Love Is Hell, Part 2 [EP]
by Ryan Adams
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Mojo
    100
    No self-indulgence, no grandstanding, just excellent. [Mar 2004, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. The A.V. Club
    90
    Love Is Hell gets where it intends to go, because instead of Rock N Roll's tossed-off muscle-flexing, Adams supplies actual songs. [Review applicable to both Part 1 and Part 2]
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    90
    The Adams of ‘Love Is Hell’ has gone out to make an album that actually is classic rock ‘n’ roll rather than one that can simply impersonate it, and sound convincing. [Review applicable to both Part 1 and Part 2]
  5. Flak Magazine
    80
    Showcas[es] low-key numbers that draw on many of the influences that made Adams' Whiskeytown and early solo work so strong. [combined review of 1&2]
  6. Q Magazine
    80
    Finds his muse back in rudest health after the relative disappointment of Rock N Roll. [Feb 2004, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    Song for song, the EPs trump ''Rock 'n' Roll.''
  8. Rolling Stone
    70
    Seven riveting explorations that don't sound like anything else in his songbook.
  9. Dot Music
    70
    Although 'Love Is Hell' comes with the assumption that it's more honest than 'Rock'n'Roll', the influences here - albeit different - are just as distracting. [Review applicable to both Part 1 and Part 2]
  10. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    As a full-album, Love is Hell is a lovely, drug-induced contrast to the balls-out rockers on Rock n Roll, but Pt 2 is significantly weaker on its own.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    67
    The Love Is Hell discs are far more dense and dark, making the songs a fun challenge to crack open, though it isn't difficult to determine what a no-brainer it must have been for Lost Highway to favor the brilliant Roll over the more spotty Hell discs. [Review applies to both EPs and 'Rock N Roll']
  12. ShakingThrough.net
    40
    As tough a slog as the backend of Part 1 is, it's Part 2 that truly reveals just how rushed, haphazard and ill-formed Adams' stab at morose mope-rock is.
  13. Pitchfork
    40
    The sad fact is, no marketing strategy, no matter how savvy, could conceal this collection's bathetic, overwrought travesties and gruesome failures.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. NastyR
    Feb 3, 2006
    9
    Love Is Hell 2 is more diverse than first part, full of excellent songs (thank you louise my fav), another great album, jeff buckley throne Love Is Hell 2 is more diverse than first part, full of excellent songs (thank you louise my fav), another great album, jeff buckley throne is on adams head in 2003… Full Review »
  2. WillR
    Jan 6, 2005
    10
    Absolutely amazing record, my favourite album ever (by that I mean both EPs)
  3. J
    Dec 24, 2004
    9
    Although part, 1 is slightly better, this opne is still one of the most beautiful albums of the year...
See all user reviews »