Orion is the 11th studio album by American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams, released on May 18, 2010, by Adams' own record label PAX AM. Described as Adams' first "fully-realized sci-fi metal concept album,"[3]Orion was released on a limited vinyl run, and could only be purchased from the PAX AM online store. There are no plans for a wide release, but as of November 4, 2010, Adams' new site paxamrecords.com is offering a standard edition vinyl[4] that will also include the download card of the entire album. Those who purchased the album in its limited run also received a bonus 7" single.
The album was recorded in 2006, while working on Easy Tiger with producer Jamie Candiloro,[5] and is Adams' first full-length album release since splitting from The Cardinals in March 2009.
On the popular Ryan Adams forum, Ryan Adams Archive, Adams posted the following regarding Orion's stylistic influences:[7]
Anyone who loved this record, seriously, please seek out Angel Rat and Nothingface by Voivod. The entire record was my way of saying "thank you" to Denis D'Amour for many years of inspiring me after I learned of his untimely death from colon cancer. [...] He was a wonderful guitarist and for all accounts and amazing gifted man. In fact I dedicated the album 29 to him also but it was, of course, not in the style of his wonderful music. Although, I have used his "backwards barred chords" idea in nearly every one of my Cardinals songs since.
