Ryan Adams — Love Is Hell Pt. 2

After slogging through Ryan Adams’ two releases last month, the "official" Rock ‘N’ Roll and the first half of the rejected full-lengther Love Is Hell — both of which were disappointing on different levels — Love Is Hell Pt. 2 arrives without a whole lot of expectations. Along with last month’s EP, Love Is Hell Pt. 2 does not comprise the genius lost album that Adams fans have been hoping for, but it is the most heartfelt volume of Adams’ recent rash of releases. Adams’ doesn’t come anywhere near to the songwriting bar that he set for himself with some of his earlier work, but at least this time around it sounds like he’s actually feeling something. Even darker than Love Is Hell Pt. 1, Adams doesn’t mask any of his sorrow or self pity, but after the influence-on-his-sleeve mimicry of Rock ‘N’ Roll, it’s nice to hear something so blatantly honest from the songwriter. Not a masterpiece, but proof that the guy hasn’t totally lost it, which for Ryan Adams at this point, is enough.

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