# Big Colors

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***Big Colors*** is the eighteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter [Ryan Adams](/source/Ryan_Adams). Originally slated for release on April 19, 2019, it was delayed following [sexual misconduct](/source/Sexual_misconduct) allegations against Adams. It was eventually released on June 11, 2021, through Adams's label [PAX AM](/source/PAX_AM).

## Background and release

In January 2019, Adams announced his plans to release three albums that calendar year.[1] The first, *Big Colors*, was due to be released on April 19 and feature 15 tracks. The second, *[Wednesdays](/source/Wednesdays_(album))*, was to feature 17 tracks and did not yet have a confirmed release date. Adams did not disclose the name of the third album.[1][2] To promote *Big Colors*, Adams premiered the tracks "Doylestown Girl" and "Manchester" on radio and released "Fuck the Rain" as the official lead single from the album. He also announced a UK tour.[2]

The release of all three albums was put on hold after *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* published an article in February 2019 in which several women, including Adams's ex-wife [Mandy Moore](/source/Mandy_Moore), [Phoebe Bridgers](/source/Phoebe_Bridgers), and an underage fan, accused him of abuse and sexual misconduct.[3] "Fuck the Rain" was removed from streaming services and the UK tour was cancelled.[4][5] Adams has denied the allegations.[6]

On December 11, 2020, Adams eventually [surprise-released](/source/Surprise_album) *Wednesdays* with a revised track listing, including several tracks originally announced for inclusion on *Big Colors*.[7] The YouTube description of the music video to the *Wednesdays* track "I'm Sorry and I Love You" mentioned that *Wednesdays* was to be the first in a trilogy of albums, including the previously mentioned *Big Colors* and a third album called *Chris*.[8] On April 23, 2021, Adams surprise-released "Do Not Disturb" as the lead single from the revised edition of *Big Colors* on digital services. A release date of June 11 was later announced in May along with a statement from Adams: "*Big Colors* was created as a 1980s soundtrack to a movie that never existed. *Wednesdays* was a study of decline and morality; *Big Colors* is meant to feel like a daydream. New York, where this album was written, always propels me into new, unexpected creative spaces and this album happened to me, more than I can say I happened to it."[9]

## Critical reception

Jakob Biazza wrote for the *[Süddeutsche Zeitung](/source/S%C3%BCddeutsche_Zeitung)* that *Big Colors* had a "bigger rock pose and a lighter disposition" than *Wednesdays*. He found that, compared to its predecessor, *Big Colors* was "more of a rebellion against suffering than wallowing in it". He noted that "the guitars have more twang and more biting colors" and the singing "[is] more piercing and upright", describing this sound as "colder, harder".[10] Writing for *[Aftonbladet](/source/Aftonbladet)*, Håkan Steen called *Big Colors* "another very solid Ryan Adams record". He opined that the "guitars and arrangements undeniably sound like" the 1980s soundtrack described by Adams and found *Big Colors* "much more pop" in comparison to *Wednesdays*. Steen cited "It's So Quiet, It's Loud", "Manchester", and "Showtime" as album highlights, writing that they "could probably have become hits in another reality". However, he described "Power" as "silly".[11]

## Personnel

- [Ryan Adams](/source/Ryan_Adams) – vocals, guitar, bass, piano, synthesizer, percussion
- Johnny T Yerington – drums and percussion (1–4, 6–7, 9, 12)
- [Benmont Tench](/source/Benmont_Tench) – organ and piano (4, 7)
- [John Mayer](/source/John_Mayer) – guitar (4)
- Aaron Ficca – drums and percussion (5, 8, 11)
- Charlie Stavish – bass (5, 8, 11)
- Tod Wisenbaker – guitar (5, 8, 11)
- [Bob Mould](/source/Bob_Mould) – guitar (12)
- The Section Quartet – strings (3, 5, 6, 9)
- [Don Was](/source/Don_Was) – producer
- Beatriz Artola – producer, engineer
- Gabriel Sganga – assistant engineer
- Jeff Fitzpatrick – assistant engineer
- Matthew Scatchell – assistant engineer
- Brendan McCusker – assistant engineer
- Joe LaPorta – mastering

## Charts

Chart performance for Big Colors Chart (2021) Peak position Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[12] 91

## References

1. Russell, Scott. ["Ryan Adams Details Big Colors and Wednesdays, Debuts New Single (Updated)"](https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/01/ryan-adams-details-big-colors-wednesdays.html). *[Paste](/source/Paste_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183710/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/01/ryan-adams-details-big-colors-wednesdays.html) January 10, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

1. Skinner, Tom (January 23, 2019). ["Check out Ryan Adams' new track 'Fuck The Rain', featuring John Mayer"](https://www.nme.com/news/music/ryan-adams-unveils-new-track-fuck-rain-2437136). *[NME](/source/NME)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210608051739/https://www.nme.com/news/music/ryan-adams-unveils-new-track-fuck-rain-2437136) June 8, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 8, 2021.

1. Bloom, Madison & Minsker, Evan (February 15, 2019). ["Ryan Adams' New Album Big Colors Pulled From Release After Abuse Allegations"](https://pitchfork.com/news/ryan-adams-new-album-big-colors-pulled-from-release-after-abuse-allegations/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190215225739/https://pitchfork.com/news/ryan-adams-new-album-big-colors-pulled-from-release-after-abuse-allegations/) February 15, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

1. Marshall, Alex (2019-03-01). ["Ryan Adams Tour Is Canceled Weeks After Allegations Emerge"](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/01/arts/music/ryan-adams-tour-canceled.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190301184748/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/01/arts/music/ryan-adams-tour-canceled.html) March 1, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 1, 2019.

1. Kreps, Daniel (July 20, 2019). ["Ryan Adams Breaks Silence After Sexual Misconduct Allegations"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ryan-adams-breaks-silence-instagram-861600/). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210608051739/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ryan-adams-breaks-silence-instagram-861600/) June 8, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 8, 2021.

1. Yoo, Noah (February 13, 2019). ["Ryan Adams Accused of Abuse by Phoebe Bridgers, Mandy Moore, Underage Fan, More; Adams Denies It"](https://pitchfork.com/news/ryan-adams-accused-of-abuse-by-phoebe-bridgers-mandy-moore-underage-fan-more-adams-denies-it/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. Chicago, Illinois: [Condé Nast](/source/Cond%C3%A9_Nast). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190214012034/https://pitchfork.com/news/ryan-adams-accused-of-abuse-by-phoebe-bridgers-mandy-moore-underage-fan-more-adams-denies-it/) February 14, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 13, 2019.

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ["Wednesdays - Ryan Adams | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/wednesdays-mw0003453493). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210108193658/https://www.allmusic.com/album/wednesdays-mw0003453493) January 8, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 6, 2021.

1. Neumann, Sarah (December 16, 2020). ["Ryan Adams: nach Missbrauchsvorwürfen nun neues Album"](https://www.rollingstone.de/ryan-adams-nach-missbrauchsvorwuerfen-nun-neues-album-2169123/) [Ryan Adams: a new album after abuse allegations] (in German). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone) Germany*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210107220346/https://www.rollingstone.de/ryan-adams-nach-missbrauchsvorwuerfen-nun-neues-album-2169123/) January 7, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 6, 2021.

1. Boche, Sophie (May 6, 2021). ["Ryan Adams: neues Album "Big Colors""](https://www.rollingstone.de/ryan-adams-neues-album-big-colors-2260147/) [Ryan Adams: new album "Big Colors"] (in German). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone) Germany*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210608051742/https://www.rollingstone.de/ryan-adams-neues-album-big-colors-2260147/) June 8, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 8, 2021.

1. Biazza, Jakob (June 11, 2021). ["Alben der Woche: Neues von Ryan Adams, Maroon 5, Sleater-Kinney"](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/alben-der-woche-ryan-adams-maroon-5-1.5318462) [Albums of the week: New [music] from Ryan Adams, Maroon 5, Sleater-Kinney] (in German). *[Süddeutsche Zeitung](/source/S%C3%BCddeutsche_Zeitung)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210612012233/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/alben-der-woche-ryan-adams-maroon-5-1.5318462) June 12, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 12, 2021.

1. Steen, Håkan (June 11, 2021). ["Ryan Adams: "Big Colors" - Låtar som kunde blivit hits i annan verklighet"](https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/a/wewrrd/latar-som-kunde-blivit-hits-i-annan-verklighet) [Ryan Adams: "Big Colors" - Songs that could have been hits in another reality] (in Swedish). *[Aftonbladet](/source/Aftonbladet)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210612012245/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/a/wewrrd/latar-som-kunde-blivit-hits-i-annan-verklighet) June 12, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 12, 2021.

1. ["Top 100 Albums: Week 44 (2021)"](https://www.elportaldemusica.es/lists/top-100-albums/2021/44) (in Spanish). *El portal de Música*. [Productores de Música de España](/source/Productores_de_M%C3%BAsica_de_Espa%C3%B1a). Retrieved November 14, 2021.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Big Colors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Colors) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Colors?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.