Ryan Adams is a workhorse. His latest, self-titled album is a reminder of that relentless, almost metronomic consistency of his.
‘Gimme Something Good’ is the lead single and it boasts the meatiest hook on the album. It’s a concoction of eerie, choppy minor chords with a distinctly spooky twist. Think ‘Spell on You’ or ‘Witchy Woman’ – it’s that brand of irresistibly gritty, driving-with-the-top-down highway rock.
The album starts with promising bite, but it quickly transforms into a string of sombre ballads. ‘Kim’ and ‘Trouble’ both have a bigger, country kick, with recycled, flanger-driven guitar work. ‘Am I Safe’ is similar and features some very Credence Clearwater Revival, rolling chords; you’re half expecting him to break into ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain’. ‘My Wrecking Ball’ is the most unusual work on offer. The song is spearheaded by a lonely, reverb-heavy vocal track; add in a beautiful, simple keyboard melody and it’s hands-down one of the most interesting picks.
Adams has a formula, and repetition is par for the course. But the second half plainly peters out. ‘Shadows’ is a stab at a pared-back composition that falls flat and is immediately followed by a less than inspired trio of ‘Feels Like Fire’, ‘I Just Might’, and ‘Tired of Giving Up’.
Taken in isolation, there are fantastic moments here, but the uneven distribution of gold and filler on Ryan Adams renders it incomplete. You can’t help feeling cheated out of the game-changing moment that never arrives. Patchy.

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