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Gold Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 40 Ratings

  • Summary: 'Gold' is the second solo release for former Whiskeytown frontman Ryan Adams, and garnered a good deal of attention for the singer-songwriter in 2001.

Top Track

Firecracker
Black birds slow and softly breaks a glass of wine Broken bluesy whisper sing to me tonight Well, everybody wants to go forever I just want to burn... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. 90
    His most ambitious collection of songs to date.
  2. The electric mood of Adams' sophomore disc definitely reflects his good fortunes and knack for solid songcraft.
  3. Adams continues to grow as a songwriter.
  4. A curious time warp of a recording: loud, soft, tender, mean, thoughtful, reckless.
  5. Gold sprawls but it rarely meanders, all the while signaling Adams' rite of passage from alt.country bad boy to Left Coast post-folkie.
  6. It is when Adams veers from the hook-orientated path that the record suffers.
  7. The stylistic mix is dizzying, from Dylanesque odes to Motown soul, but more than that, Adams's influences are so prominent that you often feel like you're listening to other people.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Jul 14, 2013
    10
    From the soft, lovely tone of "When The Stars Go Blue" to the sheer rock-out-loud attitude spilling out of the tune "Tina Toledo's StreetFrom the soft, lovely tone of "When The Stars Go Blue" to the sheer rock-out-loud attitude spilling out of the tune "Tina Toledo's Street Walkin' Blues", this album presents itself as a showcase of some of the absolute best of what Ryan Adams has to offer from his ever-expanding musical collection. Even though I did not quite get the appeal of "Sylvia Plath", I am confident in saying that this album is a shining example of Mr. Adams' incredible capacity to write many songs that are above average; a quality that is much more rare than anyone really ever takes time to appreciate. That is why this is in my top five of studio albums ever produced. Expand
  2. [Anonymous]
    Jul 25, 2002
    10
    truly magnificient, definitely the greates songwriter around at the moment.
  3. Jeanie
    Jul 21, 2006
    10
    Heartbreaking good. Ryan Adams at his absolute best.
  4. anshumans
    Apr 5, 2004
    9
    this is a classic...it really is..good simple music can be so cool...i would have never thought.. a must but for everyone ..
  5. LizK
    Dec 20, 2005
    9
    Have recently discovered Adams as an artist, and the more i listen the moe i am impressed by his song writing ability. This album reached Have recently discovered Adams as an artist, and the more i listen the moe i am impressed by his song writing ability. This album reached into your heart and soul and rocks it! - brilliant. Expand
  6. ZachL.
    May 25, 2005
    9
    It may not be as strong as "Heartbreaker" or some of his work with Whiskeytown, but to say this album is bad is just plain stupid. It may not be as strong as "Heartbreaker" or some of his work with Whiskeytown, but to say this album is bad is just plain stupid. There's a reason why it made number 6 on the top ten list of ALOT of critics. (Check out the Best of 2001 to see what I mean.) Expand
  7. BryanW.
    Aug 23, 2002
    7
    ryan tries too hard to be neil young, bob dylan, mick jagger, et al. all at the same time. not that he cares what others think (which is good ryan tries too hard to be neil young, bob dylan, mick jagger, et al. all at the same time. not that he cares what others think (which is good in a way) but this album just doesn't have the punch, the emotion, or the lyrics of anything he did on "heartbreaker" or just about everything he did with whiskeytown. that said, this is still a really good disc, it's just disappointing given his track record. that's life, ryan. Collapse

See all 12 User Reviews