Ashes & Fire [CD]

Those who were lucky enough to catch Ryan Adams recent UK acoustic tour (the sweltering Oxford Playhouse gig was a superb performance*) will have seen the alt country troubadour in a quiet reflective mood. His new album "Ashes & Fire" accurately captures that ambience and is a genuinely lovely album full of strong songwriting and a number of potential classics. It's worth stating from the outset that this album is neither another "Heartbreaker" or "Gold" as the quality control across this new work is not as innovative or radical enough. Ryan Adams had "retired" from music for a number of years and spent much of this period sorting out his personal life and exercising demons so while Ashes & Fire represents a proper album if it has a template then it's the intimacy of 2005's largely low key "29". Whatever the case that overused term "return to form" is highly appropriate.

It all kicks off with "Dirty Rain" which grows on every listen and is the sort of effortless alt country sung with the rich North Carolina twang which Adams should take a patent on. The excellent organ backing of the Heartbreakers Benmont Tench is a consistent and welcome innovation throughout. The title track of the album is alternatively the one real out and out country anthem alia "Jacksonville City Nights" but happily fits in the running order. The next two songs "Come home" and "Rocks" are lush ballads although the latter just about manages to stay on the right side of mawkish. Much better is the tougher "Do I wait" built on a classic chord structure and better lyrics, it's the type of song that will figure in concert performances and at some point Adams will no doubt "electrify" it, the same applies to the classy "Chains of love".

Out of the five remaining tracks three in particular show that spark which previously made Adams the dominant figure in alt country. "Invisible Riverside" would have happily fitted on "Gold" and is a paean to contentment with Mandy Moore the new Mrs Adams. He starts with the reflection "Guess I'll show my hand/Either way I'm losing/You still have the goods/Back when I couldn't use them" and builds it a gorgeous country lament. The single "Lucky now" is probably more in tune with the tradition of great songs on Whiskeytown's "Pneumonia" such as "Dont wanna to know why" and ably steered by the great producer Glyn Johns. Finally the albums closer "Love you but I don't know what to say" is one of Adams best love songs in a very long time and destined to be covered by all and sundry in the Nashville community. Ashes & Fire is an appropriate title for this album since it is mostly a languid slow burn with songs that gently reveal more on every listen. Throughout Ryan Adams is in great voice and this work demonstrates that real discipline which has been lacking in some of his previous work although the strange critical consensus in some parts that he ceased making great music after Gold is in the words of General Norman Schwarzkopf a load of "bovine scatology". In the last analysis this A&F is a very fine record that hints at even greater possibilities something which all connoisseurs of real music should celebrate and offer a quiet hurrah.

There used to be a theory that Ryan Adams was too prolific, and lacked any quality control filter. However with the exception of III/IV and `rock n roll' I have always found plenty to like on all his albums. With a bit of a lay off from new music output over the last couple of years, Ryan has come back with what I think is his best album since the `love is hell' period.

On first hearing I thought it was a solid 4 star record - with no obviously great songs - but no weak ones either (bit of a first for Ryan!). Having now listened repeatedly, the album has grown on me considerably, revealing some great new textures to the arrangements (especially the organ), and he is in consistently good voice. This turns out to be a much more mature and refined album than I initially gave it credit for, revealing a subtlety that is only revealed when you listen carefully. Absolutely recommended.

I don't what demons has possessed Ryan as his albums since "Heartbreaker" and "Gold" certainly have'nt been up to the standards you would expect from a super song writer. I reluctantly purchased "Ashes and Fire" and was very pleasantly surprized. This album is beautifully produced by Glyn Johns famous for his work with the Stones and Dylan and it has certainly brought out the best in Ryan.The songs are of a very similar type all through, ballads and love songs, but because they are so well written it works beautifully. His voice comes from his gut through his heart to capture the honesty of the words that he sings as if he has lived every moment. I really loved this and hopefully he is now back on track and I can't wait to hear more, like the beautifully titled last track "I love you but I don't know what to say" get it and I don't think you'll be disappointed.