29 - Ryan Adams
29 Image
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.7 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 55 Ratings

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  • Summary: Ethan Johns produced the singer-songwriter's third and final release of 2005, which unlike its predecessors is a stripped-down solo affair consisting of nine lengthy story-songs each representing a year of Adams' life during his twenties.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Uncut
    100
    Nope, this is not easy listening, yet he's never made a more beautiful album. [Jan 2006, p.108]
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  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Adams has stripped most of '29''s tracks down to spare, brittle bones.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    75
    It's hard to tell through this supremely dark group of songs whether you're listening to a work of art or a cry for help. [20 Dec 2005]
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  4. Mojo
    60
    Patchier than Jacksonville. [Mar 2006, p.92]
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See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. chrisa
    10
    You can judge this album in many ways, but go lie on your bed, at 2.30 in the morning, turn off your light, and just listen. you will then hear the brilliance… Expand
  2. R.L.
    8
    These tunes are beautiful. His friend Elton hasn't written stuff as good as this in ages.
  3. A.W.
    7
    Lyrically, its symbolism is engaging and as always, the words are strong and penetrating but the album seems unbalance by an overarching darkness that is hard to bear in the apparent abscence of hope. Overall: worthwhile, but hopeless...… Expand
  4. Brianm
    3
    Of three of his 2005 albums; this one is by far the weakest. It is also his weakest album to date. I am a big fan of Ryan Adams music, but this release isn't anywhere near being good. The main fault of this album are the songs themselves. The songs keep going and going and going to nowhere in particular. It doesn't add up to anything very interesting in the end. Pass this one if you haven't got his other albums.… Expand

See all 32 User Reviews

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