Heartbreaker

The album takes me back. Forgot it even existed and how good Oh My Sweet Carolina is.

Amazing

I liked it, once again 3 feels harsh but I didn’t get as much out of the slow songs

This one started out okay, and for a minute I thought it might actually go somewhere. Then it just slid straight into this proto Zach Bryan style country thing and never came back. It’s slow, mopey, and way too self serious. A lot of it sounds the same after a while, just different versions of the same sad acoustic song dragging on longer than it should. There’s some decent songwriting buried in here, but it’s not enough to save it. By the end I was ready for it to be over

Urgh, ffs. I’ve already listened to another of his albums on this list. I’d liken both albums to passing a busker on the street. Mostly shit and instantly forgettable. Why this guy has any albums on this list let alone two is beyond me.

Ryan Adams >> Bryan Adams. At least this album is quite pleasant. Ryan is a good vocalist, musically it's pretty basic but there is an appeal to it. The album gets a bit tiresome towards the end, there is maybe not enough variation but it's good enough.

Not my type of music

too much cowboy and sad ritmh

Heartbreaker has a very traditional, almost timeless sound that feels closer to classic singer-songwriter records than early 2000s music. While it maintains a consistent mood, many of the songs tend to blend together, which made it harder for me to stay fully engaged.

Surprised by how much I liked this. I’ve tried Adam’s before but it never clicked. This one did.

awful.

this eats. i didn't know he existed but sure glad i know now. hes folky country which i love type shit

Gently flowing music where one track is interchangeable with the next

dob bylan

Lovely songwriting

is Ryan Adams a proto-fuckboy? his music certainly suggests it. it’s country music so is inoffensive but not exactly revolutionary

I expected it to be annoying, but some songs were nice. Country rock with some modern influences, but not enough to make it horrible. The only problem is that more mellow songs are annoying, keeping it from 4/5

It was ok

There are more terrible people on this list than not I’d imagine. If your rule is: “I don’t listen to music by bad people,” then you can’t really do this project. If your rule is: “I don’t listen to music by people (1) who are bad enough; (2) and who did their bad things at such a time; (3) and whose bad things were the right type of bad things, to result in people on the internet regularly saying they are bad people,” well, that’s just kind of a weird rule. This is a great album by an awful person. That happens sometimes. Life is complicated.

Poeh, dit is wel een beetje een sadbois album. Moet toegeven dat Ryan wel gewoon echt goed klinkt. Amy, maar vooral Oh My Sweet Carolina zou echt een verschikkelijke zeikplaat worden met een mindere zanger. Ik krijg al de rillingen als ik denk dat bijvoorbeeld Radiohead dit zou coveren. Ryan heeft precies genoeg country om dit geloofwaardig te brengen en niet irritant te zijn. Dit is wel pas nummer 5 op het gehele album, de singersongwriter shtick is wel iets wat snel saai word als er niet genoeg afwisseling in komt. Mondharmo gespot op nummer 7, buckle up Cowboys, this gon' be goooooood. Alleen niet echt, pfoe ik ben toch niet zo'n fan van de singersongwriter vibe de hele tijd. Er is een uptempo nummer met Shakedown on 9th street, maar daarna gaan we gewoon weer terug naar de sadboi countryrock! Heb ergens het idee dat dit album beter had kunnen zijn dan het is. Soms pakt Ryan zn stem me echt wel, maar net ff te vaak merk ik dat het me niet zo veel doet. Nee, vorige Ryan Adams album trok ik iets beter, maar bij deze loop ik wel echt tegen de limieten van mijn sadboicountryrocktolerantie(Goed galgjewoord) aan. Gelukkig hebben we altijd nog Summer of '69! FAVO: Amy

Great folk music has to have a narrative inside the album- leave you feeling something at the end. This didn’t really. It didn’t seem too cohesive as an album, and every track sounded pretty similar. Adams obviously wants to be Springsteen, but clearly isn’t.

He’s a tool.

Beautiful album. I try to separate the art from the artist in most cases, so I focus solely on the album itself. In this case, the album was good. I can’t wait to listen again.

A classic 2000’s electronic/rock album. It’s a solid piece by Ryan Adam’s Rating: 3/5 GEMV (14-5.03.2026)

More than a few amazing tracks (Come Pick Me Up, To Be Young, My Winding Wheel, Oh My Sweet Carolina). The others are still good. Maybe a bit too down tempo, especially toward the end of the album. Love this overall.

It's a rainy Monday morning and I'm exhausted because I saw Lamb of God last night. This album is really not the vibe today.

Pretty cool. Very country tinged but still rocking.

Just a really nice and gentle country album, makes a change from all the conservative country crap that exists. I didn't find this to be massively interesting, but it was a perfectly pleasant experience, it is one of those album that feels difficult to actively dislike. But I can see myself returning to this, it does feel like the kind of album that gets better the more you get to know it, which is often the case for very soft and gentle music like this.

I didn't think I'd ever heard of this album/artist before until Pick Me Up played. That was an "oh, hey!" moment for me, as I've definitely heard it before- I think one of my exes was a fan in college. Then I looked into it and found out Adams is the subject of Phoebe Bridgers' Emotional Motion Sickness. So I guess I was more acquainted with Adams than I'd realized. As a whole I found this album pretty inoffensive, which is kinda interesting considering how polarizing the artist appears to be. I thought most of the album was fine, and even liked some of it, but I still found it pretty bland. Adams' voice reminded me of Tyler Childers, maybe with a little Wilco mixed in. Even though I don't love either of them, I think both of those artists have some good songwriting ability where here most tracks where a bit more country/pop and boring. It all just kinda went by without much of an impact. The length also brought it down, as listening for ~52 minutes made it more of a drag. There was enough good stuff there to show potential for a good album, but unfortunately Hearbreaker's flaws leave it more in the OK territory for me. There are a few tracks I would probably listen to again. Other than those, I don't see much reason to need to hear this one. Overall: 2.7/5

Just a tame, insignificant acoustic country album that has absolutely no business being on the list. Plus he's supposedly a cunt, and as someone who shares his first name, I'm giving this a one star accordingly as a show of solidarity for all of the other Ryans out there ensuring this process alongside me.

The tone of this album is very casual and makes me feel cozy. Country or folk or somewhere in between, I appreciate the cowboy motifs. Feels like stopping at a sideroad wooden cabin bar in the middle of a one-man bittersweet roadtrip, drinking your worries and problems away. Mixing the dread of the past, the uncertainty of the future. Hope for a new beggining and the sweet tang of familiar memories. No one minds your presence, giving you just enough attention to not make you invisible while leaving you to ruminate your own thoughts. Only 4 or 5 other people frequent the establishment. Despite the differences in each's journey, there is a mutual understanding of the weight you all carry, and their ignorance falls swiftly like a warm blanket. They might not known what you went through, but they comprehend you're better if left alone.

Ts hella hard bruh, a gem in my eyes

Nice western and blues themes. Mellow and mostly slow to mid tempo songs with some quick rock n roll towards the end.

Ryan Adams was always a problematic character. His career has had ups and downs but from where he is now is hard to imagine a musical or reputational recovery. But at this point he was just embarking on his post-Whiskeytown career with an album that broke through beyond his original alt-country fan base. It certainly helped having Gillian Welch and David Rawlings participate, but the music here is top tier. He's always been prolific and not always great at filtering, and this album would have been better at 12 tracks rather than 15. But there's still a wealth of good songs here

2.5

A few tracks aside, this album is an absolute snooze fest. I’m also very suspicious that he’s even really smoking that cigarette on the cover, looks photoshopped to me.

My friends had really been into Ryan Adams back in the early aughts, and his music completely blew by me. I can’t believe I’ve never listened to this before. It’s like if Dylan and Damien Rice collided. I’ll definitely be listening to this more.

Pretty nice album by a world class asshole.

Дебютный сольник Райана Адамса 2000 года — это альбом, который он записал сразу после того, как его жизнь разлетелась на куски: распался Whiskeytonics, следом рассыпались отношения. Всё это он вытащил наружу и положил на плёнку в студии под Нэшвиллом за несколько дней. Ethan Johns продюсировал так, чтобы не мешать — получилось намеренно голо и неудобно близко. Эммилу Харрис появляется на "Oh My Sweet Carolina" и одним своим голосом поднимает трек в другое измерение. "Come Pick Me Up" — одна из лучших песен о токсичных отношениях в истории американской музыки, без преувеличений. Адамс тогда был 25-летним парнем из Северной Каролины, который ещё не знал, что записывает классику — и именно это слышно в каждом треке.

trash

tout a ete donne dans la pochette

Ryan Adams is a scumbag, but this album is good. Fourteen songs, two of which are top-tier and maybe six more that are well worthwhile, IMO.

suena lindo pero nada del otro mundo

this is a perfect album that im so kind of torn up about loving. frozen in time, it is perfect. in retrospect, less so. Also minus one star for the reissue with all the rearranged songs

so not only is ryan adams a twat but also writes pretty boring music

Best Track - "To Be Young"

Ein wenig zu schnulzig.

This could be a modern record if i didnt know any better. Id assume its a new singer songwriter cd in The vein of Zach byran or something of that ilk. I really had a good time with this one. Its simple but just honed to the finest point. And I just had his second record very recently and that was decently fun but nothing to this degree. This was great. The guitar is good, the singing is even better, and he has this woman vocalist doing backups and they mesh together so well. Its just a pretty set of tracks. I think oh my sweet Carolina was my favorite track but I saved a handful more. And the ones I didnt are all very good in of themselves. A very very good record for sure. Not exactly my favorite type of thing in the world but an excellent example in this lane

I always forget how good his songwriting is until I go back and pay attention

He might be a POS but the kid can write a song. Bring back Whiskeytown!

Oh, pretty boy Bob Dylan got to me in the semi-darkness of a cold Monday morning

Listened to half, seemed fine. Assume the second half was also fine. Not at all what I was expecting.

Ryan Adams always kind of sounded like something I would like but didn’t quite hit the right chord. This album confirms that for me.

Nope

A pretty uninspiring listen, from a pretty shit person

Dull and largely uninspiring modern country. It has a stripped-back, confessional vibe that should work, but too many songs blur together into a similar, downcast haze. Not the worst country album I’ve heard by any means — but it’s close!

Kind of boring, but I’m not much into country type tunes.

Love this!

Harmonica sentral

Chill throughout. Love the harmonica parts. Fave is Come Pick Me Up.

2/26/26 - Listened during "work". I've heard a lot about Ryan Adams, good and bad, over the years, but have never really listened to him. This is another album I would have really loved in college. Top song: Oh My Sweet Carolina

The dude sucks. But the music is good.

Good

Alternative Country Rock. Better than I expected.

This has some really beautiful moments, and the instrumentation is great. But there’s something about the songwriting that doesn’t click for me. I’m not sure if it’s the song structure, lyrics, or delivery, but despite having all the right pieces, it just doesn’t come together for me.

Borderline corny cowboy but I don’t mind. Lovely album. Very much enjoyed Come Pick Me Up.

Pleasant music from a devious bastard

Was surprised how much I liked this!

Very American, nice sounding but not really my bag. Didnt offend me, didnt do out for me either. Frig off with the harmonica. Woulda preferred B ry

Stick your harmonica up your arse!

I wish I had a mouth full of cookies. I can't believe the first track of this guy's first LP was a bunk skit. The album overall was unoffensive but unremarkable, fine alt-country. 3/5

Listen, I have to admit that I like sad boy Ryan Adams' music. This isn't his only album that I've ever had on repeat in the past. But I in no way have to appreciate Ryan Adams' as a person and this is yet another album where I struggle to separate the music from the artist. I think I would give this album a 4, maybe a 5 if I felt generous, if it was from another artist. But it's not.

¡Bien! Me gustó más que lo más reciente de Adams. Buen country, canciones con personalidad y que se sienten relevantes dentro del disco. No me vuelvo fan, pero sí lo disfruté.

Honestly not a bad album, it was just a tad bit gloomy for me.

2.5 and feeling generous, so rounding up. Some of it was too whiny for me.

Liked this better than his later albums. 2.5 rounded down for his treatment of women — we love you, Mandy Moore…

This guy is underrated. I never knew this album existed and I’m already in love with it.

Ok, country boy 🤓

To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) is what is says on the tin, and it perfectly encapsulates that experience. Gold star for it. My winding wheel is transitional. Amy is so pretty, you can feel the love that was put into writing it. Oh My Sweet Carolina was written for me. Bartering Lines, my beloved. Call Me on Your Way Back Home and Damn Sam ( I Love a Woman That Rains), can this man please stop yearning, I can't be that lesbian on a Monday, I have things to do. Come Pick Me Up, oh, oh,oh! More yearning. Very sad at Don't Ask for the Water and In My Time of Need. Overall sad, profound, makes you long for home or the person that feels most like it.

i didn’t really get this one, it didn’t move me //was more like light shove // i expected to love it, landed just short // i decide to believe its earnest, but a bit calculated in its intimacy // just enough, not too artificial// leans toward that proto boom-clap-stomp sensibility before it even had a name, while blues and folk feel like last minute guests // writing has some strong moments, but overall record feels too narrow for me

Prefiero Gold. Este se me hace demasiado country. No es un mal disco. Shakedown on 9th Street es buena. La aportación tanto de Welch como de Harris también , sin embargo se me hace demasiado largo.

this holds up

A fun listen. Reminded me of Zach Bryan at certain points. Very Americana vibes. Easy car driving music.

3,4 Highlights: My Winding Wheel, Damn Sam

Come Pick Me Up

Reminds me of early Dylan.

For as much as I'm averse to country I fucking love relatively-contemporary folk music. Calling this genre "alternative country" is so pretentious. Just say folk you cowards.

It's okay. I appreciate the stylization and songwriting, but it was kinda boring for me. Something between midwest emo and Bob Dylan.

4/10

Beautiful songs performed very well. Great album.

Man, what an album! This is my first 5 star album, and so happy I have found this artist! This album will definitely become a staple on my playlists.

Interesting album. Lovely recording and a wide range of artists who have influenced him crop up. The Stones rock n roll is where he excels.

I actually liked this album, which is a surprise for my taste, but- What was that? ... Ryan Adams is a terrible person? How so? ... Oh. Wow. Won't be listening to Ryan Adams again, but I have been trying to listen through every album on this list fully, so I did listen to it this once. Between this and Casanova by The Divine Comedy, I'm beginning to think the critcs making this list are openly misogynistic...

3.5

If the secular church of America needed a spiritually leader, Ryan Adams could be the Pope. There was something so Americana about this album. It was kind of like he harnessed the best of Springsteen, La Montagne, Dylan (even some of his less fabulous droning harmonica) and added a little bit of his magic to create a religious experience from daily life. His ballads like Don’t Ask for Water, Oh Sweet Carolina and Damn Sam were spiritual. But my favorite song was Shakedown on 9th Street, which celebrated the vengeful side of ‘Merica. It may be a bit rockabilly but this album is baptized in the Delta’s soulful waters. I’m ready for another swim.

Random thoughts: * Man, remember when Ryan Adams was the next big thing in the early part of the millennium. * To Be Young is such a great tune that I forgot about. I ended up playing this song a half dozen times after listening to this album and might go back and play it again now that I'm reminded writing this review. * There weren't as many other songs that reached the heights of "To Be Young". * Is there a new Dylan every few years or is it just my imagination? Do they just capture a bit of Dylan and get us excited but ultimately find out there is only one Dylan? * Solid stuff from Ryan Adams here. Too bad he got derailed along the way.

Some kinda good songwriting moments on here but it's just another okay folk album to me. Instrumentation isn't that interesting but has a fine voice

..

Correcto

Beautiful record. Shame he's a wrong'un.

Fantastic! I saved this one!

Very good album. He can still fuck right off forever. 4/5

First time listening to this guy. Pretty solid. Right up my alley.

Solid 3.5. Rounding to 4 considering how iconic and great To Be Young is.

Beautiful album, really chill vibes follow the energetic open. Not Adams' best album, but fantastic nonetheless.

I went through a massive Ryan Adams phase around 2006 or so. I have since left that phase behind, but I do have a lot of nostalgia for this otherwise terrible man and his art. Definitely singing along with parts of this one.

Surprisingly good

En del bedre end den sidste vi havde med ham? Jeg synes virkelig ikke at hans stemme er stærk nok til at bære country

Kunne bedre lide den end den anden Ryan Adams vi havde, men stadig kun en lille 2er.

Super boring.

Adams’s first post-Whiskeytown album is a stalwart of alt country and Americana. I think some of his best songs are on this album (To Be Young, Winding Wheel, Come Pick Me Up, Sweet Carolina) and it gets a major lift from the supporting talent (Emmylou, Dave Rawlings, Mary Louise Parker????). But there are some clunkers in here too. Emblematic of all of his catalogue really.

Great

I did in fact love this

Álbum divertido e bem executado. Moondrop May.

I thought this was going to be rubbish, but actually it was alright. Apparently, Ryan Adams is a bit of a twat, but it didn't come through in the music.

Didnt stand out to me. Fav song was damn sam

Country ricks! 3.5->4

포크송? 컨트리 느낌이 나네유

Damn! This is heartfelt music!

A surprise for me since I did not know Ryan Adams. Nice songs, nice singing, nice music.

This was a beautiful album. Soulful country, singer/songwriter, pop...folk elements. Big fan of this.

This was very nice to listen and very pretty 🙂‍↕️ I can’t say anything particularly stuck out to me though. I like his voice! It’s super smooth. Fav songs: my winding wheel, amy

Överraskande bra! Amerikana Ska lyssna mer på.

Riktigt svängig singer song writing, skön röst. Stark fyra.

while it meanders a bit, there is some really good music in there

541/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑

This was not what I expected considering all the hype about this artist when he came out. He has a good voice but too many songs sounded the same as far as the vocal delivery. Will have to listen ti another album he released.

"Eres arte" 🚬 Es la primera vez que escucho a este artista. Es como si un pésimo imitador del, ya de por sí, cuestionable y aburridísimo Bob Dylan, y un pésimo imitador del sumamente talentoso Elliott Smith, hubieran tenido un hijo trovador neoyorquino. Sin talento (pero que cree que lo tiene). Le doy un 0.5/5 porque la producción me parece ad hoc.

Not too shabby - but not something I would listen to again.

Not very original music, but worth listening to once.

Oh To Be Young, loved this song when it came out. It really settles into more of a alt-country ballad type album, heavy Americana music. There are 4 really good tracks, I prefer the more upbeat Dylan-esque tunes. Some if the songs are a bit depressing and I find them to be a little boring. Sounds like a country David Grey.

Lovely, but I like Gold better.

A quiet thoughtful album I'm glad I listened to! A few songs really grabbed me, and I really appreciated the singer-songwriter vibe, the instrumentation and the composition of the album. Then I read some reviews and realized this is that Ryan Adams. Ugh. I wish I'd just listened to something else. 6/10 music 0/10 dude

Shakedown on 9th street was the fist track where it felt like anything happened on this album. It was an okay, kind of melancholy album

This was was kind of a mixed bag - I really enjoyed the uptempo tunes but didn’t reallly enjoy the ballad type slow songs. Standouts were "To Be Young” and "Shakedown on 9th Street”

the slow songs make this album very sentimental and deep. It's easy to connect with the lyrics and very relaxing to listen to.

"I hope you don't think I'm a monster?" "No honey, I just think you made some really bad decisions." The album never set me on fire & definitely isn't something I reach for as a result of his reputation with women, but this is a good album - there's no avoiding that.

It’s fine. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. It’s not as simplistic low-key as a lot of these sentimental country albums tend to be, which is a plus for me personally. Other than that, not a very special or exciting album. Just decent.

5/10

Mid 2000’s folk. It’s alright I guess

His most streamed song is a shit version of a classic by another band all his own stuff is rubbish.

This is not my style of depressing music

Abysmal

I really didn’t expect country and folk music. Pretty good, nice melodies. The more folky stuff is SO PRETTY. Fav song is ‘Come Pick Me Up’.

Alternative country, roots rock. I liked the second track but was pretty bored with the rest. Probably shouldn't have listened while running.

I'm sad to rate this a 3. There is so much here to love, but the album as a whole just doesn't have it. He's best when stripped down, but all the stripped down songs sound the same, feel the same. If this album was cut in half I think it would have made a 4. Oh well... - Old school start! Fun - Interesting next-gen Beatles / Rock combo. Sounds a lot like Bryan though, that's hard to separate - "Oh My Sweet Carolina" is heart-wrenching. So good. Feels WAY ahead of its time in the minimalism. Probably boosted the album by a star just from this one song - I'm such a sucker for singer-songwriter acoustic "folk" - Almost packed with too much heartache. Like this album has one emotion and you just get tired of it. Great singles, struggles as an album. At least a 3.5. Would be fine if it wasn't SO slow the whole time. Started skipping by the end.

Quite nice background music

Fuck this guy.

Ryan Adams is a piece of shit, but this album is classic 2000's Americana with a few nostalgic standouts. Standout Songs: "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)", "My Winding Wheel", "Oh My Sweet Carolina", "Bartering Lines", "Call Me On Your Way Back Home", "Come Pick Me Up", the rockabilly jam "Shakedown on 9th Street" The album features vocal contributions from Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Dave Rawlings, Kim Richey and Allison Pierce. Their haunting harmonies induce goosebumps. Dave Rawlings also has songwriting credits. The arrangements are simple, minimal, direct. Front and center are the lyrics and vocal performances. There's a painful sorrow conveyed in many of the songs, the weariness comes as a surprise from a guy in his mid-20's. It's not a perfect album. It's almost 52 minutes long, and I can pick a few songs that are weak enough to be cut. But the highs are so damn high. The length doesn't feel indulgent, but instead feels bloated. I can intellectually separate art from the artist, although I appreciate how music and singer/songwriter projects generally affect people on a more personal/emotional level. This is an exercise in grading albums--full stop--in the context of their genre, their era and their individual merits. It's not a platform to judge how much of an asshole Ryan Adams is. It's verifiable, he's an awful individual. However I'm here to judge his art. It's a solid debut solo album. It's where Ryan Adams peaks for me. He never quite hit this stride again. If someone's not predisposed to Americana or 2000's Alt. Country, I don't think this is going to convince them of the genre. However, I think it is a defining album of the genre for it's era. Although, twenty six years later, it's easy to scoff at the praise Adams received that made comparisons to Neil Young, Bob Dylan and other greats. Doesn't mean this album is bad.

A creep, but also a genius.

20 minutes too long.

Some nice songs in there. Good work with guitar and banjo which is nice to listen to. Shame about the guy.

Erg leuk, in de trein geluisterd en was erg kalmerend. Menneke ging soms wel net iets te hard op de mondharmonica maar had ook wel weer wat

Wunerbare schöne Musik die einläd zu träumen und auch gut für Romantik

album bom, gostei bastante de AMY, mas é meio repetitivo, mesma pegada, nao tenta mto diferente. 4,5/10

This was a really great album. The intro already had me hooked and the rest was really perfect. Didn’t know Ryan Adams was an asshole until after I listened to it

2.5

Honestly I wanted to give this album a 2 but then I got surprised by Come Pick Me Up, a song I heard years ago and still knew the lyrics of. Thanks, that was lovely.

A bit slow for me

not a country fan

Not. Bryan. Adams.

I'm not sure if I'll like this or not. Kind just ok. Fine.

Good

Fine. Stand-outs - My Winding Wheel - Bartering Lines - Come Pick Me Up

Not my thing but it was still touching

A couple of the songs are ok, but most are not.

2 out of 5. Nothing really to say here, didn't strike any chords with me.

First couple tracks were fun, but the rest not so much.

I had missed this one when it first came out. But I got his 2nd album (Gold) and really liked that one. For some reason I thought that was his first album. Years later I realized he had this one before it and I went back and listened to it. I also discovered that he was the leader of the group Whiskeytown and went back and listened to them too. Good stuff. I'm glad I did because I ended up liking over half the songs and still do. And I'm glad this site had me relisten to it all together again because it still holds up as a very good album. I've liked 8 of the 14 actual songs (first song doesn't count because it's just 2 guys talking). The other 6 aren't horrible but I just don't need to hear them regularly on my playlists. His melodies are usually very good and interesting. His lyrics usually have a different twist on things. I love Jason Isbell and in my mind Ryan Adams was the precursor to Isbell. I think I've read somewhere they were actually friends back in the day. If you like Isbell, chances are you'd like Ryan Adams too. Standout tracks: Too Be Young, Oh My Sweet Carolina Liked songs on Spotify: 8/14 Rating: 3/5

Like good but like also sonically underwhelming? Likely wouldn’t return to it but enjoyable for the most part.

I never got into Ryan Adams music. Before I knew anything about this dude I mostly thought it was boring. The album title und cover scream „self indulgent douche“. Having now some surface level knowledge of Ryan Adams private live does not help. In this context every emotion in this collection of songs appears too performative, too calculated. Had to listen to „Motion Sickness“ by Phoebe Bridgers as some form of absolution afterwards.

A song by Led Zeppelin.

Almost something I’d like, but not quite, and that gap is just enough to annoy me a bit. I can’t put my finger on what exactly is rubbing me the wrong way here - I think it’s his voice, or the way the drawl seems a little put-on, and it comes across as smarmy and insincere. The songs have a pleasant contemplative feeling to them, but they’re largely all very similar. That’s a harsher description than is probably fair. It’s really not bad.

Listening session: january 8th, while commuting to internship Listened to before: no Thoughts: nothing about this stood out to me to be honest Favourite track: Amy

Too slow for me again. I do like when they start an album with a talking segment but that was really the only part I liked. Not for me.

Fuck Ryan Adams

Easy listen

I have no idea who Ryan Adams is, and by the other reviews, I'm too scared to look it up, but there are some interesting songs here that appeal to my "sad indie soul".

Worst harmonica playing, ever. Over and over.

Went straight to the reviews before listening because - yup. Awful guy. Because I didn't see it mentioned in first dozen or so reviews: listen to Phoebe Bridgers / Motion Sickness!! Apart from all the controversy, and the artist himself, really good album.

a couple of high points - To Be Young, for sure - but a lot of dreary Americana

gostei, primeira música é muito boa

Had enough on this list in the early goings to clearly indicate that it’s a “separate the art from the artist” situation, so, I shall continue to rate in the same spirit.

(Argument with David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey) ★☆☆☆☆ To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) ★★★☆☆ My Winding Wheel ★★★☆☆ AMY ★★☆☆☆ Oh My Sweet Carolina ★★★★☆ Bartering Lines ★★★☆☆ Call Me on Your Way Back Home ★★★☆☆ Damn, Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains) ★★★☆☆ Come Pick Me Up ★★★☆☆ To Be the One ★★★☆☆ Why Do They Leave? ★★★☆☆ Shakedown on 9th Street ★★★★☆ Don't Ask for the Water ★★★☆☆ In My Time of Need ★★★☆☆ Sweet Lil Gal (23rd/1st) ★★★☆☆ Average Album Rating: 2.9/5.0 ★★★☆☆

Ryan Adams is advertising his concert in my area. I will not be attending.

Wears his influences on his sleeve, especially Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt, without sounding derivative.

Didn't like him then, don't like now. I think this guy likes Dylan... Only thing worse was the army of imitators that followed. 2.5 rounded up Heard before? Some Owned: No: 39/158 (25%) Will I get? No

When I first looked I saw Bryan Adams.. so DOH! I am not familiar with this artist/album, as a great percentage of the offerings on this challenge. Like the voice; like the arrangements. Steel guitar adds depth to simple songs. Surprising myself that I actually really liked this one as far as country music goes. This one sounds like soundtrack to a good old western cowboy movie. Listened before? N Favorite tracks? My Winding Wheel, Oh My Sweet Carolina, Saved some tracks? Y ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really Like it, Saved some tracks

Skipped a bunch of slow songs, but I liked Shakedown on 9th Street.

I've heard better Ryan Adams, and I've also heard much worse Ryan Adams. This is mostly boring though.

слишком кантри для меня, не уловила ничего интересного и даже не смогла сопоставить с Райаном которого знаю. но зато вики как всегда познавательна…

I listened to it while walking 🚶‍♀️ around the antique mall with my mom 👩. I enjoyed and I am half through my second 🎧 listen. I am adding quite a few to my playlist and I think I will look for more albums like this 😊💋.

A lovely voice and some beautiful songs.

Ryan Adams is famous in Western countries but where I live (Eastern Europe) he is not a well known name. So while I've already heard his name, his debut album was new to me. It was an okay listen, his songs held my interest throughout (not sure the album is 38 minutes, this is how it is on Youtube music, or 51 minutes, as it is on wikipedia - I listened the shorter version which is enough). Maybe I won't listen to it again it's good music.

broken shit

It was good, nothing super surprising or different but pleasant.

I really liked this. It feels more real than his later stuff, and I appreciate his take on rock country fusion. His sexy voice and harmonica riffs add some extra swoon. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would!

A nice early 2000s album sullied by Ryan Adams personal rep

It sucks that Ryan Adams is such a terrible person, and kind of crazy now, because his older solo and Whiskeytown stuff are just amazing.

2,5

He sounds nice enough but there is nothing interesting or novel about this album.

I really enjoyed this

i honestly didnt hate it but it's also a ryan adams album so i do actually hate it

Motion sickness is a great song. (And they all sound the same anyway)

I enjoyed this a lot, high 4

now THIS is a harmonica i can get behind

Not a fan of miserable music.

bo

I thought I hated all country. Turns I just hate slow, sappy country. Unfortunately, the majority of the album is the latter, which is a shame considering the fact that “To Be Young” and “Shakedown on 9th Street” are both genuine jams.

I had low expectations for this and was pleasantly surprised

Some of this was really good, a lot of it was just decent. 3.5

It was okay - nothing to write home about

Not sure I've ever understand the point of Ryan Adams.

Was a big fan of Whiskeytown and I'd heard a few songs off of this album back in the day but not the whole thing. Really enjoyed "To Be Young", "Oh My Sweet Carolina" ('spending money like the way it likes to rain' is a great line) and "Come Pick Me Up". Still think I like his Whiskeytown stuff better but this was a good listen.

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: My Winding Wheel I dont have any opinions about this. It reminds me of some other singer songwriter album I heard about 100 albums back. Can't remember his name, but it was basically generic 2000s adult contemporary, like this.

Highlight: To Be Young

Nope

No.

That was a little boring.

Soft asmr type energy sleepy time tunes

Setting aside he is an incredibly shitty human being, this is uninspired and just reeks of his influences. Nothing to stand out on its own.

My GOD this is awful, self-indulgent, schlock. I absolutely abhor this type of music, but if you enjoy it, there are hundreds of artists out there doing it better.

Borderline too country for me, but enough Dylan to warrant a 3.

Pretty great! Much better than I expected

The opening dialogue says a couple things about Ryan Adams. 1) this guy is an insufferable record collector who will "well actually..." you in a heartbeat. 2) this guy is like Morrissey: a self-absorbed quasi-literati who is half as clever as his confidence belies. I suppose any redeeming value of this album comes from Ryan Adams's occasional ability to cosplay better musicians. "To Be Young" starts off as a faithful photocopy of Bringing it Back Home/Highway 61 jump blues, then veers into a B section that is a note-for-note lift of "Girl From the North Country." By the time he reaches the bridge, I'm convinced Adams is missing the point of strophic form; he is trying so hard to convince you of his credibility, but it's such a postmodern hodgepodge of dad rock signifiers it reveals the opposite, that he's rooted in no tradition whatsoever. "Damn Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains)" is such an embarrassing rewrite of "Just Like a Woman" it gives me a fully body cringe just typing out the title. I would point out the more obvious and elegant phrasing would be "I love a woman WHO rains," but who am I to argue with someone who would win an Olympic gold medal in objectifying women. We have learned far too much about this guy's atrocious behavior over the past 20+ years to separate this artist from this art. From what I can tell, basically every song is either "I need a woman to take care of me and let me be a bad boy" or "I hate this specific woman" or some combination of both. Maybe this would be a worthwhile listen if you've scraped the bottom of the barrel on every Bob Dylan and Neil Young b-side and outtake you could find and still want more. But I can't understand why you would want Diet Dylan if you can get the full flavor.

Why the fuck is Ryan Adams on here twice? Like, even excluding the fact that he's the human equivalent of a hemorrhoid-induced anal bleed, he's just not important enough to music history to warrant me having to listen to 2 full hours of his music across the 2 albums before I die. Half of his legacy is that people confuse him with a different guy who's not even on this list for some reason! Whatever. At least his music isn't bad. Heartbreaker is a solid album. It's not great, but I wouldn't call it bad. It's probably better than Gold on account of not being 70 minutes long, but I think I actually prefer the musical style of Gold, so they kind of even out in a way. Don't get me wrong. I'd rather listen to this again due to its normal length, but the amount of care that I have for the two albums is roughly the same. Ryan's voice isn't my favorite on this album. Maybe I'm biased because I know he's such an asshole in real life, but he sounds kind of annoyed. I don't know. The album sounds good. The production's not my favorite, but the musical sounds are alright. The writing is okay. There are some good moments. "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High" is pretty good. However, I feel like there are other albums that do this sort of thing but better. I mean, if you want to talk about early 2000s indie American type albums, I could be the millionth person to tell you that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is good. Heartbreaker is a solid debut, and if you are to have a Ryan Adams album on here, it would be this one, but I don't really think I'm that much of a Ryan Adams fan, and I'm not apologizing for that one because he doesn't deserve it. Solid 3/5.

It has some nice songs on it. You just have to get past the dick singing them.

Folky, singer- songwriter

Cool!! Helped me branch out.

I was like "man, I'm really digging this, I need to know more about the artist. Oh. Oh no. He's a horrible person." Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5 Artist as a person: 1/5

# Album Name: Heartbreaker # Artist: Ryan Adams # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Honestly, ive heard of the name, but never listened to any of his stuff. Personally, i thought this was a great album. Very raw alternative americana feel. Lots of good songs. I'd probably give it a 4.5 so itll have to be a 5 based on this rating system. Its not up their with my best albums by any means but i did thoroughly enjoy it. After looking at the comments, it seems like this geezer has a very coloured past and is a true 1/5 person. # Top Tunes: TBY / Winding wheel / Amy / Carolina / Way back home / pick me up / 9th # Would I listen to it again? Yes

The world is flooded with pasta and cheese. It comes in boxes with just-add-water-powder. And it fills space no matter how inconsiderately it is assembled. But a soul with the right intentions, and capable hands, and a longing for perfection can perform alchemy on pasta, cheese, olive oil and black pepper. Cacio e pepe is a simple dish. People presume it is simple to make. But alchemy is not simple. Because of the simplicity of the dish's composition, there is nowhere to hide the slightest defect in composition, ingredient, or execution. Slavish technical perfection and creativity are required. So it is with Americana music. Like blues (and hell, country and most rock and roll) its fundamentals are so simple in concept that incurious musicians are convinced that it is easy to make. And so the world is flooded with boxes of Americana filled with mass-produced sound that fills space. But a determined soul, with a curious mind and deft hands can turn those simple concepts into something other-worldly; offering an experience that is impossible to describe or explain.

3.5 stars. Talented singer songwriter with a debut alt country record. Can get a bit self-pity wallowing but it's a decent album. Harmonica provides some nice hooks but is over-done at times. Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris provide some nice backing vocals Standout is catchy "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)", while the other hit "Come Pick Me Up" is a bit of an obnoxious 90's hangover.

All style no substance

Snooze. Mid.

Thoughts that went through my head listening to this: Temu Bob Dylan Not as important as he thinks he is For some reason I can’t get past the fact that he’s a dickhead. There are other artists I can do this with, but with this guy’s music he just SOUNDS like a douchebag. I can’t put my finger on it. I left the room while this album was playing and came back like 10 mins later and noticed nothing. I miss Phoebe Bridgers New Phoebe Bridgers in 2026?? 🤞🤞

Calming.

Didn't previously know about but kind of dug it.

This album has an atmosphere of tranquility, almost reminiscent of a slow day in the countryside. Its mellow tone creates a comfortable listening experience, leaving me feel calm and slightly melancholic but quietly fulfilled.

Maybe 5, needs a re listen. Amazing songwriting.

I mean - hard to listen to knowing what a cock the lad is.

By most accounts, Ryan Adams is a piece of shit. He picks petty fights with bands and is generally unpleasant to his peers in the industry. He's been abusive and manipulative to multiple romantic partners. He's used his stature in the music industry to stall their careers out of some weird insecurity. He's an addict that blames alcohol and drugs on his shitty behavior but can never seem to fully commit to sobriety. I mean the dude tried to keep Mandy Moore and Phoebe Bridgers from the world. That's heinous. I used to be a real fan of Ryan Adams. Listening to this album, I'm reminded why. However, it just does not hit the same. This is a case of not being able to separate the art from the artist. Specifically because Adams is the narrator and the main character to the music. Through his songs, he paints himself as a tortured artist and a vulnerable, down-on-his-luck lover. But we know the truth and now he just seems like a liar. He's been writing these beautiful songs about being troubled and misunderstood and a victim of love. In reality, he's been the monster. So yeah, his music kind of sucks now.

It never quite hit. Sounds like it cold be better, but just never gets there.

I actually forgot I listened to it- I put it on when I got to work, listened to the whole thing, yada-yada-yada, I come back from lunch and log into my account to find out what my album of the day was, having completely forgotten about that morning’s listening.

I guess it just isn't my style, but I couldn't enjoy this album at all. Firstly I will say, in general country isn't my thing at all, however I like to try and always remain open minded. I felt too many of the songs here just droned on for my liking and I was just waiting for it to end.

Nice. Will def listen again

Pleasantly performed and sung, just one too many slow songs for my liking

Not my favourite album of his, I prefer Accusations. It's not on streaming services though, but you can find it by googling "Ryan Adams Accusations".

Better than I anticipated. Towards the end I was ready for it to finish tho

I liked it

Never was into his stuff back in early aughts. Not too bad though probably not something I’d listen to again

I know the name Ryan Adams but have never knowingly heard anything by him before now. It does make me wonder why albums like this become so popular. There has been so far, and I’m halfway through my first listen, nothing groundbreaking, new or interesting to make him a superstar. I guess that might be a reason in its own right if people feel comfortable with a middle of the road album that feels familiar and safe. For me, I find this very mediocre and dull. It is well produced though. Let’s see how the second half of the album grabs me. I think one listen is more than enough of this. Very much doubt I’ll be listening to anything else by Ryan Adams again. Nothing new to find here.

Couldn't really make up mind about this - I think I'll probably come back to it at some point

Didn’t catch my ear

I was expecting to absolutely hate this album given that it's 2000s "Alternative Country", "roots rock", and is "51:57". But I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely an elvis/Dylan thing going at the beginning that turned into slower ballads later in. Not something I'd replay but not too shabby. 3/5

Do they even make music like this anymore? Ryan Adams sounds a little like if Bob Dylan had all his gritty bits buffed down to a smooth sheen. It’s comforting and comfortable, and completely unsurprising. Takes me back to when the world made a bit more sense.

The first few songs were fun and catchy. As it went on I was waiting for it to end.

eh, all sounds the same to me

i have a headache. if i hear a harmonica one more time i'll be on the news.

1.50

Good album

started a bit better but ehh

it’s a really nice album

There's real mileage in doing the simple things well. A little country, a little folk, little rock, this album may not define a genre, but it does a great job of being a great breakup album. It will get in your ear, even the harmonica. Favorite track was Amy

Fantastic album

Yawn.... Omg so boring.

Nah, this isn’t it. Generic and forgettable. 2/10

At least I felt the heart break in it

A good album. Too bad about the artist.

Não tá na minha vibe

Great. Big. Bum. Yeah u know Ryan sucks a lot. Fortunately I’m pretty good at separating artist from art. I am capable of appreciating this album, but I fully understand if you aren’t.

A rough cut album in a crowded genre with lots of options, where it doesn't stand out. Some bright spots though

country gross

Interesting

Interesting sort of twangy rock music. I've never heard this before and it's not bad, kind of a country rock fusion in my opinion. Nothing really stood out about it, just kind of background music to me. Would probably be nice to listen to on a camp out or something like that.

Gentle, introspective and warm. Nice listen for a rainy day. Leans a bit too much into pure country for my tastes but I'd certainly come back to it

Not as bad as the other Ryan Adams album I had on this list but still kind of meh. All of this had been done before and been done much better. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

nothing on here is particularly impressive but its better than his other album on the list. at the very least there are one or two songs that i didnt hate.

3.25 Perfectly Fine.

My interest was immediately piqued when the album opened with a disagreement over Morrissey tracks appearing on certain albums. Overall, can hear the influence of artists like Wilco (Why do they Leave, especially) and Neil Young. Amy was an immediate standout for me. The album is very loose, laid back and eclectic. Which means it feels more like a collection of songs than a coherent album. Will likely check out more of his work.

What a beautiful album! I might have found it too depressing if I wasn't going through it right now, but today it felt right I'd never heard of this guy and it was disappointing to see all the stuff about him online. Unfortunately you can't deny talent but we can call out disgusting behaviour 5 ⭐️ (musically)

I don't hate this, honestly. It might be nostalgia, because this specific country sound has always resonated with me, and it might also be the fact that I like Oasis and the vocalist can remind me of that occasionally. Anyway, much better than Bryan Adams imo. Highlight is "To Be Young".

morose, moaning CW singer... sad about something as he strums his guitar...

Not my taste. ★★

Starts off amazing, the first few songs are great. After that it’s a little underwhelming. I’m totally ignoring the fact the guy I a douche

I remember when this came out to a decent amount of fanfare and critical acclaim. It was boring and crappy then and nothing about it has changed in 25 years

7/10

Прикольно оегка музика,типу фолк поп,слухати на фоні і просто дуже навіть прикольно

Oh, Ryan Adams, we meet again … Thankfully, this is a total departure from our first meeting. I already knew and loved the song Come Pick Me Up and was hoping the album would have a similar tone. I was pleasantly surprised to find it does. The stripped-down feel is refreshing. The lyrics and vocals are authentic and supply what was missing on Gold: emotion. I am more connected to Adams’ voice because he is convincing; I can truly feel the heartbreak he’s entrusting to me as a listener. I’m shocked at how much I like this album. It goes to show you that an artist can surprise you, so don’t count anyone out completely.

This was so relaxing. Perfect for chilled, cozy evenings

Someone please save me from the stomp-and-clap apocalypse. To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) is such a teeth-gritting opener that my expectations immediately plummeted beyond what they already were after reading the tags 'alt-country' and 'americana'. The follow-up track My Winding Wheel made me second guess as to whether I was actually listening to a Christian release! Definitely felt longer than 52 minutes. Just kept going, in a quite boring and immemorable way.

Yes, I hate myself for liking this music. Docking one star.

Always drawn to Ryan’s kind of “fuck-you Americana”. He writes some good hooks and his lyrics can be sour and mean but funny. He may be a dick, but see if you aren’t nodding along to “Hallelujah” when it hits.

Yee-haw

Seems cozy and familiar, but pretty forgettable.

Heartbreaker is a standout in alt country, setting itself apart with self indulgent introspective tracks like winding wheel.

I bet this shit was a wildly effective high school first relationship burned CD

Gear: 64 Audio Duo Artwork: 🚬😑⬇️ Production: 🎧👂🧈 Music: 🌊🎸🤠 Ratinng: 💔💔(💔)/5

A very simple and unfair thought, but I don’t feel like writing much, sounds like he wants to be Dylan (2.5/5)

Aldri hørt på denne fra start til mål før, vært litt skeptisk. Men må innrømme at dette er bra greier.