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10.0
33638
10.0 |
Daily Telegraph
Adams’s ear for a delicate melody and feel for the shadowy nuances of emotion give this latest chapter beautiful depth
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9.0
33506
9.0 |
PopMatters
A near perfect album by a performer who seems, at least for the time being, to have learned to focus his wide-open talents on one narrow vein of material, and in the process has struck pure gold
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8.5
33715
8.5 |
The Quietus
He is increasingly crossing over into that mysterious, genre-less arena where expert songwriting reigns over style and idiom
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8.0
33794
8.0 |
The Scotsman
The mellow, soulful likes of Do I Wait, Invisible Riverside or closing piano ballad I Love You But I Don’t Know What To Say don’t shout their credentials from the rooftops
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8.0
33814
8.0 |
Entertainment.ie
Heart-on-sleeve authenticity, poignancy and sincerity - Ashes & Fire signals a triumphant return for Ryan Adams
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8.0
33470
8.0 |
musicOMH
A compelling reboot for a man who could, once more, become a contender
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8.0
33483
8.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
For old-school Adams fans, this is tonic. For everyone else, it’s warming whiskey
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8.0
34322
8.0 |
Rave Magazine
Ryan Adams is back, without ever letting us know he was gone
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8.0
33210
8.0 |
BBC
If you've not had the patience or time to commit to an album of his since 2001’s Gold, his acclaimed second LP, there has not been a better time to do so
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8.0
33218
8.0 |
Uncut
At last sounds like the work of a man who's happy being no one else but himself. Print edition only
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8.0
33219
8.0 |
Q
He sounds like the fire in his belly has reignited. Print edition only
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8.0
33207
8.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
It’s comforting to know that despite being older, married, and sober, Adams shows no signs of slowing down. He’s just taking his time
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8.0
33241
8.0 |
NME
This is an album worth celebrating
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8.0
33264
8.0 |
The Guardian
Understated and reflective, dominated by Adams' own acoustic guitar playing, with the merest wisps of percussion and arrangements of tasteful restraint
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8.0
33347
8.0 |
Independent on Sunday
Simple, soaring songs that are almost the equal of that voice, back to its best
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8.0
33354
8.0 |
Clash
A haunting album that truly reveals Adams’ bruised soul
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8.0
33425
8.0 |
DIY
An album in which you notice a distinct lack of optimism, but we don’t care. Here, Adams is as elegant as ever
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7.9
33616
7.9 |
Beats Per Minute
He appears to be more focused and in a better creative space than he has at any other point in his career
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7.5
33445
7.5 |
A.V. Club
It’s tempting to regard Ashes as Adams’ Harvest, an album of simple, country-flavored folk-pop songs that appear designed to charm those turned off by his tendency to veer wildly into the nearest ditch
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7.0
33223
7.0 |
Spin
Gentle crop of pared-down roots-rock ballads full of fitfully earnest emotions
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7.0
33439
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
It proves he doesn't need noise to blow you away
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6.5
33479
6.5 |
Pitchfork
Ashes & Fire is steeped in a sober contentment that feels limiting even though it shouldn't
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6.0
33611
6.0 |
Prefix
It's fresher than his last few albums; you can feel these songs a bit more. But if you ask me, I'm still looking for that Ryan Adams from 2005
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6.0
33350
6.0 |
The Observer
It hasn't the shiver factor of his debut but there's pleasure in such smooth, elegantly crafted songs after his recent strainings
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6.0
33254
6.0 |
The Irish Times
There’s a hunger to several tracks here that bodes well for the future
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6.0
33208
6.0 |
Drowned In Sound
If he can keep up the stricter editing policy, and add just a little more variety to the mix, there’ll be more classic records up his sleeve
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6.0
33221
6.0 |
Mojo
Despite its lulls, Ashes & Fire sounds like a new beginning. Print edition only
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5.0
33420
5.0 |
Slant Magazine
Lacks any creative spark in its presentation of Adams's melancholy material, making for an album that sounds every bit as boring as most contemporary Americana albums sound
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5.0
35276
5.0 |
Blurt
Despite the obvious care for craftsmanship, no standouts emerge. Instead, this is strictly mood music that takes the edge off. And how
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4.0
34030
4.0 |
Tiny Mix Tapes
While there’s plenty of weepy pedal-steel, ersatz saloon piano, and a few really excellent, near-transcendent moments, Ashes & Fire is a Ryan Adams album, so you’ll still wonder how a few of these songs ever got past the cutting-room floor
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4.0
33261
4.0 |
The Independent
Despite reverting to his core country-rock mode, he fails to rouse much interest
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