held up in the aftermath of mega-record company mergers. Once Adams got free from his legal red tape, he recorded a solo album called Heartbreaker (Bloodshot Records). Not surprisingly, it contains more depressing ballads and depressing up-tempo songs. Heartbreaker lives up to its title - almost all the songs were written about Adams' breakup with one girl. This must have been one whopper of a breakup, as songs like "Amy" and "Call Me On Your Way Back Home" just bleed desperation over a failed relationship like no album in recent memory. Adams makes a fine start to what could be a long solo career, should Whiskeytown be a done deal. But be forewarned - don't listen to this album if you're splitting up with someone. I can't be held responsible for what you do to yourself in a fit of depression.
[ buy Heartbreaker or more from Whiskeytown ]

Adams' bandmate, singer-violinist Caitlin Cary, isn't waiting around for Whiskeytown's future to be determined to make new music. Her debut ep, Waltzie (Yep Records), is the sound of people gathering on a back porch, just playing low-key, emotionally deep music to pass the time. Cary's voice is somewhat reminiscent of Linda Thompson, which is put to good use on the cover of Richard Thompson's "Withered & Died." Cary proves that Ryan Adams isn't the only songwriting talent in Whiskeytown.
[ buy Waltzie or visit Yep Records' site ]