Cold Roses
by Ryan Adams
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 104 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 96 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 104
  3. Negative: 5 out of 104

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  1. Matt
    May 5, 2005
    6
    This album is far too long. If it'd have been one disc, it might have rated an 8, but, as is, it mostly shows how much Adams needs someone to rein him in.
  2. Quill
    May 11, 2005
    6
    Im not so sure why everyone is giving this album full marks cause from here it sounds very patchy indeed. I've LOVED everything Ryan has done - even most of Rock N Roll, Love Is Hell was incredibly beautiful for the most part despite what people said. i really tried to embrace this in its entirity, but three days of non-stop play has just proven that this has some inexpicably Im not so sure why everyone is giving this album full marks cause from here it sounds very patchy indeed. I've LOVED everything Ryan has done - even most of Rock N Roll, Love Is Hell was incredibly beautiful for the most part despite what people said. i really tried to embrace this in its entirity, but three days of non-stop play has just proven that this has some inexpicably included weak points. very frustrating (and i know everyone else has said this too) that he didnt throw out at least 4 of these tracks. When another 'understated', riff-less track begins im just compelled to skip to the tracks that have a little life. Where before it sounded like Ryan needed to write the songs, alot of these just sound like he was happy to be out there again and dug up some old unused material. Hmm... its ok to stick on for background music and ill listen to it cause its Ryan but i wont be nearly as hooked as i was to any of his other stuff. The 2 Openers - Neil Young inspired 'Magnolia Mountain' and Orbison-esque 'Easy Plateau' are really lovely, especially the latter.… Expand
  3. Beaubeck
    Aug 16, 2005
    5
    I listened to all 18 tracks and jotted down track titles I wanted to hear again. Hey, wait a second, this here piece of paper is BLANK! After Gold, I was expecting a masterpiece. Still waiting, and losing patience.

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Most Discussed Album of 2005
55
#55 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Pitchfork
    72
    Overstuffed and vaguely monotonous, the album could be easily whittled down to a single sequence of impressive songs; Instead, it's a meandering, occasionally moving series of mid-tempo laments, some more memorable than others.
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  2. AllMusic
    80
    It's safe to say that Cold Roses is the record many fans have been waiting to hear -- a full-fledged, unapologetic return to the country-rock that made his reputation when he led Whiskeytown.
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  3. ShakingThrough.net
    58
    Cold Roses’ first set is by-the-numbers, brokenhearted MOR fare, sometimes maudlin (“When Will You Come Back Home?”), infrequently dramatic (the piano-driven “How Do You Keep Love Alive”) and mostly forgettable. The second disc redeems Cold Roses from an even-less-enthusiastic recommendation.
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