Ashes & Fire

This review does not reflect the music (I would give the music a 5 as well), but the vinyl LP and it's packaging. For many of us that like vinyl, the music is only part of the experience. The other part is holding the album art, following along in lyric books and liner notes, or showing the album artwork off to friends.The record comes in a beautiful gatefold sleeve. The left side has a fold out poster with album cover on one side and picture collage of studio photos and artwork on the other. The right side holds the 180 gram LP in a nice HDPE lined paper sleeve. It also contains a picture sleeve that includes track listings and album credits. The inside of the gatefold has photos of Ryan, city-scapes, etc...There is plenty of added-value for people who like an engaging physical product to go along with their favorite albums. If you're torn between cd and vinyl, go ahead and pick the vinyl. You won't be disappointed.

I have several Ryan Adams CDs. This is one of the best, if not the best. In my opinion, his first two CDs had no bad songs on them. I have not felt that way about any of his CDs since "Ashes and Fire." This CD is full of huge emotion, and the lyrics seem very intimate. They are lyrics that I think most can relate to. The music is very creative, with changed time signatures ( I am a guitar player ); For instance, "Ashes and Fire" the song, is in 6/8. The first three songs just hooked me, and I was in another world. If you love Ryan Adams' music, then you may find this CD to be a masterpiece like I do.

This young man is a real talent. Great album, excellent pressing. Overall very pleased.

This is the start of Ryan Adam's more mature albums (Ashes & Fire, Ryan Adams, and Prisoner). It leans heavier on the country end of things, but there is a shift away from the Cardinals into his turn to 80s guitar rock (i.e. Springsteen's Tunnel of Love)

I love this record personally. Ashes and fire and dirt rain are absolutely stunning songs.

Great CD. Arrived fast. Great seller. Thanks.

I have been a Ryan Adams fan for about 9 years now, and I think this CD will become one of my favorites. It's definitely up there with Gold, Heartbreaker & Love is Hell. It's not quite as country as some of his recent stuff, and to me, that's a good thing. Everything on here is slow or mid-tempo at best, so don't expect to rock out with this CD. But if you want something mellow, beautiful, poignant and smooth like butter--you won't be disappointed.

First of all, I find that people really don't seem to understand Ryan Adams. Since "Gold" he has released pretty sonically-thematic albums, he tends to save the acoustic songs for an album, the rockers for another, etc. He's such a prolific songwriter, I can't say I disagree with his method. I'll bet he has a big electric album coming soon also for all of you who want that side of him. I've also heard that this quieter album and his subsequent solo acoustic tour have to do with his current hearing problems from playing with Whiskeytown and the Cardinals electric for all these years. That said, I find the melodies to be strong and reminiscent of the Gram Parsons reference he's been trying to shake for all these years with his different adopted personae but has outlived. I think Glyn Johns definitely brings a decidedly classic-rock, California country-rock vibe to this album with his production. It reminds me of Neil Young's "After the Goldrush" quite a bit actually. "Dirty Rain", the title track and "Do I Wait" are definitely standouts but I also found myself drawn to the more laid-back "Rocks", "Save Me", "Kindness" and "Lucky Now". A very, very solid albeit laid-back record. I actually think a big loud rocker would have ruined this record for me, I'm sure he has those to come and I love that side of him also, but not on this album. I'm perfectly happy with a laid-back record with good melodies and the acoustic vibe.

Ashes & Fire is widely regarded as a “return to form” album for Ryan Adams and, with only minor reservations, I would concur with that feeling, with Adams surrounding himself with some very experienced and respected faces, such as producer Glyn Johns, whose curriculum vitae lists some of the most famous and successful bands of the last half-decade, and Heartbreaker Benmont Tench, whose piano and organ contributions add a certain touch of class to the record. Add some piano and backing vocals from Norah Jones, guitar from former Cardinal Neal Casal and drums from the well-respected Jeremy Stacey and you have the nucleus of talent who really should produce some extremely fine music. While I don't truly, in my heart, think that Ashes & Fire is the equal to albums such as Heartbreaker or Gold, it is more like their more mature, world-weary older sibling. Every single song is extremely easy on the ear and much of the music flows through you like a gentle massage, but it's not the kind of album where individual songs particularly lodge themselves inside your brain for days on end, refusing to leave. Ashes & Fire is more like a holistic experience, a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.As such, it's quite difficult to pick out highlights. You could probably sample any song from Ashes & Fire and get a good idea of the overall quality and feel of the album. After listening to the record quite a few times, I'd tentatively say that the tracks that move me most are Come Home and Do I Wait. The former is a genuine, heart-on-sleeve love song and the latter based on a theme of turmoil and uncertainty, which builds to a powerful peak; both have the power to completely immerse me in the strength of Adams' emotions. I also very much appreciate the simple beauty of the message in Kindness when Ryan sings “Kindness can cure a broken heart, honey, are you feeling kind?”; I think we have all longed for that kind of kindness in our lives. Those shining moments aside, Ashes & Fire is the kind of album that you take time out to listen to in its entirety; it's the aural equivalent of a good glass of wine: heady, relaxing and gently intoxicating. It's not a classic, as it lacks a certain something that would truly distinguish the individual songs, but it's not that far short.

I was starting to fear for Ryan Adams. In my opinion the last great album he made was 29. I never really warmed to Easy Tiger, less so to Cardinology and consequently I missed iii/iv altogether. Though the former two were decent offerings they failed to deliver in the way the artist had done with the likes of Love is Hell, Heartbeaker etc.Having read many glowing reviews of this album I was drawn to buying it, believing a return to the glory days in the offing. I am not disappointed. On the first listening it sounded good, if unspectacular. However, the more I listen to it the more I love it. There are no weak songs on this album at all. Personal highlights being 'Rocks', 'Chains of Love', 'Invisible Riverside' and... damn! they're all good! 'Ashes and Fire' stands amongst the other albums mentioned here as a return to the real quality not seen from the artist in some years. Lets hope this is a pointer to the future.

You can feel the pain in some of these songs. All from the heart and well crafted. I think it's a great album.

Album is brilliant just a pity after sending the first vinyl copy back as it was very badly warped the second copy has something wrong with the grooves as it seems to have a pitch issue where it sounds like speeding up then slowing down.

No idea why I never bought this album earlier. Love it.