Ryan Adams' 5 Missing Studio Albums (2000-2007)

Ryan Adams (not to be confuesd with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams) is one of the most well-known alternative country singer-songwriters of the 2000s. He is also knwon for taking stabs at punk, indie rock, and even black metal. He used to front alternative country band, Whiskeytown, in the 1990s, with shich he released 3 studio albums. His current band, The Cardinals, now backs much of his work. His albums are critically acclaimed for their depth, unique style and emotion.

Adams is known for putting a heavy workload on himself. In 2005 alone he released 3 studio albums, all of whish his label, Lost Highway Records almost didn't release. His workaholism has, unsurprisingly, left a rather long list of unreleased material nad projects. The final Whiskeytown album, Pnuemonia, has over 100 unreleased tracks. There are also many of his side-projects that have unrleased albums, demos and EPs, some of which have been bootlegged, others of which haven't been so fortunate. Keeping track of these has proven to be quite the chore for his fans. His 2004 album, Love Is Hell, was almost shelved by the studio for its difficult style until he convinced them to release it in 2 EPs (and, eventually, album form).

As revealed by Adams himself in 2007, he has had multiple rejected solo studio albums. Out of his countless rejected projects, 5 albums were one that he "really wanted to be records". The albums were named The Suicide Handbook, 48 Hours, Pinkhearts, Darkbreaker, and Black Hole. The Suicide Handbook was intended to be Adams' true follow-up to his 2000 debut, Heartbreaker. Darkbreaker was apparently written by Adams at his "most fucked up". Black Hole was supposed to give you the impression that Adams was "really dying".

Adams was supposed to release the 5 albums as the 20:20 Boxset in 2007. Its insert was written and finished by Stephen King (making this a los twork of his now as well). The box set was cancelled for unknown reasons (possibly due to fears of it not being able to sell). With the exception of a handful of tracks from some of the sessions, most notably 48 Hours, these albums remain unheard.