This is the second part to the trilogy of recordings that Ryan Adams is releasing for 2005 and for me it is on par with_Heartbreaker_ - and in some ways it’s better. This recording may not grab you immediately, but it’s worth the effort of repeated listenings. This album has a few more tracks that lean more towards a country sound this time out, but there is so much more to this recording. One of the best tracks on the recording is ‘Dear John’, a beautiful duet with Norah Jones, but it would be unfair to say that any one track on this album is better than another. The Cardinals again provide great support and seem to inspire Adams to new and great heights. Ryan Adams would have to be one of the best songwriters in music today and his output and consistency are amazing. One of the best for the year.

Phil Richards is from Readings Carlton