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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not his best, but a strong effort., 1 Jan 2007
In 2005, Ryan Adams took his prolific nature to its limit - and subsequently drained himself for 2006, reduced to shoving a ton of drunken, sub-one-minute demos onto his website - by releasing four studio albums (two singles, one double) in one year. Jacksonville City Nights was the second part, his second album with new (sort of) solid backing group The Cardinals, and after the thrashy Rock 'n' Roll and the sprawling depression of Love Is Hell, it sees him returning to alt-country.
The results are patchy. Unsurprisingly for a man who released around 50 songs in 2005, quality control is somewhat lacking on Jacksonville City Nights, and there are some horrifying vocal turns in places, including one in the closing overs of 'The End' that very nearly ruins the song. His vocal stylings throughout the album seem to be Adams trying far too hard to fit into the country motifs his band are providing, and it often feels forced.
However, elsewhere, Jacksonville City Nights really shines with some of the gems of Adams' catalogue. It's mostly the waltzy, closing-time ballads which make this record so good - the whole album has the feel of Adams, scraggly beard and hair, sitting at a battered upright piano in a smokey bar with a blues band behind him. 'The End' is good, but even better songs lie elsewhere; the punning of 'Withering Heights'; the shuddering lap-steel guitars of slight opener 'A Kiss Before I Go'; the dual vocals of 'Dear John'; the lovely, stop-start 'Don't Fail Me Now'; and most importantly, the stunning, string laden UK bonus tracks 'Jeane' and particularly 'Always On My Mind.'
Cut down to maybe ten songs, this album could be a brief, beautiful diamond in Adams' catalogue. Taking the best songs from this and his other 2005 releases, you could've made a truly extraordinary album. In the meantime, occasionally wavering vocals - and a huge sag in the middle third of the record - are not nearly enough to stop you from buying the mostly gorgeous album of blunt, heartbreaking country numbers.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good - be patient if not instant for you, 2 May 2007
What a great album - go in with a completely open mind - Adams fans and those not so familiar alike - this is a fantastic album, feels really natural - not over polished, full band, you can hear (if you try hard enough) the (very infrequent) bum note or pop as a mic stand has been hit etc. The songs are fantastic, some instant, most you get the reward after several listens. Probably my favourite Ryan album at this moment. The Norah Jones duet is great, although I sometimes wonder if it fits with the rest of the albums feeling (?) My highlights would be The End, Pa, Wuthering Heights and Peaceful Valley - which sounds very "Cold Roses" in comparison with the rest of the album. If I had to describe this album in 3 words it would be beautiful, sweaty and oldschool (one word for review purposes). Enjoy.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
'Continuing return to form' not needed, 27 Sep 2005
How tedious it is becoming to read yet another review of material by Ryan Adams which suggests that he is overrated or sporting the emperor's new clothes. Cold Roses was hailed as 'a return to form' by the music press in general. Okay, 'Rock'n'Roll' was a misguided venture, but 'Love Is Hell', 'Demolition', 'Gold' and 'Heartbreaker' hardly suggested that a return to form was required. 'Cold Roses' was excellent and so is 'Jacksonville City Nights'. More country flavoured, it has echoes of 'Heartbreaker' shot through it, and is a seriously affecting piece of work, worth the entrance fee for 'Always On My Mind' alone. I have read a number of ungracious reviews of this album, and would recommend that potential purchasers are not put off by them. Too much criticism of Ryan Adams confuses the quality of his output with the opinions he expresses. Bob Dylan loved to provoke the press in the sixties, but 40 years later he is now accorded the status of a genius. Ignore the carping, do yourself a favour and buy this lovely album.
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