Ryan Adams
Ashes & Fire

The Genius of Jacksonville

After "Cardinology" in 2009, with the new label Pax/Am, Ryan Adams of "Ashes and Fire" returns to captivate enthusiasts.

A return, so to speak, since in 2010 "our" released what can be called the metal experiment "Orion" and "Cardinals III/IV" (the latter being a collection of previously unpublished tracks recorded during the "Easy Tiger" and "Cardinology" period).

With "Cardinals III/IV," Adams, in fact, ends the collaboration with his band, a partnership that had lasted since 2005, since the release of "Cold Roses."

With "Ashes and Fire" he decides instead to completely detach from his recent past, ceasing that fascinating experience with the Cardinals but continuing to amaze his audience with the choice not to stop that musical journey. After having fun with "Orion," he returns, in fact, to the scene reclaiming his love for country and demonstrating that he hasn't forgotten his old friendships. This time, moreover, his LP is characterized by a truly measured use of electric guitars, thus standing out for an undoubtedly refined country style and hinting at a high audience even from the "non-experts." The listening experience is indeed pleasant, particularly the piano, present in almost all tracks, and the choral accompaniment of Nora Jones and Mandy Moore (female voice and Adams' wife) in the tracks "Kindness" and "Come Home." Nora Jones' piano is, as known, a rare commodity in our music market, so much so that it led Ryan to continue the collaboration with the artist after they recorded "Dear John" together on the 2005 album "Jacksonville City Nights."

In the new album, the prolific Ryan limits himself to releasing only eleven tracks, not allowing himself, as usual, to be carried away by his habit of including as much material as possible in his CDs. The album thus appears truly compact this time, in the style of "Heartbreaker" and "Jacksonville City Nights," but closer to the country sounds of "Cold Roses." And Ryan shows a great demonstration of maturity and continuity at the same time, for an artist like few others who sometimes, but not this time, exaggerates.

Listen to:

I: Do I Want

II: Ashes and Fire

III: Kindness

For me:

My first encounter with Ryan was in the shop where I got carried away by a smooth "New York, New York" that catapulted me into Adams' country rock universe. From the album "Gold," I reviewed all his albums. "Rock'n Roll," pure American rock, "Cold Roses," "Jacksonville City Nights," "Easy Tiger," and "Cardinology," for Cardinals fans, and lastly "29" for me the most intimate album of Ryan. A musical genius, although sometimes too verbose.