Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Let It Ride (Lost Highway)
UK release date: 25 April 2005
Less than two years have passed since the triple whammy of Rock N Roll and both Love Is Hell albums, but Ryan Adams hasn't been put his feet up and taking things easy. Let It Ride is the first, download-only, taster from his upcoming 18 track album with his new band The Cardinals. And there's rumoured to be two more albums to come during 2005.
As usual with Adams, this is a complete about-face from his previous albums. There's no sign of the Strokes-soundalike of Rock N Roll, and the tortured acoustic ballads of Love Is Hell have been put to rest. In fact, with its twangy guitar and overall country-rock flavour, this recalls nothing less than Adams' first band Whiskeytown. His vocals are as weary and haunted as ever, but the overall atmosphere is more upbeat than it has been in Adams' world for a while.
Let It Ride may not be as instantly memorable as some of his previous material, but it's good to see that while Adams remains as prolific as ever he's keeping an eye on the quality control this time.
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