Originally released in 2014, Ryan Adams’ self-titled album marked a return to a bold, electric sound following the largely acoustic Ashes & Fire. Produced with long-time collaborator Mike Viola, it drew on the raw energy of the music Adams grew up with, citing The Wipers, Hüsker Dü, and The Replacements as key influences.
The album charted at number six in the UK and number four on the Billboard 200 in the US, and earned two Grammy Award nominations at the 56th Annual Ceremony: “Best Rock Song” for the single “Gimme Something Good” and “Best Rock Album.” Regarding his decision to release a self-titled album, Adams admitted he simply couldn’t come up with a title that felt right, joking that everything he thought of "sounded like a King Crimson album."