'Jacksonville City Nights' Part II

I was reading over my posted review of Ryan Adams' Jacksonville City Nights and, after a dozen more listens, wanted to expand on that opinion. Basically, I think JCN is one of Adams' best records, not just a return to form but an indicator of great things yet to come. The Cardinals have congealed into a killer band, making great strides since JCN's predecessor Cold Roses (I'm not sure that JCN was recorded after Cold Roses, but it certainly sounds like the work of a more seasoned band). JCN demonstrates much of the shitkicking elegance of Whiskeytown's Pneumonia yet emerges as Adams' first legitimate all-killer, no-filler record.

Whereas Cold Roses was a stellar mix of all of Adams' notable traits - good, bad and occasionally indulgent - JCN is a fiercely focused and committed work, leaving behind any unnecessary guitar noodling or bombastic piano codas. Adams' critics always cite his need for an editor, and here he seems to have become his own best editor, not just trimming the number of songs but the content of the songs. Still 14 songs strong, however, JCN feels like just the right length. We've heard this incarnation of Adams many times before, but never has he so completely inhabited a persona on a single record. Not the least bit believable, the narrator of JCN bears no resemblance to pampered rock star Adams. Yet, like Gillian Welch, Adams' authenticity is found in the music, not the stories.

Here's hoping that Jacksonville City Nights is the opening salvo of a third phase of Ryan Adams' career, one that finds his grasp meeting or even exceeding his reach.