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Divisive star keeps 'em coming

'I'm going to release a single every month until I can't do it any more." That's the statement of intent of alternative country darling Ryan Adams. The star speaks from his LA studio, PAX AM, also the name of his record label which brings out that seven-inch vinyl single every month.

While the Jacksonville, North Carolina native was recording his last album, 2011's Ashes and Fire, at Hollywood's famed Sunset Sound Factory, he discovered an abandoned space next door and set about transforming it into his own studio.

Despite bringing out 13 albums between 2000 and 2011, Adams has been more considered with his output since moving into the new space.

In addition to his monthly single release and his new self-titled album, he has invited bands to record with him as producer, most notably Fall Out Boy's PAX AM Days EP of last year and Jenny Lewis' recent winner The Voyager.

While Jack White made headlines for his vinyl innovations on Lazaretto, little has been said about Adams' August release 1984, which crams five songs on each side of the seven-inch, space usually reserved for only one song.

The short songs pay tribute to the 80s hardcore music released through labels such as Touch and Go, SST and Dischord.

"The kind of music that I first started playing was that kind of music, but it's not really any different to my regular stuff," he says. "People just have to hear it, the American vinyl is now sold out and we're going to make the digital available at some point, probably after my album comes out."

Adams' first full-length release in three years comes from the ashes of a scrapped album. The songwriter completed a record with producer Glynn Jones that cost $US100,000 ($107,000) and dealt with the loss of his grandmother, but he decided not to release it. Instead he decided to produce a new long-player with recording partner Mike Viola and Sydney-born former Jeff Beck bassist Tal Wilkenfeld on a strict recording regime of 4pm until midnight for weeks on end.

"We were having so much fun that we didn't realise we were here every day for like three weeks once, until somebody was like 'You guys realise you've been in there for like three weeks, right?'"

Reports have surfaced about the album being inspired by his love of the Velvet Underground and the Smiths, but Adams doesn't know how that conclusion was reached.

"I think I did an interview one time when I said I liked the stereo panning on the Velvet Underground and Nico record," he thinks aloud.

"I love the Smiths though so much that I would never want somebody who loves the Smiths and the Velvet Underground to buy my record expecting to hear Lou Reed busting out Morrissey at a bodega or something."

Ryan Adams’ self-titled album is released today.