Ryan Adams - 29

Review by RON LEGARSKI

Ryan Adams’ 29: A Rusty, Raw Ride Through Heartbreak and Hope Let’s cut the crap—Ryan Adams’ 29 isn’t just another album; it’s a gut punch wrapped in twangy guitars and haunting vocals. Released back in 2005, this sucker dives headfirst into Americana, Country Rock, Folk, and Alt-Country like it owns the damn genres. And honestly? It kinda does. With its sprawling mix of styles—from Adult Alternative Pop/Rock to straight-up Folk Rock—it’s hard not to feel like you’re listening to someone spill their soul onto vinyl. Now, let me tell ya about two tracks that’ll stick with you longer than last night’s bad decisions: “Carolina Rain” and “Elizabeth.” First up, “Carolina Rain.” This tune hits harder than a hangover after a whiskey bender. The acoustic guitar strums are so simple they hurt, but when Adams sings those opening lines, man, it feels like he’s dragging your heart through mud. There’s no sugarcoating here—just raw emotion dripping from every word. He talks about loss, longing, and all the stuff we try to bury deep inside because facing it sucks. But instead of wallowing, there’s something oddly uplifting about how real it is. Like, yeah, life can suck sometimes, but at least you’re alive to feel it. Then there’s “Elizabeth,” which slaps you across the face with its lush strings and layered production. Ethan Johns really went off on this one—he didn’t just produce it; he arranged the hell out of track A4 (nerd alert). You’ve got cellos, violins, trumpets, trombones… basically an orchestra showing up uninvited to a country song. And yet, somehow, it works. Adams’ voice cracks in places where most singers would smooth over, making it sound more human, more broken. When he belts out, “You were born to play that part,” it’s like he’s screaming directly into your chest cavity. It’s messy, beautiful, and unforgettable. What makes 29 stand out isn’t just the music—it’s the whole package. From Ryan Adams doodling his own artwork to Andy West snapping photos that look like they belong in some dusty roadside diner, everything feels personal. Even the mastering has grit, thanks to Erick Labson and Steve Holroyd keeping things rough around the edges. No shiny polish here, folks. Just pure, unfiltered art. But here’s the kicker—the thing nobody saw coming. Listening to 29, you realize it’s less about perfection and more about survival. These songs don’t exist to impress critics or climb charts; they exist because Adams needed to bleed them out. In a world obsessed with streaming numbers and TikTok trends, 29 reminds us why music matters—it saves people. Or maybe it doesn’t. Maybe it just lets you sit in the wreckage for a while until you’re ready to crawl out again. So, if you’re looking for background noise while folding laundry, skip this one. But if you want something that’ll rip your guts out and stitch ‘em back together again, give 29 a spin. Oh, and hey—if you ever meet Ryan Adams, thank him for letting us eavesdrop on his chaos.

Artist: Ryan Adams
Album: 29

2005

Rating: 3.14

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
Video
Images
Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
Formats
Companies
Credits
Notes
Barcodes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

Download

Filename: ryan-adams-29.zip

MP3 size: 75.6 mb
FLAC size: 412.8 mb

Download

Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
29	5:48
The Sadness	6:42
Nightbirds	3:51
Elizabeth, You Were Born to Play That Part	05:07
Starlite Diner	3:52
Voices	5:7
Carolina Rain	5:26
Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part	5:11
Twenty Nine	5:48
Blue Sky Blues	5:19
Strawberry Wine	7:59
Night Birds	3:52

Video

Ryan Adams - 29

01 29 - Ryan Adams

Images

Catalog Numbers

Labels

Lost Highway
Universal
Lost Highway, Астра
Mercury, Lost Highway

Listen online

écouter en ligne
escuchar en línea
lyssna på nätet
ouvir online
kuunnella verkossa
lytte på nettet
online luisteren
online anhören
ascolta in linea

Formats

CD
Album
Vinyl
LP
Repress
180 gram
CDr
Promo
Sampler
Club Edition
Pallas 180 Gram
Copy Protected
Stereo
9 × File
MP3
256 kbps VBR
Limited Edition

Companies

Role	Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)	UMG Recordings, Inc.
Copyright (c)	UMG Recordings, Inc.
Marketed By	Universal Music Australia
Pressed By	Technicolor, Australia
Published By	Barland Music
Recorded At	Three Crows Studios
Mixed At	Three Crows Studios
Mastered At	Universal Mastering Studios
Licensed From	UMG Recordings Services, Inc.
Distributed By	ТОВ "Астра Рекордс"
Manufactured For	BMG Direct
Made By	EDC, Germany

Credits

Role	Credit
Art Direction	Andy West , Ryan Adams
Booking	Frank Riley
Design	Andy West
Engineer	Robert Fulps
Illustration	Ryan Adams
Management	Frank Callari
Mastered By	Erick Labson, Steve Holroyd
Photography By	Andy West , Jon Graboff, Ryan Adams
Producer	Ethan Johns
Recorded By	Ethan Johns
Mixed By	Ethan Johns
Vocals	Ryan Adams
Artwork	Ryan Adams
Arranged By	Ethan Johns (tracks: A4)
Artwork By	Ryan Adams
Bass	Jennifer Condos (tracks: B3)
Cello	David Low (tracks: A4), Dennis Karmazyn (tracks: A4)
Conductor	Ethan Johns (tracks: A4)
Drums	Ethan Johns
Acoustic Guitar	Ethan Johns
Harpsichord	Ethan Johns
Ukulele	Ethan Johns
Chamberlain	Ethan Johns
Pedal Steel	Ethan Johns
Synthesizer [Jupiter 4	Ethan Johns
Juno 4	Ethan Johns
Juno 60]	Ethan Johns
Guitar	JP Bowersock
Mandolin	JP Bowersock
Guitarrón	JP Bowersock
Piano	Ryan Adams
Photography	Andy West , Jon Graboff, Ryan Adams
Trombone	Alan Kaplan (tracks: A4)
Trumpet	Wayne Bergeron (tracks: A4)
Violin	Anatoly Rosinsky (tracks: A4), Bruce Dukov (tracks: A4), Endre Granat (tracks: A4), Lisa Sutton (tracks: A4), Phil Levy (tracks: A4), Rafael Rishik (tracks: A4)
Legal [Pryor	Josh Grier
Cashman	Josh Grier
Sherman & Flynn]	Josh Grier
Management [Business	Dawn Nepp
Haber Corporation]	Dawn Nepp
Mastered By [Vinyl	WG
Nashville]	WG
Cover	Ryan Adams
Legal	Josh Grier , Pryor, Cashman, Sherman, Flynn
Written-By	Ryan Adams

Notes

Recorded and mixed at Three Crows Studios (Los Angeles, CA) between the 2nd and 14th of August 2004.
Mastered at Universal Mastering Studios (Los Angeles, CA).
Management for FCC Artist Management.
Booking for High Road Touring.
Business management for Haber Corporation.
Legal representation for Pryor, Cashman, Sherman and Flynn.
All songs ©2005 Barland Music, admin. by Bug (BMI).
℗© 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc. Marketed in Australasia by Universal Music Australia under exclusive license. Made in Australia.
(P)©2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Distributed by Universal Music & Video Distribution Corp.
Hype Sticker: Pallas, Audiophile Quality, 180g Vinyl, Pressed in Germany, Pallasusa.com
Swedish Advanced CDr Promo CD
Track times are not mentioned on release.
Для продажу на території України
For sales on the territory of Ukraine
Not for sale outside Ukraine
Catalog number Астра taken from the CD matrix
CD released with a 16-page booklet in a standard jewel case
Australian promo of 29 cd. Cd only, sleeve printed on cd. Track 3 listed as Night Birds
BMG Direct club version.
Sticker on the front of the sleeve with
Ryan Adams 29
602498883488
(p)and (c) UMG Recordings, Inc.
Made in the EU. LC01846, BIEM/SABAM
Front Cover sticker info:
"Pallas Audiophile Quality
180g vinyl
Pressed in Germany
pallasusa.com"
Malaysian version of the 29 cd. Sticker identifying cd on plastic case
UK promo of 29 album. Watermarked disc in paper sleeve with sticker on plastic
German promo of 29 cd. Silver disc with paper sleeve in slim case.
Wraparound insert.
Japanese version of 29 cd
With lyrics insert.
Manufactured & distributed by Universal Music Canada Inc,
Canadian (probably) promo version of 29 cd. Silver disc in white paper sleeve
Record label sticker on sleeve states '180 gram vinyl / Audiophile pressing' and 'STDD180GRM ST01'.
B0005872-01ST01 only appears on the title sticker on the front of the sleeve. The printed cover and labels both bear the regular catalogue number.
Limited to 2,500 copies, as with the other Ryan Adams 180 gram reissues.
Standard jewel case with clear tray, including 16 pages booklet (lyrics) and sticker on front panel :
"RYAN ADAMS 29 602498878484"
Credits printed below clear tray (see images)
Made in the EU.
US promo version of cd. No front sleeve, in jewel case

Barcodes

Barcode: 6 02498 87848 4
Matrix / Runout: [Universal logo] :ANZ 9887848 01 29 - RYAN ADAMS TECHNICOLOR
Mastering SID Code: L286
Mould SID Code: IFPI 4631
Barcode (Text): 6 02498 87848 4
Barcode (Scanned): 602498878484
Matrix / Runout: B00 058 7202 01% IJ
Barcode: 602498883488
Matrix / Runout:
Barcode (Printed): 6 02498 87848 4
Rights Society: BIEM/SABAM
Label Code: LC 01846
Matrix / Runout: Astra330132
Mastering SID Code: IFPI LU003
Mould SID Code: IFPI UAC01
Matrix / Runout: B00 058 7202 01% L
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L007
Mould SID Code: IFPI 0325
Barcode: 6 02498 88348 8
Matrix / Runout: (Side A): B542894-01 A2
Matrix / Runout: (Side B): B542894-01 B2
Matrix / Runout: SIDE A: 9888348-A P-USA 39873 BG
Matrix / Runout: SIDE B: 9888348-B P-USA 39873 BG
Barcode: 6 02498 87848 8
Matrix / Runout (Side One): 9888348-A
Matrix / Runout (Side Two): 9888348-B
Matrix / Runout: 15L05 K17969887848 IFPILN40
Matrix / Runout (Side A Runout Etched): B0005872-01-A-RE-1 WG/NRP ⓤ
Matrix / Runout (Side B Runout Etched): B0005872-01-B-RE-1 WG/NRP ⓤ
Rights Society: BMI
Matrix / Runout: 5241 17A D 08286
Matrix / Runout: Universal UICM 1039 UICM 1039 MT C01
Matrix / Runout (Side One): B0005872-01 SIDE 1 2
Matrix / Runout (Side Two): B0005872-01 SIDE 2 2
Matrix / Runout: M05248 07046d06
Matrix / Runout (A): B0005872-01-A-RE-1 WG/NRP
Matrix / Runout (B): B0005872-01-B RE-1 WG/NRP
Label Code: LC01846
Matrix / Runout: [Universal logo 4x] 06024 988 784-8 02 * 51679155
Mastering SID Code: IFPI LV26
Mould SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI 0123
Mould SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI 0147
Mould SID Code (Variant 3): IFPI 0128
Matrix / Runout: HG562D0158080

About Ryan Adams

American singer-songwriter, poet and painter, born 5 November 1974 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA. He married on 10 March 2009 in Savannah, Georgia, USA. They later divorced in June 2016. Adams is known for his prolific body of work across many genres, predominantly rock and alternative country.

Real Name

David Ryan Adams

Name Vars

Adams
DRA
David Ryan Adams
R Adams
R. Adams
RAdams
Ryan

Aliases

Warren Peace

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool fact: Ryan Adams' album *29* is like a musical Swiss Army knife. It blends so many genres—rock, folk, country, and even a touch of classical—that it feels like a journey through different worlds in one record. What’s wild is how Ethan Johns, the producer, didn’t just sit behind the mixing board. He played drums, guitar, ukulele, pedal steel, and even synths on some tracks. Oh, and for one song, he even conducted a small string section! The album’s title track, “29,” hits especially hard because it reflects Ryan’s raw emotions during a tough time in his life. So yeah, it’s not just an album—it’s kind of a patchwork of talent, vulnerability, and creativity.

Comments

jethry

2025-03-11

what chords is he playing..?

stayhereoao

2025-03-11

pills , smack & a fast car

gigolocall

2025-03-11

I was a poor little kid in the lungs of new York
Just like a motherless son of a bitch
Loaded on ephedrine looking for downers and coke
Like a sun that just wouldn't set out on the horizon
Singing and dancing to them nighttime songs
I took a train and came up from Carolina
I was looking for something to do
Nothing I found could ever quite occupy me
With nothing to gain there's always nothing to lose
Singing and dancing to them nighttime songs
Cry me a river till the morning comes
I should've died a hundred thousand times
Teetering stoned off the side of buildings
Nobody loved me and nobody even tried
You cant hang on to something that wont stop moving
Singing and dancing to them nighttime songs
I got arrested down south for hitting a clerk
I spit in his face, the bastard knocked me out
He leered at my lady and then he touched her face
Thank God she had the money to bail me out
Singing and dancing to them nighttime songs
Cry me a river till the morning comes
Bar room boogie just like in the movies
Go on put it to me shake it till the rattles come on
Take me where the morning don't come
I had a dog named Jet, when I was a kid
Until one day he wandered off and died
One night I went in the yard and dug him up
And he laid in the box just like a pile of bones
Singing and dancing to them nighttime songs
I used to get loaded and baby Id drive your car
It seemed like there was always a cop
Coming behind me and following close as they could
Eventually they'd just trail off
Loaded and cruising to them nighttime songs
Cry me a river till the morning comes
Bar room boogie just like in the movies
Go on put it to me shake it till the rattles come on
Take me where the morning don't come
I think I died a hundred thousand times
Mixing liquor with mystery pills
Mystery pills and heroin mixed into cocaine
Face down out on the riverside
Most of my friends are married and making them babies
To most of them I already died
And whatever it is about you I've always hated
Is something about myself I just couldn't hide
And I'm going going baby I'm gone
So cry me a river to the other side of the morning
To where the morning don't come
To where the morning don't come
To where the morning don't come