Rock'n'Roll
by Ryan Adams
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic 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. Austin Chronicle
    89
    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']
  3. Spin
    83
    Everywhere the guitars are cranked, the sneakers set on stun. [Dec 2003, p.124]
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  5. Rolling Stone
    80
    The best bullets here are like excerpts from a fantasy mix tape of classic glam and garage rock.
  6. Mojo
    80
    Mostly, a terrific piece of work. [Nov 2003, p.120]
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  7. ShakingThrough.net
    80
    Rock N Roll contains 14 Adams originals, it’s essentially a stylistic covers record, and a damn fine one at that.
  8. Filter
    78
    It's a bit all over the map, but you have to admit there's some good music there. [#8, p.102]
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  9. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    There is a primitive urgency to many of these tracks... but it doesn't all add up to a CD that's as good as Gold. [7 Nov 2003, p.69]
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  10. E! Online
    75
    While he lags a bit in the emotional department, he nails the spirit with songs like "She's Lost Total Control" and "So Alive."
  11. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    An uproarious set of rock songs that audaciously ape the styles of several of his current iPod icons.
  12. Alternative Press
    70
    The jarring stylistic shifts sometimes make listening to RNR feel more like scanning the radio dial than listening to a CD. [Jan 2004, p.106]
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  13. AllMusic
    60
    The artifice outweighs the substance throughout Rock n Roll.
  14. PopMatters
    60
    Scattered amongst the rubbish, there are a number or compositions that will clearly end up on a "Best of" in years to come.
  15. 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.
  16. Dot Music
    60
    Adams can undoubtedly pen this classic rawk stuff with his ears closed and, as a result, the 15 tracks here lack heart.
  17. Q Magazine
    60
    Acceptable but never stellar. [Dec 2003, p.121]
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  18. No Ripcord
    60
    No matter how cliched and predictable this record gets, there are always some undeniable hooks to lure you back in before your patience wears thin.
  19. Playlouder
    60
    There are tunes galore, and ideas that some groups would do someone in for, it’s just a shame he decided to do an approximation of all his favourite bands, and didn’t try something a bit more progressive than 'Rock‘n’Roll'.
  20. Stylus Magazine
    36
    Insufferably vacuous.
  21. Uncut
    30
    Perhaps the most inappropriately-titled album since The Best Of Sting. [Dec 2003, p.116]
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  22. The Guardian
    30
    Throughout Rock N Roll, Adams is too busy winking, smirking and showing off to convey anything approaching an emotion.
  23. Drowned In Sound
    30
    'Rock N Roll' is the worst record Ryan Adams has ever put his name to; a mess of identikit garage buffoonery and amateurish production, filled with rushed lyrics and written-in-a-weekend tunes.
  24. 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.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Most Discussed Album of 2003

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 51
  3. Negative: 10 out of 51
  1. bouzyrouge
    Oct 28, 2006
    1
    Ryan has recorded some other brilliant stuff. No one is complaining that "Rcok nr oll" doesn't sound like whiskytown or heartbreaker, or Ryan has recorded some other brilliant stuff. No one is complaining that "Rcok nr oll" doesn't sound like whiskytown or heartbreaker, or that it's derivative of his 80s idols, or that it's not gloomy enough. Reviewers giving this 8,9,10 - you're all daft - it is the worst disposable drivel. I suppose if you are bent on self-deception bad enough, you can learn to love anything. Ryan: 1 star for illustrating that.… Full Review »
  2. ah
    Oct 28, 2006
    2
    This is (the sh)it (R)yan has hinted he has had in him all along. Note to self: head up (own) arse.
  3. JojoS.
    Mar 17, 2006
    8
    "So Alive" or the title song are such emotional (and great!) songs! I really wonder what some of the critics / users consider "emotional" if "So Alive" or the title song are such emotional (and great!) songs! I really wonder what some of the critics / users consider "emotional" if not those songs. Every Ryan Adams album is different and that's a great thing. If you like good music, here's another Ryan Adams album full of it, although it's not the album of the millenium by any means.… Full Review »
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