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Rock'n'Roll
by
Rock'n'Roll Image
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

  • Summary: Recorded in just two weeks after Adams (rather, his record company) scrapped plans to release 'Love Is Hell' as his official follow-up to 'Gold' (the former will instead appear as a 2-part EP), 'Rock'n'Roll' features guest appearances from Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Melissa Auf DerRecorded in just two weeks after Adams (rather, his record company) scrapped plans to release 'Love Is Hell' as his official follow-up to 'Gold' (the former will instead appear as a 2-part EP), 'Rock'n'Roll' features guest appearances from Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Melissa Auf Der Mauer (Hole) and Parker Posey (every indie film in the last 15 years).… Expand

Top Track

So Alive
Today i watched the boats Moving through the harbor walking on water In your arms i'd stay Forever if i could Forever if i may Keep me in your... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 23
  3. Negative: 5 out of 23
  1. Blender
    100
    With Rock N Roll, Ryan Adams has thrown off the trappings of underachievement and grabbed for the crown. [Dec 2003, p.132]
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  2. Spin
    83
    Everywhere the guitars are cranked, the sneakers set on stun. [Dec 2003, p.124]
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  3. Mojo
    80
    Mostly, a terrific piece of work. [Nov 2003, p.120]
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  4. Q Magazine
    60
    Acceptable but never stellar. [Dec 2003, p.121]
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  5. AllMusic
    60
    The artifice outweighs the substance throughout Rock n Roll.
  6. The A.V. Club
    60
    Way too much of Rock N Roll falls into the same trap that catches The Strokes: No matter how good a rock 'n' roll song sounds, it usually needs a certain amount of heart or heft.
  7. Pitchfork
    29
    It's not so much that Rock N Roll is incorrigibly written as that the record is unforgivably careless, unwilling to commit to anything including itself.

See all 23 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 34
  3. Negative: 9 out of 34
  1. ElmokeysSmith
    May 27, 2004
    10
    Well, I am floored by the negative responses that this hook-filled rocker gets by some. If you like rock that has great melodies then this is Well, I am floored by the negative responses that this hook-filled rocker gets by some. If you like rock that has great melodies then this is it. Is it deep? No..and since when does rock have to be...critics view this as part of Adams catalogue. View it as a separate entity, ignore the personla drama of Adams and realize this is a man with talent who produces a winner here. The songs won't leave my head. Derivative? WHO CARES!!!… Expand
  2. nickW
    Nov 3, 2003
    9
    Amped and rocking, Ryans on a rampage-check out the Love is Hell eps for the lost quiet album. Ryan proves he can play any style of Amped and rocking, Ryans on a rampage-check out the Love is Hell eps for the lost quiet album. Ryan proves he can play any style of music-jazz album up next?… Expand
  4. Katrina
    Oct 16, 2005
    9
    All the negative criticism around this album bums me out. Rock N Roll is by far my favourite Ryan Adams disc...and to be perfectly honest, I All the negative criticism around this album bums me out. Rock N Roll is by far my favourite Ryan Adams disc...and to be perfectly honest, I find most of his other work (excluding Whiskeytown) pretty much unlistenable after the first go around. RnR isn't really anything groundbreaking...but it's still a lot of fun.… Expand
  5. BrianM
    Oct 30, 2003
    8
    Rock n Roll is much better than Gold, but fans of Heartbreaker will again be disappointed. This record sounds more like U2, the Smiths and Rock n Roll is much better than Gold, but fans of Heartbreaker will again be disappointed. This record sounds more like U2, the Smiths and The Replacements and nothing like the alt-country that made him popular.… Collapse
  6. OlafK.
    Nov 4, 2003
    6
    I consider myself a real adams fan, as I followed him since faithless street came out. As with REM, you lose an artist at some point, which I consider myself a real adams fan, as I followed him since faithless street came out. As with REM, you lose an artist at some point, which is not necessarily a bad thing. With this album, I let go of Adams. It's too derivative for me. I miss what is his biggest talent: writing superb melodies. There were still a few on Gold, I can't find one here. I suspect that Love is Hell will indeed please me more. I was really impressed by "The Shadowlands" live.… Expand
  7. SteveG
    Nov 15, 2003
    3
    Continuing a frightening decline from the brilliance of Heartbreaker
  8. PaulH
    Jul 11, 2005
    0
    Ryan Adams worst album, this is worst then even Bryan Adams could do, and that's saying alot.

See all 34 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Most Discussed Album of 2003

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