Prisoner

Any long suffering fan of Ryan Adams will know that due to his unparalleled prolific output, some of his albums are touch and go. This is one of his best. It maintains a mood throughout the entire album and there are some lovely tunes. Some people may be uncomfortable with the extremely introspective lyrical content but I would happily put this in my Top 5 DRA albums.

I bought Gold years ago and thought he was a big star in the making. It was a great album and I thought he showed great potential. I have nearly all his albums since in the hope he would realise that potential and rediscover The heights of Gold. His albums since have all been worth a listen. Some better than others. Some good material in each but overall nothing special. This is pretty good with as usual some good songs and overall is it is a good listen. It starts really well with a. Couple of very good songs Do You Still Love Me, and Prisoner and then goes down from there. Some of it is a bit uninspired. Some of its sounds like a passionless Bruce Springsteen. Most of it is fairly one tone. For me. For whatever reason, I think Ryan Adams has failed to reach his potential and perhaps lost some of his focus. If you are a Ryan Adams fan, it is probably worth a listen and I think you will probably enjoy it. I think it does get better with repeated listens but it does not come anywhere near the quality of the diversity of Gold. I\if you want to give Ryan Adams a go, tart with Gold! This album is ok to good. Probably 3.5 stars as opposed to 3.

This is my first Ryan Adams album. Its taken me 53 years to discover him and I have my 18 year old daughter to thank !My daughter loves Taylor Swift. Last year she was listening the Mr Adams' 1989 album and I was surprised not only that an artist would cover a relatively new album but I also liked the way he made it sound like his own songs.Then a few weeks ago my daughter was playing a couple of songs that caught my attention that turned out to be "Do you still love me" and "To be without you". On the strength of hearing those two songs I bought the album and I have been listening to it continuously all week.I love the whole album and as with most great albums it rewards the more you listen to it. Great heartfelt genuine songs. Nothing contrived. I love his voice. I particularly like the production especially the guitars which sit very clearly in the mix. I can definitely hear the Smiths and Springsteen influences. It is hard to pick favourites as the whole album is strong but I already love "Do you still love me", "Breakdown", "Shiver and Shake", "Prisoner", "Doomsday", "Broken Anyway" and "Outbound Train".So glad I take notice of what my kids listen to !

I was initially hesitant about this latest Ryan Adams release, based on a couple of pre-released tracks, as it seemed to be heading in a stadium-filling, power rock direction at odds with much of Adams' best work. I needn't have worried, however. 'Do You Still Love Me?' is a crunching, power-chorded opening track which proves to be atypical of the album as a whole. The tone and style of the album constantly changes but it's held together by the consistent theme of separation and regret. The comparisons already made to 'Tunnel of Love' and much of The Smiths' back catalogue are apt, although Adams as ever puts his own stamp on proceedings. Every track adds gloriously to the whole atmosphere, with 'Outbound Train', 'Shiver and Shake' and 'Breakdown' standout tracks. It's hard to imagine a more perfect closing track than 'We Disappear', which acts as the final bookend to a wonderful collection of heartbreaking yet catchy songs. I don't know if work as painfully honest and personal as this is likely to widen the scope of Adams' fan base, but - for faithful fans - this album has to be up there with 'Heartbreaker' as his best work.

I’m fed up of covid life, so putting on a vinyl and drinking a cup of tea while relaxing has helped. This is a great album to listen to while the sun shines just right through the window and you feel like you’re going to slip into a nap but then it escapes you because you have to turn the vinyl to side b.

Another breakup album from Ryan, but this one is no Heartbreaker. Lyrically accomplished, but musically a tad unadventurous, Adams seemed to have hit middle age (42) a skilled producer, decent guitarist and excellent singer - you would have hoped heartbreak would enable him to recapture some of that juice he had at the turn of the century.Instead, despite bright sparks, the album can sound a bit like sub-par Springsteen (echoes of I'm On Fire, Downbound Train) and a lot like his work a few years back with the Cardinals. Haunted House is very Bruce, as is Outbound Train and Shiver and Shake. Better tracks are The Prisoner, Breakdown, Anything I Say, etc. It's all very listenable, but a tad comfortable and unsurprising. The writing is occasionally sparkling and Adams voice is beautiful, vulnerable - indeed perfect for his material.Adams albums grow on you and maybe this one will too - but for me, after a few listens, I think, 'Meh'....

One review described this is a cross between 'The Queen is dead' and 'Tunnel of love' The dual influences of Springsteen and Johnny Marr are all over this record.The 80s atmospherics of his 2014 self titled album are continued on this one.The songs are good,but this guy's voice could turn the most mediocre melody into something affecting.

Often there is now not a lot of difference between the sound quality of the CD and the vinyl issue on good equipment.However in this case the vinyl is significantly better than the CD and is worth purchasing for fans of Ryan Adams.