Album Rating: 1.5

I think the key line is 'he brings nothing of himself to the party' - he has no distinguishing style of his own, so I can't point to a more 'Adams-y' bit and a more 'Springsteen-y' bit. It just sounds like a dude with a massive Boss hard on, trust me.

Album Rating: 3.5

I discovered Adams through the Love is Hell EPs, so I'm always a little disappointed when his new release isn't that good... Having said that, I like this for what it is--even if it is greatly indebted to Bruce, Bryan, and Tom Petty.

Album Rating: 3.0

I guess the difference is that when you're an established fan of the man you're inclined to see it as "Ryan Adams doing Springsteen-influenced stuff" instead of "Ryan Adams copying Bruce Springsteen".

Album Rating: 3.0

I will freely admit that if this album came from some no-name bum I wouldn't like it as much - not a 1.5, but maybe closer to a 2.5 (even as it is this is a pretty light 3.5 for me) - but here we are.

Album Rating: 1.5

Boney - you're not convincing me which of those viewpoints is the more honest though, especially for a review.



The review is what it is (for my sins), it's a document of a certain gut reaction I've had to an artist I've encountered a few times as a fan of the respective genre(s) he operates in. As ever, totally subjective, if it comes across as knee jerk and unfair I do apologise for that, but it's honestly where I'm at with it.



There's been a lot of talk of doofcore recently and I'm sure a quick poll at the start of the week 90% of users would have thought I'd like this. I think the review does an adequate job of voicing why that isn't so.



Plus that sleeve paired with a 1.5 rating has a certain magic to it.

Album Rating: 1.5

Twig - I don't know what to say, maybe my dislike of this is illogical, I like the genre so I understand people enjoying the style. It lacks that certain spark of magic for me.

Album Rating: 3.0

The cover is awful, I'll give you that!

I guess my reaction is part frustration because I want you to like this, part a reaction to the fact this is a different approach than you usually take with reviews so it's not what I want from a Doof review in that sense, and part my desire for an album I'm enjoying to get coverage similar to what my opinion is - whatever though, it's going to stay, and I don't begrudge you your opinion for what it is.

Album Rating: 1.5

'uhh welcome to my haunted...' mansion on the hill? Oh fuck off Ryan

Doof I'll concede you do a good job of meeting a set goal you have for reviews, and this was clearly different from others.

Album Rating: 1.5

I approached this thinking I'd like it as much as 'Heartbreaker' [3.5] possibly more. I had it in the back of my mind if it really impressed me I'd write a review of it...just didn't work out.



I think after being disappointed with the Strand of Oaks and then coming to an album that made that one sound as experimental as 'Trout Mask Replica' in comparison was particularly galling.

Album Rating: 3.0

I guess part of it too is that I do disagree with your insistence that Heartbreaker is a Dylan pastiche, that's never really something I've heard in that album and I still struggle to see where that's coming from. The Springsteen/Petty influence is waaaaay more obvious here than Dylan is there so the equivalence that you present is questionable to me - again, if you tried some more of his stuff I think you'd see that his influences are generally less blatant than on his last few releases. You checked Ashes and Fire I see, and that one is his most similar to Heartbreaker so your reaction to that was naturally going to be similar.

Album Rating: 1.5

FoS - a lot of the time I'll get asked 'you like that style/band - why'd you give this similar album a bad rating?'



I don't understand that - surely you're going to be more picky in a genre you know inside out/like?



No one has down rated as much 'doofcore' as the doof, I'm picky.

Album Rating: 1.5

It's the self mythology thing, it's a conscious affected approach where he's trying to build this Dylan mystique...and then the harmonica comes in. It's a gut thing 'damn Sam, stop trying to be Dylan already - you gotta earn that son'

Album Rating: 3.5

I like Bryan Adams, nothing logical in that, lol... I think this is well constructed, professional, slick--but maybe it is a bit soulless too. I can see how someone might not like it.

Album Rating: 3.0

Ironically this has in just a few hours already become the longest Ryan Adams thread on the site xD

Good talk though!

Album Rating: 1.5

I'm not changing anyone's mind here - can see this ending up on a 3.9 average ;p

Album Rating: 3.0

You should have incorporated something about the cover in the review - or maybe even mentioned the even more awful rotten apple version of the cover, lol

Album Rating: 1.5

"I'm on an Outbound Downtown Train oh yeaaaaaaaahh"



Geez Ryan, at least try and be a little subtle about this

Album Rating: 3.0

"Tightrope" is my favorite here, this definitely suffers from lack of variety but that one provides some with the saxophone. Thoughts on that one Doof?

Album Rating: 1.5

That vocal melody at the start of the chorus really reminds me of something, something (I think) with female vocals that I can't place yet. The verses are just relentlessly Springsteen, they aren't awful but... just not doing it for me.



The sax section and piano outro are cool enough additions.