Customer Reviews
Three albums, one year. This is the best one. - By: dynamitekid156, 13 Nov 2007 
2005 was a whacky year even by Ryan Adams standards, as he released three albums, one of which was a double,in the space of around eight months. Luckily for all concerned, they got better as they went on, & he certainly saved the best for last.
29 is a kind of sequel to Love Is Hell, but rather than having the sprawling depression of that album's production it's more reminiscent of Heartbreaker's stripped sound, only amped up even more. Most of the songs were recorded by Adams alone with a guitar or piano & then overdubbed to a very minor extent. Instrumentation is spare & production is all but absent, all wise decisions for an album like this.
Whether you believe that Adams is as tortured as this or not - as far as I'm concerned, the majority of these songs are character sketches anyway - the music is simply beautiful. Using often bizarre but beautiful chord changes, he has made some of his most wonderful music on this album. The title track & 'The Sadness' are both excellent tracks but really don't feel like they fit on the album at all, the latterin particular a gonzo-Spanish-rock epic that sounds out of place anywherein his catalogue but especially here.
The rest of the album was the best material he releasedin 2005, without exception. 'Blue Sky Blues' & 'Elizabeth You Were Born To Play That Part' are both breathtaking, so spare instrumentally & yet so affecting. 'Nightbirds' is the closest this album gets to a single worthy song, its delay-ridden closing chorus (albeit an idea recycled from 2003's 'Hotel Chelsea Nights') making the song soar.
'Carolina Rain' is one of his best story songs ever, with some of his most amusing but heartbreaking lyrics; the line that stands out most on the entire album is 'I met your sister & I married herin July/if only to get closer to you, Carolina'. However, finest of all is 'Strawberry Wine,' a song so stripped back it's practically absent, even more fragile than 2000's 'Oh My Sweet Carolina.' For eight minutes of acoustic guitar & mandolin, Adams whispersin your earin the most pleasing way, so subtle, so emotional.
Whether you buy the emotion or not, 29 is a hell of a record. Adams has so many great albums that it's difficult to discern its placein a list of his best, but it's certainly the best he releasedin 2005.
His best yet - By: East Coast Music Man, 16 May 2007 
In 2005 Ryan Adams released 3 albums; Cold Roses, Jackson City Nights & ending with 29, his best. So called because the songs were written when he was that age, the album can be described as way of closure to one era of his life & the dawn of a new one.
Clockingin at only 9 songs this is a tight little album that contains no filler. Starting of with a jaunty blues number you would be surprised into thinking that the rest will followin similar upbeat guitar twiddling fashion. From song 2 onwards the star of the show is Adams voice; neverin any of his previous releases as he sung with so much conviction, power & beauty as he does here.
On the standout track "Strawberry Wine" he sounds strikingly similar to David Gates (Bread) while on "The Sadness" & "Voices" he effortlessly demonstrates restrain & powerin a single verse.
As he continues to lose his traditional Country roots with each album Adams is slowly turning into his generations Springstein & if this is the case then this is his Born to Run.
A grower... - By: B. Wright, 06 May 2007 This album was written & recorded before any of the other 2005 releases, at the time when Ryan was nearing his 30th birthday (hence '29', it's an album about growth) while he was recovering from his broken wrist. He's said that it's a concept album, basically about one guy who commits suicide & is looking back on the actionsin his life. I'm not sure how well the album fits his theory, but there are plenty of tales within these songs.
It's an intimate album, best listened to with headphonesin a quiet place. His voice is close & there's an ambience, a certain atmosphere to many of the songs as we hear these world-weary lyrics played out to music. The rock & roll '29' is a bit of a red herringin terms of sound, as we have the introspective 'Strawberry Wine' come after. It is succeeded by several more quiet, piano-led songs, telling wistful tales of love, heart-break & life. 'Blue Sky Blues' & 'Nightbirds' are songs to lovers, about carrying on, 'Elizabeth...' is apparently written for a friend of Ryan's whose baby daughter died before birth. The only other song that doesn't fit this trend is 'The Sadness', which is a bit of a bizarre inclusion; Ryan sounds more like Freddie Mercury than the heart-broken troubador we're used to hearing.
My personal favourites on the album are '29', 'Blue Sky Blues' & 'Carolina Rain'. All of these songs tell a story though, & it's worth listening just to hear the narratives as they play through.
The Ethan Johns/ Ryan Adams pairing once again produces an excellent album, with a suitable sheen for the material on here. I feel that the album needs to be listened to properly, to be takenin & appreciated. It's a grower, but the one track I can't seem to get into is 'Strawberry Wine'. It's not Ryan's best material to date, but it's still a good album. Give it time.
more genius - By: Andrew Ferguson, 24 Apr 2007 full tilt boogie variety genius.
every song is exellent.
if you dont have any adams buy this or love is hell as they are his best.
astounding songwriter.
just hurry up & release more albums, as ive had to go back the way & get into whiskeytown.
could release 3 albums every year & id buy em all.
I don't believe you Ryan - By: Simon Long, 23 Jul 2006 
Ryan Adams would have us believe that he is a tortured soul, a love-lorn ball of pain - as described during this pleasing album. I don't agree -in order to delve into as many styles & genres with the 'devil-may-care' outlook this man possesses requires an open book & a positive outlook. He does a good job however of recounting failed relationships, but for us to believe that he is always the one left behind takes the biscuit. Ryan, I believe that you see the sufferingin relationships - & also that you write about it with cynical precision. 'Elizabeth...' is as stripped down & haunting as an ode to a former lover can get. 'The Sadness' is as showy & excessive as some overblown number from the theatres of the west-end but he just about pulls it off - i think its because he knows he's going over the top & can't help but embrace it. 'Voices' is great - conjuring images of abuse, suffering & people forced together through invisible ties. 'Night Birds' is classic Adams, a self-pitious apology to himself for the excess. Good work - but frankly not as deep as he would have us believe - the guy's a great observer.
