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8 / 10 Opinion is split on Ryan Adams. For some, his none-more-Americana tales of doom, drink and drug-soaked romance in Springsteen-esque small towns are utterly beautiful. Others consider him an arrogant self-obsessive too in love with some mythical traditional music (and himself) to write anything of real note. On the evidence of this, his third album in seven months, the latter are fools.

Away from his band, The Cardinals, Adams has stripped most of ‘29’’s tracks down to spare, brittle bones. The title track is a rambling, electric blues, full of “Mystery pills and heroin mixed into cocaine”, while ‘Strawberry Wine’ – the first of a trio of spectacular ballads – charts a couple’s slow, sweet descent into alcoholism and despair. ‘Nightbirds’, another tale of ruinous abuse, is so fragile that Adams’ own soft, tremulous voice eventually causes it to collapse in on itself.

Of course, there are misfires too. ‘The Sadness’ is an unwanted, clattering racket and ‘Voices’ is a biblical analogy too far with unwelcome echoes of Radiohead, but it’s pushed right to the end, so, y’know, who cares? Is Adams arrogant? Possibly. But, quite honestly, wouldn’t you be?

Rob Fitzpatrick

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Date/Time	Venue	Town/City	Seetickets	Viagogo
Feb 25, 2012 20:00	Perth Theatre And Concert Hall	Perth	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets
Apr 20, 2012 19:30	Waterfront Hall	Belfast	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £49
Apr 22, 2012 19:00	The Sage Gateshead	Gateshead	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £85
Apr 22, 2012 19:00	The Sage	Gateshead	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets
Apr 23, 2012 19:00	London Palladium	London	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £45
Apr 23, 2012 19:00	London Palladium, Argyll Street	London	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £42	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets
Apr 25, 2012 19:00	Nottingham Royal Concert Hall	Nottingham	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £40
Apr 25, 2012 19:00	Royal Concert Hall	Glasgow	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £27	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets
Apr 26, 2012 19:30	Royal Concert Hall Glasgow	Glasgow	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £59
Apr 27, 2012 19:00	Sheffield City Hall	Sheffield	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £42
Apr 27, 2012 19:00	City Hall	Salisbury	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets
Apr 30, 2012 19:00	London Palladium	London	Tickets not currently available.	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets from £49
Apr 30, 2012 19:00	London Palladium, Argyll Street	London	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets	Buy Ryan Adams Tickets