After the brilliance of Cold Roses and Jacksonville City Nights, my expectations were high for Ryan Adams’ third album release of 2005. But without the influence of The Cardinals, 29 drifts back into territory I thought had been abandoned: ambling, sparse, so much pain but so little heart. So much the antithesis of 2005’s earlier albums, probably intentional. I listened to it several times the day I bought it but didn’t pick it up again after that for several years. It’s not a disaster, but pretty close. Hearing it now though, I wonder if it’s painful to listen to because of its quality or because of its content.
(Source: the-season-blue-remains)
