I have to admit one of my favourite Ryan Adams albums is Heartbreaker (2000), and last year's deluxe treatment inspired me to absorb it once again.
On his 16th solo album, Ryan Adams has indeed suffered a broken heart over his divorce from singer/actor Mandy Moore in 2015.
Prisoner isfuelled by very personal songs concerning his emotive state and feelings over the years leading up to the divorce and how it feels to be on his own once more.
The album begins in power-hungry style via Do You Still Love Me?.
With its staggered guitar riffs and Hammond organ flowing, this rocker cries out for a live airing. We won't have too long to wait as Adams is on stage in Auckland in May.
The track Doomsday has Bruce Springsteen all over it with the rueful harmonica sound and is the first of a combination of doom-laden ballads where he pours his heart out, especially Haunted House.
Later, To Be Without You features the line I am singing from a storm inside my ribs. With a cool phase effect on the guitar it creates a sense of longing.
Over the years Adams' imagery in his songs has spoken volumes. On Prisoner he tells it like it feels ... Crush it up into a paper ball, let it go/Anything I ever had to say, it's all gone (Anything I Say To You Now).
