Please excuse me for the duration of this post. Its not often I have a man crush (well, not that often), but I’m going to finally get this one off my chest.

If you haven’t yet opened up your hearts and minds to the exquisite genius that is Ryan Adams (not to be confused with the slightly more effeminate, more Canadian and infintely less sophisticated Bryan), its about time you just ripped your chest cavity apart and let the brilliance in. It’ll blow you away. In fact, I will quite confidently state that, should I be marooned on a deserted island for the rest of my natural life and I could choose the works of one musician to keep me company for the remainder of eternity, I would (without hesitation) snatch up my prized Ryan Adams collection.

That’s not to suggest that you philistines would (or could) appreciate my fervour, but I’m just laying it out there on the table. Although just “laying them out on the table” has already cost me a very dear 20 quid this evening.

I realise that I am talking one helluva game here. But I actually think I mean it.

Adams played the Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Saturday night and Sunday night and I went to both. The second night was a solo effort. This was a weekend of two firsts for me: I’ve never done a concert double-header, and I’ve never done a solo concert. The verdict? I’d definitely do it again.

Although Ryan pretty much lived up to his reputation of being a dodgy showman (he’s either manic or a bit of self-indulgent diva), and came across as a slightly stoned, punkier version of Garth Algar from Wayne’s World, his incomparable talent can’t be denied. The crowd gave him a bit of stick on Sunday night (honestly, the band have pretty dismal stage presence), but the music is absolutely untouchable: Adams and his troupe are consumate musicians, entirely in control of their art and thoroughly entuned with their country/folk/blues roots. Which is not to say they didn’t rock when they wanted to: To Be Young, Beautiful Sorta and Meadowlake Street went down a treat, and the deftful improvs on a lot of the other songs were testimony to the simple fact that, although the guys were pretty average on the charisma front, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are clearly all about the music (set lists for the two nights are here).

Biggest issue for me? I’m a big fan of his back catalogue, and this tour is clearly punting his latest three albums (all released in 2005, including the immaculate double album Cold Roses). Which is not a bad thing at all, just not what I had been hoping for. Check this out for a different take on the show.

I know I’ve raised a fuss about bands in the past, and I may come across as being a little generous with my adulation, but seriously (to quote Phil Collins): Ryan Adams is one of the finest and most prolific/accomplished singer/songwriters/musicians of the last decade, and everyone should have a disc of his in their private collection.

If you’re not sure whether you’re big into alt-country, start with Gold (his best-seller to date) or Rock ‘n Roll (critics hated it, as it represents a drastic move from his country/folk roots, but I think it rocks). If you’re prepared to take on the alt-country (and if you like Counting Crows, Better than Ezra, Gin Blossoms, Bright Eyes, Kings of Leon, Neil Young or Woody Guthrie, you’ve already taken a step in the right direction), then I’d invest in Heartbreaker (Ryan’s first solo album, which features the track Come Pick Me Up from the Elizabethtown soundtrack) followed up Love is Hell and/or Cold Roses.

Here’s Ryan singing the magnificent So Alive on Letterman (pushing the rockier end of his broad stylistic repertoire). I’ve got a lovely little clip on my camera from Sunday night’s concert, but some twat has my SD card and I can’t get it onto my PC. In time, in time. Just enjoy this one in the interim.

One last taste: slightly more laid-back Come Pick Me Up (with the Cardinals – from another Letterman performance). Just wonderful!

Alright. Deep breath. I’m done, and my pants are wet. This guy just gets me in all the right spots. Go on: give him a spin – I have no doubt he’ll make you go all tingly where it feels good.