Ryan Adams & The Cardinals — Cold Roses

One certainty when it comes to Ryan Adams is the fact that this musical chameleon likes to keep his fans guessing. After releasing a plethora of discs in the past couple of years, Adams returns with the first of three albums planned for 2005 — a double disc no less. Many diehard Adams fans were disappointed with the troubadour's past experiments (think 2003's Rock N Roll), but on Cold Roses he returns to his roots.

Disc One opens with the easy listening "Magnolia Mountain" and includes the country-punk, non-committal song "Beautiful Sorta." Disc Two's highs include "Let It Ride" and "If I Am A Stranger." Adams' fans will rejoice after hearing Cold Roses as it's the closest the songsmith comes to recapturing the beauty and innocence of his Whiskeytown days.

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