Heartbreaker

Fits the name to a tee. I snubbed Ryan Adams when I was at a festival he played at over ten years ago thinking he was a dated douche and released mid music. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed his voice (David Grey-esque), guitar and lyrics (Bob Dylan Americana influence). This album picked me up, swirled me around, dropped me. I was slightly bored by same of the slower melancholic songs but perhaps I wasn’t in the right mood to truly appreciate it (maybe I’ll come back to this in a heartbreak worthy moment). All in all it’s opened my eyes to Ryan Adams and made me interested in listening to more of his work.

i didn’t want to like it but i did

Pretty good album. I never gave it a listen til now. I wanna say I'll come back but I'm not sure I will. Carefully walks that line of folk/americana and rock n roll revival. Alot to like and alot to dislike all at the same time. Mundane, slow, formulated but then sometimes prolific and full of camraderie. Akin to Don McLean Am-Pie. 3⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating: 7/10 Review: Good, albeit a bit boring. I liked the beginning a lot, but it did begin to drag in the last 3rd of the album. Unlike many on this site, I will not be rating this album a 1 because of Adams’ behavior, but I do think that would make me unable to add the songs I liked to my rotation in any way. This is the type of country rock I enjoy, but I don’t think he’s doing anything too different from other, similar artists. I’ll listen to Old Crow Medicine Show instead, who at least earned the right to being Dylanesque when they finished a Dylan bootleg chorus and turned it into Wagon Wheel. Adams just loves Dylan, you can really tell, but offers pretty half-baked lyrics and bland instrumentalism when he’s trying to emulate him. Listen again?: Nah

not my thing exactly

Lovely to listen to again. Especially Time of Need. Wow. It’s been a long while as it turns out he’s a pig.

I felt like this started pretty strong then it kind of dragged on a bit. I liked his sound and the style as it felt a bit a mix of various music genres.

It was decent and did drag on towards the end

Slow, sad, simple, well-made alt-country. That's not a genre that appeals to me, but this is clearly a great example of it.

Was a bit whiny for my tastes.

My heart is broken… Some songs are quite good, and the variety is something I can appreciate. However, some of the lyrics are absolute dog ass and he pisses me off sometimes. Glad I listened though!

Fine I guess. Had their moment. Did they squander it? Are they a talented jerk with sleazebag tendencies?

This is one of those albums that conflicts me. I quite enjoyed it. Also, Ryan Adams is an asshole and sexual predator. Would’ve been a 4, but I’ll knock it down for him being awful. Also, the Morrisey thing.

3.5

Gen X Zach Bryan who had a little too much free access to Bob Dylan albums growing up.

Ryan Adams leaned much more into a country sound on this album than I was expecting, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t notice a major difference between it, Heartbreaker, and Gold, which he released the following year and which carried a very similar vibe. Many reviewers on this site still seem eager to pile on the hate—or make the obvious joke about his name being similar to Canadian rock star Bryan Adams—which has become a bit tiresome. I’m also not entirely sure Adams deserved to have two albums on this list. If I were compelled to choose just one, I’d keep Heartbreaker, as it has a slightly more melancholy tone.

Esta bueno pero no es la gran cosa

I'm not sure how to rate this. Not bad by any means, but there isn't a circumstance where I would choose this over something else.

surprisingly enjoyed this

This is a little more like it. I wasn't impressed with the other Ryan Adams album that I got from this list, but it seems that his debut is a little more focused and spirited here. Kind of peaked early I felt, however. Most of the album is stripped down and focused more on the acoustic side with sensitive lyrics.

Intruiged by the lyric ‘I’m as calm as a fruit stand in new York’. Big fan of the harmonica though but not of the man. Wish it was Bryan Adams 😔. Not BAD but not GOOD, sort of thing you’d hear playing in a bar trying to be a bit more ‘country’ or a bad country selection on the radio

The switch from a pop vibe to yeehaw country was something

The album was alright, but nothing especially memorable.

Romantic. Not bad.

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

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.

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.

Lovely songwriting

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

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

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

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

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.

suena lindo pero nada del otro mundo

Best Track - "To Be Young"

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.

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

Good

Alternative Country Rock. Better than I expected.

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

Pleasant music from a devious bastard

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

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

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.

Ok, country boy 🤓

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

Reminds me of early Dylan.

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.

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

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.

포크송? 컨트리 느낌이 나네유

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

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

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.

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.

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”

"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.

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’.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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".

(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 ★★★☆☆

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

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.

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

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

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.

Highlight: To Be Young

Soft asmr type energy sleepy time tunes

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

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

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.

Snooze. Mid.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good album

started a bit better but ehh

it’s a really nice album

At least I felt the heart break in it

A good album. Too bad about the artist.

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

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

3.25 Perfectly Fine.

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".

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

7/10

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.

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

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

Amy //

3.3 2x decent. Airport and on plane to Bozeman

Not bad. Judging by the "albums you MUST listen to" criteria, though, I'm not sure that this album belongs on this list. Just inoffensive soft pop. Middle of the road. 3 stars.

Ryan Adams as a person may be pretty murky with all we know about him now, but back in the day he was a pretty respected and beloved artist who's work ethic, even today, is like next to no other. My father is more of a Ryan Adams fan than myself, but I can't lie I do catch myself going to his discography every now and then, mainly with his album Prisoner which I would HIGHLY recommend. Anyways, for the 1001 albums to hear before I die project I got his debut album Heartbreaker, an album I've never heard before, and I'd like to talk about it! This album is a lot more Country than I expected as I am more used to it being more subtle in his music. It isn't anything super crazy or out there as an album but does establish Ryan Adams as someone to look out for in the Alt-Country/Singer-Songwriter scene in the 2000s as he brings quite a refreshingly accessible take for the new millennium. It is a nice project to have on in the background while working in your garage, but I wouldn't call this a "must-hear before you die" kind of album. Hope I can dive into some more Ryan Adams at some point as I am starting to itch for him again as the fall season comes around.

very cool wilco-esque alt-country rock! minus 1 star, because ryan adams seems to be a pretty terrible guy.

Album cover + title had me expecting something way different. Decent alt... Country?

Not really a country music fan but I didn't dislike this album. I think the con I had was that I listened to a really great album before this one so it made this one look less stellar. However, it had some nice tracks that I would see myself listening to. Never heard of Ryan Adams before but he does have a voice that I didn't get tired to listening compared to other country artists.

a really enjoyable album, parts are particularly beautiful like 'Why Do They Leave', and I loved the utilization of Harmonica on this album. all in all, i think its a solid listen. would jump back in, and am looking forward to it

I do like Ryan Adams' sound, but something just feels off about him. It's like he trying really hard to be cool. It just doesn't quite feel natural. Maybe I'm just looking to much into it, but it feels like he thinks he's already the next Bob Dylan with just his debut album.

When I searched for Ryan Adams on Spotify to find this album, all I could think was “Bryan Adams has an evil twin and his biggest song is a cover of 'Wonderwall'?” Fortunately, Heartbreaker is actually a decent listen. It’s a good reminder for me that country music can be great when it’s a vehicle for genuinely good songwriting/storytelling, rather than gimmicky songs about Fox News talking points and big green tractors. There were a fair few forgettable tunes on Heartbreaker and the harmonica bits sounded basically indistinguishable from track to track, but that’s the most negative thing I can really say about the album. I’m glad I got to hear it thanks to this challenge and there are definitely a few songs here that I can see myself coming back to! Highlights: To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High), Oh My Sweet Carolina, Damn Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains), Come Pick Me Up

Better than Coldplay

I liked this more than expected. Partly because I dislike a lot of country, and partly because I confuse Ryan with Bryan. 2.5

I don't like nor endorse Ryan Adams as a person, but surprisingly, this is a great album. I'm aware of the whole "separating the artist from the art" debate nowadays, but I'd just like to mention that, strictly focusing on the songs, this is a fine album. PS: Fuck sexual abusers.

Since I have listened to his "Rock n Roll"- album (which I love!) I often feel I should like his other music more than I actually do. He doesn't break my heart with this one! 2,5

love great glam rock

3 Really, another album from this predator and groomer? Dude really even tried to rope me in with an opener involving an argument regarding Morrissey, and… well, it kinda worked. Yes, Bona Drag is indeed a collection of Moz’ early singles, therefore Suedehead appeared both on that and Viva Hate. The rare point to Adams there. Okay, I hate to say it, but this is actually a much better album than Gold. It definitely has much less of a vanilla taste to it than that album had… but my God, is Adams trying SO hard to be Bob Dylan here. Yet somehow, his half-assed emulations actually resulted in a lot of the better songs here, with the actual first song on the album, To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High), probably being my favorite. That said, there’s a prevailing sense of inauthenticity and overindulgence to be found that really holds this back from greatness - like, you can tell on any given song here how hot shit this dude thinks he is. It even kind of made me hate the opener in retrospect, which ultimately reads like the guy was trying to show off his superior knowledge of music before you can even get into any of his own. All in all, I actually think this is a pretty good album if you can get past Adams’ actions and ego, which I understand everyone’s mileage may vary with. While a touch long, it’s hit over miss more often than not. Hell, I even found a couple of these songs stuck in my head after I finished listening, but ultimately, for all the aforementioned reasons, this boils down to about a 3 for me. Phoebe Bridgers is still way better - go listen to Stranger in the Alps or Punisher instead.

Pretty neat.

Slow burn. Have listened a few more times

First songs on the album were better than the last songs. Didn’t love the album but it was ok.

Inoffensive singer-songwriter

Good singer.

For my tastes, Heartbreaker can feel a bit slow to roll through as a full album, but it’s full of quiet, heartfelt moments that really stick with you too.

First Album (Sept. 10) Interesting. Love the acoustic.

Got a bit broken hearted this wasn’t Bryan Adams and the one with the Mel C duet. The actual album itself is fine if a bit snoozy and dull because it’s alt-country. Also a bit smarmy and full of itself because it’s Ryan Adams. The slightly rawer Come Pick Me Up the only one I can pick out as a highlight. Low 3 stars.

Very Bob Dylan, with some lighter less folksy inclinations

Some great songs and some less than great songs on this album. He needs the Cardinals or Whiskeytown.

This album feels so comforting.

Nice music

decent good listen on gloomy days

Pretty good album. Fairly somber. A little too long.

Was more familiar with Gold but this has some great stuff.

3/5

There are some really lovely parts to this and I like the use of the female singers. Overall though it’s too long and not very memorable. Less than the sum of its parts

3.2

Another that isnt really my speed but has an undeniable quality to it. I do have beef with Emmylou Harris being on here after her appearance on the worst album off this list (so far) Grievous Angel. Favorite Songs: Amy & Come Pick Me Up

Some good stuff some meh.

Most definitely there are some very good songs here — especially "Oh My Sweet Carolina" with Emmylou Harris singing backup. But it's hard to hear these sensitive-guy lyrics without knowing what a creep he is, and that prevents me from going back for a closer listen.

Album muito com uma melodia muito melosa.

Not really my cup of tea! A few good tracks. Vocals are unquestionably decent and I love the harmonies with the female singer. A few tracks just too slow and ponderous for my tastes. 7/10.

2.5 stars. Come Pick Me Up was the only one I enjoyed.

Maybe a real foundational stepping stone in all the sadfolk handsome-guitar-boy autumnal music to flood the world, could fit into a list of 1001 Albums that were Necessary to Birth "Life Is Strange" or perhaps alternatively, "My Auto-Generated Spotify Rainy Day Mix" It's pretty pleasant even if it fades in the sea of everything to come, but the model is still just a little shy of sinking into the mind enough for a 4/5 score

It’s … just ok

Not my favorite album by Ryan Adams or his many bands.

Meh.

This album was on rotation during college when I was all in on the Indie scene so Im sure nostalgia clouds this one a bit, but it's a great quasi folk rock record. Really falls off the last three songs when Ryan does his best to put you to sleep.

Never heard of this artist or album before. Not a bad album. The upbeat tracks are really good. There’s just not enough of them. The sadder, slower songs, while good, begin to get a little tedious by the time you’re done with the album.

The Bob Dylan influences stick out like a sore thumb. This is not a bad thing as he puts a great twist on those influences and brings them to life in the year 2000. I like the upbeat slower songs on this album and added a handful to my campfire playlist. 6/10

It's a good listen, with the Rawlings/Welch presence very obvious on a couple of tracks. This is the second album of his on the list and while a fine singer and songwriter, he just feels a bit generic to me. 2.5 really but Winding Wheel and Come Pick Me Up are strong enough to lift it to a three.

Ugh, what a shame. I loved this album back when, and Oh My Sweet Carolina is one of my favorite songs ever, but I can't listen to it/him much without feeling icky. So how do I rate this? The album is 4-5 star for me in a bubble, but the context around him makes it much less enjoyable, so I'll drop it to a 3. I really wish he didn't end up this way, but a creep's gonna creep, I guess.

In general, I'm not a fan of country, having said that, this album was in the middle for me. There are a lot of good songs, but I felt that the album was unorganized, it brought energy and all of a sudden an eerie calm in the next song, I could get behind it, but it's not for me.

Some of this seems like he is trying to be a modern day Dylan, the vocal quality is better but overall somehow not as good? I never really got the hype he received, but I liked “Shakedown on 9th Street”. 2.5/5

A pretty robust effort for a solo debut. Good variety, but a little long winded with 15 tracks. Too bad 20 years later it would be widely known what an abusive a-hole he was/is, because he is a good songwriter. Too Be Young and Come Pick Me Up are nice standouts, but the rest is kinda average.

Maybe caught me at the right moment but I think I liked this more than other Ryan Adams stuff. You’ll also probably say “well no shit dumbass” but he sounded a lot like Dylan on this one. I guess the acoustic guitar and harmonica are easy ingredients but the singing and song writing also seemed in the family.

He gets credit for being a prolific songwriter, but I think most of his stuff is pretty meh. Also a grade A d-bag. This album is fine and Come Pick Me Up remains one of his best songs to this day. Still very much average IMO. 3/5

I did not think I was going to like this, but I did. It sounds a lot like a lot of the things I like to listen to.

A very nice listen maybe lacking something a bit more memorable. Would listen again!

3/5

Nothing wrong with a bit of soft rock on a morning walk.

That first song To Be Young is a jam. Have heard it a ton in movies/tv shows and always thought of it as some Bob Dylan copy cat but the whole song is incredible. Unfortunately nothing else on the album lived up to that besides Come Pick Me Up. The whole rest of the album kinda felt like a worse Wilco. Not bad though. Going high 3 on this one.

I think Ryan Adams wanted to tell everyone that to achieved happiness you need only two things. Harmonica and a poster of Mariah Carey.

pretty average

This album was alright, I liked the harmonica, can't compete with the real Bryan Adams.

Decent

Some nice bits.

First off, I had confused him with Bryan Adams (who I'm not a fan of), so I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. His sound is moody and I kind of like it but would probably not seek it out. (I missed all of the controversy, which I'm glad for.)

Tender-hearted Americana singer/songwriter pop, mostly acoustic but a few soft rock tracks. Nothing too remarkable to my ears but it’s pleasant. My biggest complaint is the vocals often really overpower the instrumentals

Generic ahh album it’s ok though

Good album start to finish but in the end its a one and done.

Solid foundations and some good songs. The whole composition was boring however. Clearly his first album given the shaky vocals. 6.5/10

Not what I expected. Decent, but nothing stood out.

Better than I thought it was going to be.

This list's debut album bias is certainly at play here. His next album, "Gold" is my nominee as his "must listen" album. That album was cemented into cultural lore when its hit single, "New York, New York" was released mere days before the 9/11 attacks, becoming an instant anthem. Plus, it's just an overall better album.

It’s good. Songwriting is solid. The performances are good as well. If I have a complaint it’s that it is too long to hold my attention with standard song structures.

I know of this artist and know how much of a grand songwriter he is. Haven't really heard much of his stuff. KNew he was folky but this is really good. Too mellow for me at the moment but I respect the music and songwriting.

It was very good. Not listened much to this kind of soft rock blues sort of stuff, was a nice intro. Some very enjoyable songs. Favourite was probably the opening song(2nd in the album).

This record was a very bluesy one. Which, at first sounds like a great listen, which a lot of the songs are. But some go way too close to being country. I’d say this album imagined what Bob Dylan and southern rock would sound like if they came together. It sounds good, but some songs just fall short. Not a bad album at all though.

slow. kinda boring. he's probably great at writing lyrics but this album isn't doing it for me.

Legal a voz, entonação forte ele canta numa tranquilidade massa, música limpa com poucos instrumentos e um rock mais pra country me lembra raconteurs

I love Ryan Adams when he's in his old country mode this album has a couple absolute stunners.

Ryan Adams, not to be confused with the Bryan one, I guess making older-sounding music in the year 2000, but it seems to be quite popular, judging from the number of listens on each song. Overall, not too bad but pretty meh at times.

okay listening to this and really enjoying it and then found out that this is a HORRIBLE man from everyone's reviews!!!! wow what a bummer!! Come Pick Me Up just came on and it's GOOD! hate hate hate talented men that are evil!!! may this man never know peace. hmm okay the album has kept going and honestly i feel like there are three bangers on here and the rest is whatever

Rock a billy- country rock feel

Pretty easy on the ears. Good guitar tone, warm production, nothing too flashy. There’s a careful touch on the arrangements that gives it some emotional weight, even when the lyrics don’t do much for me. I liked the sound more than the songs, which isn’t a dealbreaker. Just not much that lingers. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) - Come Pick Me Up - To Be The One

This album has some good moments with really solid guitar and lyrical performances with a little country vibe. I'm a sucker for harmonica, so that paired with some guitar makes for a nice listen. The songs are mostly slower but they're all pretty catchy to be honest and are fun to listen to. Standouts are "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)," "Amy," and "Shakedown on 9th Street" All in all, not a bad album! The last couple of songs are forgettable, but I enjoyed my listen. There are a couple songs I'd come back to. I think this is a 3.5/5 for me. The guy's a piece of shit apparently which I didn't see until after I listened, so this was a pretty untainted experience. I don't pay attention to the country music world, so I don't really give a damn.

This is much better than gold. Good songs of country rock tinged with Springsteen fandom. Starts with an argument about Morrissey which seems entirely pointless. I enjoyed listening to this one so let’s do three.

Nice. Would like to listen again as was quite understated, but enjoyed all the songs. Potentially a bit samey and formulaic but need to listen again to be sure

Unauffälliger Gesang mit brauchbarem Gitarrenspiel, aber ohne Highlights .

It was a bit boring but pleasant to listen to. I don't like this guy.

I like a few of the songs on this. It's the type of stuff I put on to try and get my woman in the mood. I think some modern artists could learn a thing or two about writing songs from Ryan Adams, but hopefully that's all they learn!

Excellent, worth a revisit

On the three-plus side. Nice clear voice, good harmony and storytelling

Not my fav but still alright

I like this type of music, it sounds like Ryan Bingham which I like. Something about it is just too cheesy to take seriously. Everything just feels premeditated and phony. Maybe its that Ryan Adams is a terrible person. There are nice, chill songs here though. My favourite being “Oh My Sweet Carolina”. I had trouble finishing this since I just got bored. Weak 3.

(33 known/70 new)

Ryan adams is playing in San Diego today so I figured id listen to this and if it changed my life I can go to the concert I like his one song la cienega just smiled on the last album we got but this was kinda meh. not bad and I feel like its def my type of music but it feels like its missing something, idk what. high 3.

6/10 - man is trying to be bob dylan with the harmonica but it’s not going great. Not bad but not amazing.

Some parts sounded like Springsteen and Dylan, and some parts were a bit too sad boy country for me. Mid

Good listen.

Though not my bag, there's an impressive, debut-artist-arriving-fully-formed quality here that I can appreciate, even if I can't get behind much of the sound.

I bought this in 2000 but I hadn't listened to it in at least 15 years. To Be Young and My Sweet Carolina (those Emmylou Harris backing vocals!) in particular reminded me why I liked Ryan Adams at the time, but I can also see why I never really revisit this. Even taking his personal life out of it, there are early signs that quality control wouldn’t be his strong point and the Dylan knock-offs are a lot more blatant than I remembered.

Bob Dylan

definition of “easy listening”

I prefer Whiskeytown but there are some bops on this

Listened Before? N Really good album. I understand he's a POS but musically this is very good. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: None so he doesn't get money.

Not what I was expecting. Soothing in a way. Not stand out though.

Mid

Interesting album- I hadent heard of Ryan Adams before. Coincidental he started with a Bob Dylan cover because he was giving a lot of Dylan vibes. Country meets folk meets crooning. Overall- decent album

I really wish this was the direction country took in the 21st century. Maybe it could have, but 9/11 and the aftereffects really caused country music to fall into a rut that it still hasn't dug itself out of, over twenty years later. It's truly the biggest tragedy of that day. But, for this album specifically, I like it. I'll probably like it more after a few listens, as is pretty true of alt country for me right now. This is one of those artists that I "know" I'm supposed to not like, but the art can be good even if the artist is a bad person, as is true of so much art. We just kind of decide to ignore it most of the time, and only care when the Eye of Social Media turns on them. So as long as my generation celebrates Rumors, I'm not going to care about like art from assholes.

If you can invest into the melodrama he’s found himself in, you might get some mileage out of this one. Or, the melodrama he portrays. Unsure how much of this is autobiographical, and how much of this is a practice in character portraits. Which I suppose is a sign of good songwriting! Wouldn’t say this is country, but it sure associated itself with the places and folks that helped shape the albums identity. Toes the line of country, folk, singer-songwriter, Americana, etc. “Oh My Sweet Carolina” may as well have laid the groundwork for what Chris Stapleton and other acoustic folksy guys would build upon. Probably my favorite on the album. “Dam Sam” was a personal confrontation experience for me, forcing me to realize that Bob Dylan’s influence knows no bounds. From here on there’s a bit too much harmonica if you ask me. That and all the eulogizing or hyperbole about lost lovers and other familiar tropes, like “Dont Ask For The Water”. A good change of pace for this list, this record is at its best when it’s sonically spacious/minimal, and lyrically wearing its heart on its sleeve. A respectable 3/5

Ok...probably thinks too highly of itself

Quite a nice time. Fave Tracks: To Be Young (Is to be Sad, Is to Be High), Amy 3.4/5

pretty ok, but not my main style/

3.5 stars

I mean props up to a good songwriter who knew how to deliver to his audience. I just can't make the case for it to peak anybody interest especially mine.

I like the rockers and songs that don’t draw from Dylan. But other wise feels a tad generic.

nice and sad

Not sure about this album. Love its folksy, laidback tone, but it feels a little too polished for my taste.

Eeh, I think Ryan's fallout lingered around far longer than it needed to be, which may or nay not be due to his own actions as a musician (spoiler alert: it's due to his questionable ideas and ethics as a musician). He started his solo career off well, with a collection of melancholic and introspective songs that are broken off with a few rockers here and there. Some characterize this one as overindulgent and a bit egocentric, but let's face it, who hasn't been a bit over the top when it comes to heartbreak? The songwriting is decent to good, and the atmosphere is overall a net positive, but where he fails is the engagement aspect. You'll start the album, doze off, think its the fourth song, only to see you're at the back end of it. Definitely not bad, but God, does he sometime feel like a broken record on this one. ⭐⭐⭐

I'm resisting looking at the Global reviews as I predict a tide of art vs artist cliches focusing on him being a terrible person. Interesting how these debates seem to hone in on certain artists (Morrissey, Clapton...) while others get a free pass (Lennon, Plant, Bowie...) Because, well, a combination of recency bias and people's individual hangups. Obviously racism and being horrible to women are still awful characteristics but were much more commonly ignored in the 1960s/70s so while RA might have got away with it 50 years ago, he's been widely cancelled in the 21st Century, while Lennon and Bowie are still revered. It definitely helps that their music was many orders of magnitude better than his, to be fair. I do have personal beef with Ryan Adams though. I went to see him on tour in 2003 and it was an aggressively bad concert. Genuinely a waste of time and money. He mostly played songs from his two brand new albums - Rock n Roll, (which he apparently threw together when his label refused to release his other new album...) and Love Is Hell (said other album), so the audience had barely heard any of the material. Rock n Roll had literally been out a few days and Love Is Hell wasn't actually out as an album yet. He then chucked in a couple of tracks from Heartbreaker at the end, and nothing from Gold or Demolition, which were the two albums I knew. He got the crowd interested with his cover of Wonderwall, only to close out with two more random unknown album tracks. Very odd choice. Added to which, he was clearly absolutely wasted, foul-mouthed and unpleasant the whole time. Didn't attempt to interact with the audience and left with the distinct feeling that he'd cut it short. This album is nice enough. It has some pretty decent country ballads and he does a good number on that harmonica, but it does get a bit one-dimensional and formulaic after a while. Amy is a fantastic song but I personally think Mark Ronson covered it better a few years later. I don't mind it as an album but if I'm in the mood for some Ryan Adams, I'll gravitate towards Gold and probably then move on with my day.

One of the more unfortunate things about this project is finding an album, starting to dig it, opening the reviews and seeing people talking about how much of a scumbag the artist is. I normally try to abide by the separate the art from the artist mentality when reviewing work, but it is definitely difficult. That being said, I liked this album. strong songwriting, I liked the harmonica on 'why do they leave', I do think the songs started to blend together after a while, however. Toward the end ... I was falling asleep a little. 3.5/5

Fine. Bonus point for the harmonica

Can I separate the artist from the alegations? Probably not in this case, good album, but most likely is the only time I'll listen willingfully to a Ryan Adams project. Come Pick Me Up and To be the One shouldnt be together, man fade out into fade in with harmonica does not work 6/10

I’ve never cared for country music, and after listening to Heartbreaker, I still don’t. That’s not to say this is a bad album. It’s just one of those records that exists in a space where I neither love it nor hate it. It’s fine, it’s competent, but it doesn’t do anything special for me. Some moments are nice, but as a whole, it’s a whatever kind of album. Ryan Adams clearly has talent. His songwriting is heartfelt, and there are a handful of tracks here that capture a real rawness and emotional weight. The opening track, (Argument with David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey), is a quirky and oddly amusing way to start the album, and it sets up a laid-back, unpolished vibe. To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) brings a bit of energy into the mix, with its ragged, bluesy country feel, and I can appreciate its loose, almost reckless delivery. The production is warm and organic, which works well for this style of music. You can tell it was crafted with care, and there’s a certain charm to the way it’s recorded. Nothing feels overly polished or forced. Some of the more stripped-down moments, like Come Pick Me Up, stand out as genuinely well-executed tracks with strong melodies and an intimate feel. That being said, I can’t pretend this album moved me in any significant way. The biggest issue for me is that, despite its well-crafted nature, it still leans into that classic country/alt-country sound that just doesn’t click with me. I can recognize its qualities, but I’m not invested in them. A lot of the tracks feel like they blend into each other, with a lack of real variation to keep things engaging. Adams' vocals are fine but don’t particularly stand out. they serve the songs well enough, but they don’t grab me or make me feel anything beyond a passive appreciation. There are moments where the album feels a bit too self-indulgent, dwelling in its own sadness without really bringing anything new to the table. I get why Heartbreaker has its fans. If you’re into this style of singer-songwriter country-tinged music, I imagine it’s probably quite an experience. But for me? It’s just... fine. It didn’t annoy me, but it didn’t excite me either. It’s the kind of album that plays in the background while I’m doing something else, and I wouldn’t rush to turn it off, but I also wouldn’t seek it out. Solid musicianship, solid songwriting but ultimately, it’s not for me. A respectable 3.3/5, but I’ll stick to music that actually makes me feel something.

Really awesome performances, harmonica jump scare isn't that bad honestly. I just kinda can't stand the lyrics of the love songs here

Was about to complain about this album being the second one on this list by Adams but ends up this one isn’t as bad as the first one. The guy has had some problematic behavior in his background since, which doesn’t help his cause. The song from Old School keeps this album from getting hammered.

Ehhhhh it’s alright I guess? Fella is a decent singer and the instrumentation is nice enough. This is not music I would listen to by choice under any other circumstance so there is a large element of personal taste here. This guy could have taken a couple lessons from Big bad Harv in extorting sex from women trying to break into your industry.

I'm not the biggest folk fan nor really a big fan of Ryan Adams but that asshole can write a catchy riff, play a guitar, and has a great voice. I'm not ranking stuff based on if I like someone, but based on the music, as unbiased as I can be. "Listen to Oh My Sweet Carolina" and tell me you're not swept away in some sort of classic American love story. Like COMPLETELY LISTENABLE. Decent country/singer-songwriter stuff.

Fuck Ryan Adams but I can't deny that this album is fucking gorgeous.

Sometimes he sounds like he’s doing his best Bob Dylan impression. Most of the rest of time he sounds like what Zach Bryan does today. I liked it. Sometimes a little samey. Favorite songs were To Be Young, Come Pick Me Up, and Shakedown On 9th Street.

Je vais mettra 3 parce que je ne suis pas assez certain pour mettre 4. J'ai écouté une fois seulement. Soniquement, ça me plait, c'est le genre de son que j'affectionne, j'aime le alt-country, j'aime l'americana. J'ai aimé quelques chansons. Il n'y en a aucune que j'ai fais WOW mais ça veut un peu rien dire, j'ai l'impression que j'ai besoin de plus de temps pour jugé à sa juste de valeur

J'ai aimé ça, mais j'aime le country et le folk, alors... Belle voix, pas trop forcée. Rien de désagréable, mais ce n'est pas nécessairement mémorable. Le tout demeure positif.

Obligatory Ryan Adams is a giant piece of shit. That out of the way - the first half of this is pretty ok. The rest blows. Come Pick Me Up is a solid breakup tune.

Good

Nothing special

It's good for what it is, I'm just not a huge fan of country. Another instant where the artist is very talented but I just don't love the music.

Sounds like less creative Bob Dylan

Influential? Hmmm. I don't know about that. Country with a little indie singer/songwriter. A little more palatable than some country, but not terribly interesting.

I didn’t end up finishing it but it was pretty neat up to around the half way point atleast

Songs i knew 0 Songs i like: lost of them (if I was in a lift) File this under "music I'd like to goose to while in a lift". Good not great, high 3.

Another reprieve album. I like having the time to reflect and collect my thoughts before facing whatever big album lies in wait for me around the corner. I also enjoy likening these kinds of albums to emotions or experiences - it makes the process of listening to all of these randomly-generated albums feel meaningful and part of a greater narrative. This album is like trucking through a dark, single-lane country road in the middle of the night, waiting for a radio transmission to pierce through the dark, lonely veil that hangs over me. I also liken it to sitting alone in a motel bar alone with a smoke and a glass of gin while drifting in and out of consciousness - too tired to remain awake, but too pensive to fall asleep. I really came around to this album during the second half, which is usually indicative of me not paying enough attention to the first few tracks. I'm going to give this one a relisten tomorrow, as I do with all of the albums on this list (God help me).

If you are talking about Heartbreakers, you have to talk about Lenneth Houmous! 15 wives, 15 mistresses! 3.0

This is actually a really clever tribute act because the real Bon Dylan also refuses to play any of his hit songs

Started off quite liking it. At some point forgot I was listening to it and it disappeared into the background. I guess it was alright overall.

Not bad... a little slow but not bad

I actually saw Ryan Adams at a festival in 2017, before the allegations. He was drunk I think. There was a tall apartment complex behind the venue and Adams multiple times insisted that there was someone on the roof of the building and would not play until they waved back to him. This continued for multiple minutes before he gave up and went on to play the set. So yeah I always guessed he was kinda an asshole. Anyways, this album was clearly inspired by Dylan, without the songwriting. Not bad but it ain't going to blow anyone away either. 6/10

Some really good songs but the genre has engulfed this album

This album had a few songs on it that I dug, but for the most part it was a little too low energy for me. I don't see myself choosing this to listen to again, but it wouldn't bother me if it came on. 2.5/5

Better than expected but my expectations were low. Still, some of these songs were decent. 2.75/5

I think this album is a bit too country for me.

I can imagine loving this dude so much if you were 15 when you heard this for the first time, ya know?

I liked the cover. Thought the music was OK. 30 albums in 25 years! Prolific if nothing else.

Plenty of hints of Springsteen and particularly Dylan sprinkled throughout, but not really my cup of chai TBH

I’m not a massive fan of country, but this leans more Neil Young-ish, and I quite like it. I kept thinking bits sounded really familiar, then I looked it up, and thought OK, Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, that’s what I can hear.

Ahh.. nothing special here really

they used to play Ryan Adams on my favorite radio station, 105.5 The Colorado Sound. they stopped one day, i found out why, and now you spend every lovelorn fingerpick session with Mr. Adams thinking "serves you right, you piece of shit". so pre-emptively -- fuck you, Ryan. fuck your boring cover albums and your current Spotify-only career. i hope you punched a hole in your wall after you saw boygenius get huge in the last couple years while you released yet another album without a blue link on Wikipedia. now, i'm not gonna be talking about what he did or did not do, or anything like that, but learning that really does make it gratingly apparent how much of his music takes the form of the torch song, holding out hope for lost loves. of course, he's already setting himself up for failure by casting himself as the floppy-haired wretch who is always high and always getting left behind. it regrettably comes off as one note by the time the back third of the album rolls around, really only providing depth to this persona in moments of cruelty and spite like "Come Pick Me Up". that song actually feels cathartic, feels ugly. this is the sound of someone with the maturity to have their ex come back to them and to tell them "no, fuck off". by the time the album's moribund, i'm just kind of tired of it all and wondering if you could count this as a full listen if you stopped after that song. unfortunately, the hallmark of a mature artist is often pretty apparent by their frequency of releases. Ryan Adams has about 32 albums and counting in 25 years. it feels a bit like the high effort version of Viper releasing five albums a month to game the algorithm. like, cmon, Ryan. how many of these are just demos you polished up of you doing the same thing you're doing here? where's the quality control? i may give Gold or Love Is Hell a chance at some point, but i wouldn't be caught dead listening to Blood on the Tracks (Ryan's Version).

The harmonica pieces turn me off incredibly :(

Yllätyin, koska tykkäsin tämän tunnelmasta. Aika puhtoisen oloinen poika. Mutta kuinka ilahduttavaa on, että laulu tulee kovalla mutta sitä ei ole raskaasti käsitelty! Kuulostaa aidolta, saa mut uskomaan Ryania.

Like a proto Jason Isbell...beautiful alt country that is just one notch too bland to keep my interest.

Some very nice tracks here indeed, mainly the first half of the album, after which my patience runs out a little with the lack of variety, and the surplus of introspection without catharsis or humour. It's a respectable three.

72% Best: My Winding Wheel; Bartering Lines; Come Pick Me Up; Shakedown on 9th Street Must-Hear? Not enough oomph here. No.

In 2024 this one no longer sounds very original, but I still enjoyed the listen. He was obviously influenced by Steve Earle.

No tenía grandes expectativas para este álbum, ya que nunca había escuchado nada de Ryan Adams y esperaba el típico country/pop que no me dice nada, pero me equivocaba. Es un álbum con unas letras preciosas, nostálgicas, lleno de emoción, que me recuerda en cierto modo a Elliott Smith. Musicalmente no es nada especial, pero tampoco hace falta. 3.5

2.5

Very Bob Dylan-esque, without the indecipherability of Dylan. All songs very mellow, but enjoyable.

Might go back to this or check out his following albums. The songs are good and I like his voice, just looking for an extra depth/connection to them.

Strong start but not as good in the second half, gets a little dreary. OK album

So ryan is a known POS, but taking a moment to separate the art from the artist, this album is just ok. I've spent 20 years listening to it, or at least some of it and I've always felt that way. Its a solid 3 but that's an average because it's a collection of 4 and 5s but several 1s and 2a. Like most of Ryan's catalog, it's an album of some really good or great songs surrounded by just some really blah tunes he kind of farted out. I've always felt like his catalog should be half as big and more attention to crafting higher quality albums vs just wrapping out 2 or 3 albums a year of whatever he feels at the time. But that's just my opinion. He's still a favorite artist or mine, or at least the art. He's a major douchebag.

Could be an album I like a lot, it’s an album I like some - good voice, bad person. Never felt like it quite got going - the rawest moments don’t endure. It is palpably better than so much pop country, but I don’t feel compelled to return to it. I have to trust this is mostly because the music is ultimately unimpressive and incomplete. ‘Shakedown on 9th Street’ is a believable thing, tho, and the harmonica is there for real. I might return to it…

Wow, there really are two Ryan Adams albums on this list. Luckily, everything I said about the previous Ryan Adams album is basically true about this one. It's competent, but doesn't feel original, nor does it feel significant. But, hey, you gotta put some albums from the early 2000s on here, so why not this one? 3/5

I found this oddly pleasant. Would listen to him again.

Competent, at times soulful but mid 3.2

Not my cup of tea. Gave me blood on the tracks vibes, which I love, but I kept thinking I’d rather listen to Dylan. Well written lyrics, beautiful vocals but was not in the mood for a sad/slow album. Has potential but just to listen for 24 hours for the first time I didn’t resonate with me.

Nice album. Nothing more.