This is easily the strongest record Ryan released in 2005 (followed by Cold Roses). In fact, the more I listen to this, I feel it is far better than Heartbreaker or Easy Tiger (that ones in the middle of the pack for me, despite all of the glowing reviews). I think this record was lost on older reviewers and maybe younger reviewers too. The artists intent - a reflection of his 20's as he approaches the 30's is brilliant. The music is melancholy (although in a more real fashion than Love is Hell), piano based for the most part, with introspective lyrics. Isn't everyone melancholy and looking to the future as we hit our 30's? This is the record I come back to. This is the record I play in my house, on my IPOD, in my car. Brilliantly done. I hope he returns to this style of playing at some point.
March 28, 2008If you put less than 5 stars then you are stupid and your opinion is wrong.
Holla!
February 12, 2008After "Cold Roses" and "Jacksonville...", I'd personally had my fill for one year of Adams's light country homages. But when I picked up "Easy Tiger," I also grabbed this little gem and was pleasantly surprised. Much of the album is mellow and sullen, driven by piano or lightweight guitar licks (the exception being the opening track). Not a bad little record.
July 9, 2007When I first heard that Ryan Adams was going to put out 3 albums in 2005 I thought "How's he going to manage that?" With 29 I now know. Three was just too many. He stretched himself too thin. As if to support this theory, he didn't release another album until June 2007. Cold Roses was good. Jacksonville City Nights was pretty good. 29 falls short. He does some interesting things musically on the album. He take a couple of songs in a more blues direction and one is almost mariachi but the creativity isn't enough to carry the album. Lyrically, it's a very average effort. I'm hoping the 18 months between 29 and Easy Tiger will do good things for the next album.
May 9, 2007I'm relatively shocked at the negative reviews of this album. Lyrically this is one of Ryan Adam's best. Adams is storytelling throughout the album, you're getting not simply snapshots but life stories all with the poetic subtlety and attention to wording that is nearly nonexistant in all popular music.
Ryan Adams doesn't go full out country, doesn't go full out folk, doesn't go full out pop. This album really spans the spectrum of Adam's career showing the flexibility of this astonishing artist. One of the prior reviews of this album says to buy it last, I'd like to completely contradict that message. Buy this album first, find the Ryan Adams that reaches your pallette best and then go from there.
Highlights: "Blue Sky Blues", "Starlite Diner", "The Sadness*"
*One of my favorite songs of all time.
January 16, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(42 reviews)
